How To Better Your Odds At Blackjack
Blackjack is a lot of fun, and casino gamblers can’t seem to get enough of this amazing game. Unfortunately, a lot of blackjack gamblers fail to maximize their time at the tables.
- Blackjack Odds Chart
- Wizard Of Odds Blackjack Strategy
- Blackjack Odds If Played Perfectly
- How To Better Your Odds At Blackjack Card Game
- Blackjack Odds Explained
The best odds are determined by the rules. The rules are printed in the table felt, or in some cases on a placard placed on the left side (player’s view) of the table. Also, the fewer decks being used increase the odds for the player with a single blackjack deck giving the best odds. If you can double on any two cards, it can help improve the payback percentage. One way to beat the house odds is by increasing your odds. Blackjack odds are percentage figures which represent your probability of losing or winning a hand. They can also represent the house edge or their profit margins as well. Usually probability odds don't mean much on the short term, but they clearly average out in the long term and this is why the casinos always win over the long term. If the dealer has to stand with a soft 17, that will give you better odds. Perfect Blackjack Strategy Charts. Here are the charts you need to memorize to get your blackjack strategy perfect. The numbers going horizontally at the top of the chart represent the card that the dealer is showing, and the numbers in the left most column are the value. Hand interaction is a strategy that basic strategy players can use to reduce the house edge (blackjack odds) against them and it will affect on how to play the game. It is not a technique for the timid player because you will be making a bet on another player’s hand or asking a player to bet on your hand. Why would you do so such a thing?
Blackjack Odds Chart
That’s where we come in. On this page, you’ll learn how to become a more profitable blackjack gambler. Don’t waste another second of your time without implementing these tips.
Take these seven simple steps to increase your blackjack winnings, and you’ll be at the tables longer. More importantly, you’ll be keeping more of your hard-earned cash in your wallet when playing blackjack for real money.
Only Play Blackjack Games With Friendly Rules
Blackjack tables are pretty standardized across the board. Still, some casinos or tables offer much friendlier games for the player than others.
Chief among these are games that pay 3:2 on blackjack. The 3:2 tables are the most common games. Unfortunately, I see tables that only pay 6:5 on blackjacks more and more frequently. Your best option when you see these tables is to walk on by and find a better table.
Paying 6:5 dramatically increases the house’s advantage because you’re getting significantly less payout each time you hit blackjack. Remember, stick to games that pay 3:2, and you’ll increase your winnings.
Finding blackjack variants where the dealer stays on a soft 17 will also improve your odds at the blackjack table. It takes the house’s ability to catch up to better hands. That slight difference will swing the odds in your favor. When it comes to casino gambling, you want every advantage you can find.
Doubling down and splitting can also dramatically increase your blackjack winnings. When you find games that allow you to double down on any hand or double down after a split, you’ve found a friendly game.
Also, games that allow players to split any two cards can greatly improve your take. Keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for casinos to offer games with different rules. So, be sure to take a quick stroll around the casino floor, as opposed to sitting at the first table you see.
Being diligent about finding the game with the best rules every time you step into the casino is a surefire way to increase your blackjack winnings.
Learn and Implement the Basic Gambling Strategy
Stop treating blackjack like a guessing game. Every time I am at the casino, I see the same thing. Players attempt to channel their inner psychic when it comes time to decide on whether to hit or stay.
Without any prior thought or strategy as to how the game has played out, they suddenly believe they can accurately predict the next card to be dealt. This strategy “works” maybe 20% of the time. Overwhelmingly, it blows up in the player’s face, and their chips become the casino’s again.
What if I told you there’s a basic system for blackjack that reduces the house edge to a very manageable 1%? Actually, the basic strategy knocks the house advantage below 1%. That makes blackjack one of the most player-friendly games in the casino.
Some of the greatest mathematicians on the planet spent decades decoding the game and working out the absolute best way to play every single hand based on the dealer’s up card.
That’s right, the casinos are aware of basic strategy. They don’t even mind if you use the chart at the table as long as you aren’t slowing down the game by looking for the perfect play on every single hand.
Learning and implementing basic strategy has been the single most important aspect of increasing my blackjack winnings. It will do the same for you, blackjack is a numbers game, and all of the math has been done for you.
Avoid the Insurance Bet
One of the worst bets in any casino is the insurance bet in blackjack. I had a neighbor that was a casino dealer. He used to say, “There are sucker bets, then there’s the insurance bet.”
The insurance bet is a wager that the dealer has a card with a value of 10 to pair with their ace. The bet pays 2:1, which sounds fair enough at first, but it doesn’t pass closer inspection. If the dealer has a blackjack, that’s great.
You’ll lose your original wager but win the insurance bet. However, when the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack (which is an overwhelming majority of the time), you’ll lose the insurance bet. Then, you’ll still have your original wager to play out, and over 50% of the time, you’re going to lose that bet also. So, now you’re out $40 instead of $20.
I don’t believe the casinos are out to get anyone. They don’t need to be; the odds are stacked immensely in their favor. However, they also aren’t going to start offering wagers where they lose money. It’s counterintuitive to everything that makes the well-oiled machine known as the casino industry tick.
Don’t forget, insurance is a casino sucker bet. Politely decline and move on. Sometimes, the dealer will have a blackjack, and you’ll need to learn to accept that. Avoiding insurance won’t win you money, but it’ll keep the money you’ve won where it belongs.
Don’t Fall Victim to the Gambler’s Fallacy
The gambler’s fallacy is the fallacious logic that because a particular event has occurred a disproportionate amount of times in the past, it’s suddenly more or less likely to happen going forward.
You could just as easily win 10 hands in a row than lose 10 in a row. Stay away from the idea that you’re due for a win. Stay consistent on your bet amount, and hopefully, you’ll stay in the game long enough for those bad runs to even out.
Remember that by playing basic strategy on every hand, and staying away from the insurance bet, the house edge is under 1%. You’ll have your run of wins. But if you double down or go on tilt, you may be out of the game before they come.
Always Play for Casino Rewards
You should never sit down to a casino game without having your player’s card swiped. The player’s card allows you to earn casino comps based on how much you’re putting into action every hour.
The comps you can earn playing blackjack won’t necessarily put cash back in your pocket, but the comps you earn could save you on meals or rooms, which gives you more cash to use in the casino.
Wizard Of Odds Blackjack Strategy
You can even find the occasional cashback perk during certain times. Although the percentages are incredibly small, every dime you get back will help offset losses slightly.
If you’re unfamiliar with the player’s card, ask any casino employee, and they can point you in the right direction. Sometimes, you can even earn some pretty cool gifts or perks for simply signing up.
Learn to Count Cards
Counting cards in blackjack is the most concrete way to increase your winnings. I don’t necessarily advocate card counting and haven’t personally taken any steps to learn the practice. However, by grabbing a book on the subject and doing some intense practice, you can pick it up relatively easily (from what I’ve been told).
That’s Hollywood for you! I’ve personally never had anyone share that as their experience. Maybe in old-school Vegas, but it’s not as common in family-friendly Vegas 2.0. You will certainly be kicked out of the casino and you probably won’t be welcomed back. Your picture could also be shared with other casinos, and it may be hard to find a game.
Still, there isn’t a better way to increase your blackjack winnings than to gain such an advantage over the house.
Hole Carding
Hole carding can be extremely helpful. Your goal here is to spot the dealer’s hole card.
Spotting the hole card lets you know exactly what the dealer has. I’m sure you can understand how this can be tremendously advantageous.
Usually, the dealer needs to be pretty weak with their form. This is the only time it’s ever okay to buy insurance.
Since you’ll already know that the dealer has a blackjack, insurance is a no-brainer.
Conclusion
Take these seven simple steps to increase your blackjack winnings. Above all, remember that gambling is meant to be entertainment.
You probably won’t win every time you sit down, but if you enjoy the game, it’s a win! We hope you’ve enjoyed this tips and will begin to implement them into your gameplay. Good luck!
To win at blackjack, you need to get closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over. That sounds basic, but a key to blackjack for beginners is understanding the odds and basic strategy of when to draw another card (hit) and when to stop (stay). In this casino guide, blackjack for beginners, you’ll get the basic rules, strategy, and lingo so you can feel comfortable gambling online or in a brick-and-mortar casino.
Blackjack for beginners: The basics
The cards, the cash, the cocktails. As a game, blackjack just looks cool in the casino. In movies from “Rain Man” to “21” to “Vegas Vacation,” Blackjack plays a major role and is one of those iconic casino games everyone wants to give a shot. If you’re new to the game, here’s a quick guide to get you on the right track at the table. Hopefully your luck is a bit better than Clark Griswold’s.
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The goal of blackjack is for a player’s hand of cards to add up to as close to 21 as possible without going over — known as busting. Numbered cards count as their number; that’s simple enough. Aces can be played as 1 or 11, and face cards count as 10.
To start a game, each player is dealt two cards (usually face up) from a shoe usually with four, six, or eight decks (though you can find single- and double-deck blackjack at higher stakes). The dealer also is dealt two cards with only one of those face up. The dealer has a major advantage in getting to act last.
A player dealt an ace and a 10 (or face card) hits a “natural” 21, also known as blackjack. The player is paid immediately in most circumstances at 3-to-2 (bet $200 and win $300), although more casinos have gone to the inferior 6-to-5 payout (bet $500 to win $600). If the dealer is also dealt a blackjack, however, the hand is a push — no win, no loss.
Blackjack for beginners is pretty simple: If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, then you win. Also, if the dealer happens to bust (go over 21), you win. It sounds easy, but there are more caveats and things to remember.
Blackjack for beginners: Terms and bets
Hit: Maybe you’ve seen someone playing blackjack in a movie say “hit me.” That means you’re taking another card in the quest to get closer to 21. A tap of the finger or hand also works, and the dealer will give you another card.
Stand: You “stand” when you don’t want any more cards. Usually this happens when you hit a 17 or higher (and sometimes even lower depending on the dealer’s card). A simple waving of the hand as if saying “no” will do the trick. The dealer will then go on to the next player.
Soft: If you have a “soft 17,” that means you have an ace and 6. Because an ace counts as 1 or 11, this hand can be either 7 or 17 and a player isn’t hurt by taking a hit as a 10 won’t bust this hand. Dealers must draw until reaching 17 or higher, but usually must hit a soft 17. Staying on all 17s works in the player’s favor. Different casinos have different rules dictating the dealer’s move on soft 17.
Insurance: A bet players can make when the dealer’s up card is an ace. The player can usually bet half of his bet and “insure” some of his bet against a Blackjack. This is a sucker bet and a loser in the long run.
Split: If you are dealt two of the same card, you are allowed to split those bets into two different hands by making a second bet. The hands then play out in the normal routine. It’s important to know basic strategy to know the best odds when it comes to knowing when and what hands to split (see graphic). Got two 10s? Never split — that 20 already has a high likelihood of being a winner. Two fives? Another hand that’s a keeper. That 10 has a nice likelihood to get another high card — hopefully an ace — for a winner.
Blackjack Odds If Played Perfectly
Double down: Players are allowed to (and should) double their bets on certain hands for an extra score. The catch to doubling down is the player will only receive one card, so if you pull a 3, and have 13, you’re done. Doubling is common on hands totaling 9, 10 or 11 because of the high likelihood of getting another high card. But there are other circumstances to consider before making this move. Knowing basic strategy will certainly help.
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Things to know about blackjack
Blackjack is one of the best games in the casino for a player, but it’s important to learn basic strategy if you want to take it seriously and have the best odds of winning. With numerous cards valued at a 10 or 11 (10, jack, queen, king, ace), there are a variety of things to consider when it comes to hitting, standing, doubling down, or splitting.
There are numerous resources to check out and learn the best strategy when playing blackjack, and it’s highly recommended. Applying the strategy perfectly can reduce that house edge down to as low as .05 percent.
How To Better Your Odds At Blackjack Card Game
Blackjack Odds Explained
There’s also one more thing to remember: Unlike the movies, players are not allowed to touch the cards. Simple hand movements are the norm in most games. Good luck.