Blackjack is a casino house game, however there are systems and strategies that players can use to help them decrease the overall odds and reduce the house edge. This article provides our top ten tips on playing blackjack.

Blackjack Tip #1 – Always Use Basic Strategy Rules
Blackjack comes in different variations and with it also comes different rules and strategies needed in order to keep the house edge at a minimal. Basic strategy is simply a preset guideline on how to play certain hands based on certain criteria and if played correctly can help you maximize your overall profits. Players who are learning how to play should find a blackjack strategy chart designed specifically for the format of the game they intend to play and it’s recommended that you follow this.

Blackjack Tip #2 – Play at Tables Offering The Best Odds
Blackjack has multiple variations of the game. These games range from single deck games to multi-deck and multi-player and with these also come different rules to the game. For the most part every game of blackjack is played in the same manner with minor tweaks to the game. These tweaks along with the number of decks can either increase or decrease your odds. When deciding on which table to choose you want to find the one which favours the player.

Blackjack Tip #3 – Look for Tables Which Offer Early Surrender vs. Late Surrender
Depending on which game and what casino you play at, surrendering in blackjack can be done early or late. An early surrender is when you forfeit your hand prior to the dealer checking for blackjack and receiving half your wager back. A late surrender allows you to forfeit your hand after the dealer has checked for blackjack. Based on charts, an early surrender provides you with an additional .10 win rate over the late surrender which is why it’s suggested you play at tables which offer the early surrender option.

Blackjack Tip #4 – Play with the fewest decks possible
This should seem obvious. The more decks you add to the game, the higher the house edge has over the player.

Blackjack Tip #5 – Use Progressive Betting
After a win increase the size of you bet. This is usually your regular unit plus an additional amount up to 50%. There is no need to double your normal unit amount. This will allow you to increase your wins should you win another hand without risking your previous win. If you lose a hand, return to playing a single unit until you win again.

Blackjack Tip #6 – Dealer Hits on Soft 17
If you’re playing where the dealer stays on 17 it decreases your odds. You want to find a table where the dealer hits on a soft 17.

Blackjack Tip # 7 – Play the Dealer Not the Cards
Blackjack is a game played against the dealer not the cards. The object of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over and still beating the dealers hand. It is possible that you can win with a 14 or 16 count but you need to play with strategy against the dealer’s hand. By not using basic strategy you can easily give the casino more than a 5% advantage over you.

Blackjack Tip #8 – Playing Within Your Bankroll
This is the golden rule among any form of gambling. Don’t play with money you can’t afford to lose. Often if someone is placing bets with money that should be going elsewhere their mind is so focused on the money that they stop playing the game. When you sit down at the table be prepared to lose whatever you are bringing to the table comfortably without worry. You will enjoy the game much better and be able to focus on strategy instead of what bill that money could pay.

Blackjack Tip # 9 – Dont Take Insurance
Insurance only pays 3:2 when you are correct and nothing when you lose. If you are holding a natural 21 and the dealer is showing an Ace, there are then 15 ten count cards remaining in a single deck, in addition to the other 34 cards. You have a 1 in 3.26 chance of winning the insurance bet for a 2:1 payout. As an example if you were to play the insurance on 1000 hands at $5 per bet you would win 326 of these for a total of $3260. Now if we subtract the other 674 times you will lose, this amounts to $3370 a net loss of $110. This goes to show that you will lose more over the long run by taking insurance.

Blackjack Tip #10 – Learn to Walk Away
The biggest mistake any player can make is, not knowing when to just get up and walk away. If you’re on a losing streak then it’s advised you walk away. Don’t start doubling your bets to see if you can win your loses back. This will only add to the problem. There is always another day to play the game and if you’re not using strategy, playing out of frustration you might as well just hand the dealer the rest of your bankroll as this is what will more than likely happen if you continue to play with that frame of mind.

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Tags: Basic Strategy, BJ insurance, Black jack, Blackjack surrender