Want to be a better blackjack player? Avoid these 4 things
As much as we may wish it was the case at times, there is nothing that will ensure that we win every hand of blackjack. That being said, unlike with other casino games, there are things that players can do that boost their chances. In other words there are some critical blackjack mistakes to avoid. That’s part of what makes this game as amazing as it is.
The biggest thing that you can do to start winning more consistently is to master basic strategy. With this under your belt, you’ll always know what you should do. Hit stand, double down, surrender or split? When you know basic strategy you always know what the right option is. If you can combine this with playing at tables that have the most favorable blackjack rules, you’re well on your way to winning more often.
Of course, there is also card counting to consider. The problem here is that it can be hard to master. The other problem is that it’s getting harder to do. With continuous shuffling machines and multiple decks in play, keeping track is harder than ever.
With that in mind, we believe that you really need to focus on basic strategy. Having that achieved, here are the things that you need to avoid if you want to be winning even more.
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Blackjack mistakes to avoid #1 – Avoid blackjack games that pay 6:5
Okay, this one is getting harder to do but the truth remains the same: the best way of boosting your chances of winning is to steer clear of 6:5 blackjack games. You need to be looking for games where the payout is 3:2. Though you may still find these games when browsing online casinos, keep in mind that more and more land-based casinos are now moving away from this.
To be honest, the difference between a 3:2 and 6:5 payout doesn’t seem much. In truth, in isolation, it isn’t. It becomes an issue when you look at things over the long term. As a serious blackjack player who wants to win more, you know it’s never just about a single game.
If you were to wager $10 on a 3:2 table, your winnings would be $15. Over at a 6:5 table, this reduces to $12. Yes, it’s only $3 but this can soon add up and the lower payout also pushes the house edge up. This makes it even more difficult for a player to win and will lead to your bankroll vanishing.
Blackjack mistakes to avoid #2 – No dumb errors
Admittedly, no one is going to purposely make dumb errors. The reality is that they happen but there are things that you can do to minimize this. It’s too easy to see cards in your hand and act on a hunch. Guess what? There’s a good chance that your hunch is wrong and you’re about to blow your game. You can avoid this simply by using basic blackjack strategy.
There really is no excuse not to be using this. Ideally, you’ll learn it and commit it to memory. If you can’t, casinos will allow you to refer to basic strategy charts while you play. This strategy is based on math and probability and tells you exactly what to do to have more chance of winning. Why wouldn’t you use it?
You don’t need to be a blackjack professional to be using basic strategy. If you’re a player who wants to reduce their errors and who wants to win more often, you can literally hold the solution in your hands: a strategy chart tells you everything.
#3 – Avoid the dealer ruling the game
To be fair, dealers have a job to do. Some dealers are great, and it always makes sense to get on the right side of them. That’s exactly why you should be tipping them when you win. However, that doesn’t mean that they should be in complete control of the table and play.
A dealer can easily take control of the speed of the game and make it too fast for your liking. You need to be playing at a pace that you’re comfortable with. It needs to be at a pace where you can think and stick to strategy. Of course, using strategy doesn’t help the house so the dealer will pressure you to play faster so that you slip up.
Of course, when you slow the game down, you still have the same cards and so does the dealer. The difference is that you have the thinking time because a hand is lasting longer. The other benefit here is that the longer a hand takes, the fewer you can play in a session. This can help to keep your bankroll in the black.
#4 – Steer clear of side bets
If you want to hand your money over to the casino, you have a couple of choices. Firstly, you can withdraw your whole blackjack bankroll, place it in an envelope and hand it over with a smile. The second option? Place side bets.
Side bets are a surefire way of burning through your bankroll and bringing your session to an end. There’s no strategy involved with these and that means your handing the outcome over to luck. The impact of this? The house edge goes sky-high.
Yes, some of the side bets can be fun and yes, you can fall lucky. However, if you’re looking to win more consistently, stay away. The answer is to stick to the main game and to use perfect basic strategy
Final thoughts
If you play slots you know that there’s nothing you can do to change the outcome. You spin and you hope. Yes, it can be exciting but it can also be incredibly frustrating as you experience loss after loss. Blackjack is very different and you have the opportunity to take control.
Being successful at blackjack isn’t down to chance. It’s all about conscious decisions and knowing what the right course of action is. To get to winning ways, master basic strategy and then ensure that you avoid the 4 blackjack mistakes to avoid that we’ve just explored. We guarantee that you’ll soon notice a difference.
| 21+ | Terms & Conditions Apply | NJ Residents Only | ||
| $25 FREE on Signup 100% up to $1.000 on First Deposit Hotspot Leaderboard | Visit Casino |
