There are several blackjack tricks that all beginners should know. You can learn more about our best tips by clicking right here.
So you’ve just rolled into Vegas, and you’re ready to hit the casinos.
Some smart guy told you that blackjack has the best odds of winning, with a house edge of about 1%. But before you stroll up to the dealer thinking you’re going to make out like a bandit, you need to consider your playing strategy.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of blackjack tricks to help you tip those odds a little further in your favor. Think of it as blackjack for dummies—a handy guide to blackjack strategies that every serious player ought to know.
Blackjack Tricks: How to Improve Your Odds
Also known as “21,” the basic objective of blackjack (from the player’s perspective) is to form card totals that exceed those of the dealer, without exceeding a total of 21 (a “bust”).
Of course, that’s a very simplified understanding of the game. But if you’re ready to pit your skill against the house, you should already have some basic knowledge of how to play blackjack at a casino.
Now, let’s focus on a few blackjack tips to win.
1. Find Tables With the Best Rules
Before you jump right in and start playing at the first table you find, you need to do some homework.
Search among the blackjack tables at the casino, and look for those with the most liberal playing rules. Generally, this means tables with fewer decks (better odds), and those with a payout of 3-2.
2. Never Play While Tipsy
This one almost goes without saying.
Stay off the drink if you’re serious about winning at blackjack. Alcohol clouds your judgment, and if you plan to win, you need to have your wits about you.
3. Get Strategic
This is where you need to prepare beforehand. Don’t expect to walk into the casino and start winning money at the blackjack table right away.
You need to learn the basic strategy for playing blackjack. This will allow you to reduce the house edge to less than 1%, and set you on the path to actually making some money. Without a basic strategy, you’re sunk.
4. Ignore the Insurance Wager
Stay away from the insurance wager.
It’s a losing proposition no matter what. An insurance wager is a side bet, offered only when the dealer’s upcard is an ace. You’re betting that the dealer’s downcard is a ten, jack, king, or queen, thus making a blackjack.
The payout is 2-1, but the odds of winning an insurance bet are lousy, so decline it if offered.
5. Use a Cheat Sheet
It might seem like this wouldn’t work. But referring to a cheat sheet is a perfect way to make sure you’re playing each hand properly.
Laminated strategy cards are common and quite legal in casinos, so find a good one and always have it on hand. It might be the difference between winning and losing big.
6. Stay the Course!
This may be the most important tip, so burn it into your brain: don’t get cocky!
Just because you’re on a winning streak doesn’t mean you’re cosmically guaranteed to win. Don’t let your emotions carry you away. Stick with the basic strategy, and leave emotions to the losers.
7. Forget the Other Players
Don’t get distracted by the other players at your table.
It’s easy to become interested in their playing strategies, but you can’t let that happen. Their decisions have no bearing on your game—keep a level head, and follow the basic strategy.
8. Don’t Use a Progressive Betting Strategy
A progressive betting strategy is when a player either increases or decreases their next bet based on whether the previous hand was a winning or losing one.
So, as an example, if you start with a bet of $10 and win, you raise that to $20 on the next hand, and so on. Theoretically, if you have a consecutive winning streak, you can make more money than you’d lose on a consecutive losing streak.
But this is bunk. In the long run, it’s a bad bet, and only works if you’re an expert card-counter. Again, stick with the basic strategy.
9. Avoid Exposing Your Money to the House Edge
This means staying away from tables that use a continuous shuffling machine, which reshuffle the cards after each round.
Stick to tables where the dealer manually shuffles the cards, or at least one with a regular mechanical shuffler. And try to play at the most crowded tables, which limits the number of hands you play each hour.
The point is to reduce how often your money is exposed to the house edge, and increase your odds of winning.
10. Manage Your Money
Knowing the rules and nuances of playing blackjack isn’t the only thing you need to learn if you’re going to win.
You also need to know how to manage your bankroll. Ensure that you only play with a set amount of money; start with low wagers, and work from there. Especially if you’re starting out, this is a good way to get a feel for the game without risking everything.
11. Know When to Quit
Look, your objective is to win money. But seeing as blackjack is, like all gambling, a matter of chance, you’re bound to hit a losing streak at some point.
This is where learning the art of quitting comes in. If you’re starting to lose money, bow out before you’ve lost it all. There will always be another time, so look to the future, when better odds might come your way.
Also, quit when you’re ahead. Get out when your winnings are sizable, before you lose it all later on.
Use These Blackjack Tips for Beginners
So there you have it. These are a few of the blackjack tricks that can help you beat the house edge and win some actual money at the casino.
Remember, always follow the basic playing strategy, and keep a cool head. And if you’re looking to play at online New Jersey casinos, be sure to check out our promo codes. Good luck!
