Blackjack Tips
Blackjack is easily one of the most popular games in the casino. The rules are few and easy to learn, and the house odds are quite low. However, it is very easy to lose money if you don’t know what you are doing. Below are some handy tips so that you can increase your odds of winning and get the most out of playing the game of blackjack.
- Start with a basic blackjack game. When you are first starting out, do not play at a table or room that has a lot of multiple rules or variations. This will only serve to confuse you if you are new. Start simple and once you have the hang of things, you can go ahead and try some of the tables with different rules.
- Know the rules. Once you have decided to try tables or rooms with rule changes, make sure you understand them clearly. If you don’t, you may find yourself using the wrong strategy and losing money very quickly. Never play if you don’t know what you are doing.
- Use strategy charts. These charts can be found here at this website (in the “strategy” section) and are very useful if you are not sure what to do in a certain situation. Many offline casinos offer copies of these charts that patrons can use.
- Do not fall prey to sucker bets! In basic blackjack, the insurance bet is pretty much a sucker bet, and all experts will tell you not to take it. In variations, there are many side bets. Just remember, the bigger the payoff, the worse the odds are that you will actually win that bet. Proceed with caution on all side bets!
- Make sure the minimum and maximum bets are not out of your budget. If you have a budget of only $100, then playing at a table with a minimum bet of $25 means that you may get to play only four hands. Many casinos offer $5 minimum bets, and some are even going down to as little as $1 bet per hand. Choose according to your budget.
- Play in free games, if possible. This applies to online casinos only. Many have practice games or no-betting games that allow you to play without wagering any money. It is a good idea to use these to hone your skills and use some of your knowledge before you start betting real money. Since there is some skill involved in blackjack, practice is always a good idea.
- Don’t play if dealer wins all ties. There are game variations that include this rule. Normally a tie results in a push and you still have a chance of winning. However, if the dealer automatically wins all ties, then you lose that chance and possibly a good chunk of money.
- Be aware of how many decks are being used. Casinos use a shoe (box-like device that can hold multiple decks of cards) to deal cards. Know how many decks are in the shoe. The less decks used, the better the odds for you as the player that you can win more hands.
- Try to avoid any tables where the dealer can hit on soft 17. This is a rule chance that many casinos are using to try to strengthen their own odds. However, there are many tables where the dealer has to stay on 17, and this is the better option for players. Make sure you know this rule before you start betting.
- Do not go beyond your bankroll. In casino terms, a bankroll is the amount of money you can play with. Set an amount and once you have played that money, walk away, even if you have winnings. Once you start betting your winnings, you are likely to walk away from the table with nothing. With low house odds, it is quite easy to walk away from the blackjack table with at least some money, as long as you stick to your budget.