Blackjack is blackjack: your goal is to beat the dealer whether you play in land-based or online casinos in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Caribbean, or any other part of the world. However, playing blackjack abroad in a land-based casino has some differences compared to playing in the U.S. The following table summarizes the differences. Mar 25, 2020 The reality is that playing blackjack at casinos is a grind, and the same goes for an online casino. Some play upwards of 200 hands per hour, which can be taxing on your mental well being.
Blackjack can be an easy online gambling game — you just have to be able to add to 21, after all. But there's much more to the game if you hope to tip the casino's edge in your favor. Take this gambling advice, follow these best blackjack tips to improve your strategy so you don't miss opportunities to squeeze some extra bucks out of the casino when the cards are going your way.
On the flip side, these best blackjack tips have cousins on the bad side. These will help you avoid the moves that separate you from your hard-earned cash in the long run. The house already has a built-in statistical edge (those casinos weren't built by losing money), so keep your head and play smart.
Here are our three best blackjack tips, and three worst. And, we'll toss in two bonus blackjack tips, too.
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Top 3 best blackjack tips
Mastering basic strategy — If you're serious about making a few bucks at the table and plan on playing at some decent stakes, mastering basic strategy is a must, and top the every list of best blackjack tips. There are numerous books and websites devoted to the subject, so check them out and know how to play each hand that's dealt versus the dealer's up card. Got two nines? You'll want to split those versus a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 or 9. Stand on a 7, 10 or ace. Following perfect basic strategy can reduce the casino's edge to about 0.5 percent, the best bet in the casino.
Doubling down — Players who know basic strategy will know when to utilize this option at the tables. Doubling down allows the player to double the bet and receive one card. This is also a good bet in more situations than just holding 9, 10 or 11. For example, it's usually a smart move to double a soft 17 (ace-6) against a dealer's 4, 5 or 6. Simply doubling the initial bet may not seem like a big advantage, but in the long run, winning these bets can be the difference between a losing night or a winning night.
Splitting aces — While you never split 10s, splitting aces is absolutely a best blackjack tip. (If you don't, you lose.) When splitting, you'll ante up another wager for the second hand, and then receive a card for the first with options to stand or hit. The same continues for the second hand. Some casinos allow for splitting if another of the same card is dealt again. With so many cards valued at 10, odds for a blackjack is high. And with nines and eights also in the shoe, players have a great chance of drawing two winning hands here instead of one. Like doubling down, these types of hands increase profits in the long run and can help turn a losing night into a winner.
Top 3 worst blackjack tips
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Splitting 10s — Are you crazy? You've hit that great hand of 20, and then want to break it into two separate hands and two separate bets? All this move does is turn a usual winner into possibly two losers. And yet people still make this mistake all the time at the tables. Invariably, the (un)lucky gambler will draw two inferior hands or bust after splitting and the dealer will draw to an 18 or 19. Don't pass up opportunities to book a win. Take the money and run.
Taking insurance — Insurance is an option for players when the dealer is showing an ace. A player can usually bet half his bet as 'insurance' against the dealer having a blackjack. The bet pays 2 to 1, so even if the dealer does indeed have 21, the player ends up at break-even. However, a player who has blackjack and takes insurance will only get paid even money for his if the dealer doesn't have it. With a blackjack paying 3 to 2 (or 6 to 5 nowadays at many Vegas Strip casinos), ponying up for insurance is a loser in the long run and should be avoided. Insure your car, insure your house — don't insure your blackjack hand.
Boulder strip slot machine. Taking a stand — This one is pretty simple to remember: Never stand on a 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 if the dealer has a 7 or higher. The odds aren't in your favor to win this one and you will lose in the long run (see basic strategy above). Too many uneducated players are passive with these hands, scared to bust. But more often than not, you're guaranteed a loser — with more money going to the casino.
Play live dealers online:Sign up at Golden Nugget
Bonus: 2 more best blackjack tips
Don't go cocktail crazy — A night out at the casino can be fun, but there's a reason the drinks are free. Getting sauced can be a great way to lose more cash than you planned. Even if playing online, don't imbibe in too many Bud Lights in the recliner.
Have a plan — Don't gamble more than you can afford. This may sound obvious, but it's a best blackjack tip for a reason. Have a set gambling amount and stick to it. Know when to walk away, or shut down that laptop.
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games for a variety of reasons. It only takes a few minutes to learn how to play, it's a lot of fun, and it offers a great opportunity to win a decent amount of money.
It's also one of the few casino games where you aren't entirely reliant on luck, and you can have direct influence on the outcome.
There are a few things you should do if you want to get the best possible experience when playing blackjack.
On this page, we've listed the most important facts.
These are our top blackjack tips, and they should ensure that you have a great time playing while maximizing your chances of winning some money.
Know the Rules
This is a somewhat obvious piece of advice. Before you start playing blackjack for real money you should really be familiar with the basic rules of the game. They are pretty simple, so they don't take at all long to learn.
You'll then be able to fully enjoy the game without wondering what you're supposed to be doing.
In addition to understanding the basic rules of how the game is played, you should also be aware of the exact rules of the version you are playing. There are several different variations of blackjack, and different casinos vary on some of the key rules.
The fundamental rules are always the same, but some variations do affect what you can and can't do in certain circumstances.
Unlike some casino games, blackjack isn't based entirely on chance. Results are ultimately determined by which cards are dealt, which means there is some element of luck involved, but the decisions you make also have an impact on the outcome of a hand.
If you consistently make the right decisions, then you will improve your overall chances of winning some money.
Basic blackjack strategy is essentially a set of rules which stipulate what the right decision is in any given situation. If you follow these rules, then you can rest assured that each decision you make is mathematically correct.
They are based on the probabilities of what will happen next and take into account factors such as the chances you have of going bust if you take a card.
It can take a while to master blackjack strategy, but once you've played for a while you'll probably be able to make most decisions without even thinking.
You can keep the house edge very low when playing blackjack, which is one of the main reasons why this game is so popular. You should, in theory, win almost as many hands as you lose if you're following basic strategy.
However, this theory only really applies in the long run. In any individual session you play there's always a chance you'll win a lot more hands than you lose, and always a chance you'll lose a lot more hands than you win.
If you bet too much of your bankroll on any one hand, you could easily go bust if you have a bad run.
If you instead only bet a small percentage of your bankroll on each hand, your money should last for awhile even if luck isn't on your side. You'll therefore have plenty of time for your luck to turn around.
Because of the low house edge in blackjack, it's quite likely that you will have a decent winning streak every now and then. All poker platforms. It's not at all uncommon to get a great run of cards and win a high percentage of your hands. You must, however, recognize that no winning streak lasts forever.
When things are going well it can be very tempting to keep on playing or even increase your stakes. There's nothing at all wrong with riding a hot streak, but you have to know when to stop.
If you did have a lucky streak, don't waste it by making the mistake of giving all your winnings back to the casino. You should keep some of your profit separate to make sure you walk away ahead.
The same basic principle applies when you go on a losing streak. You don't necessarily have to stop as soon as you lose a few hands, but you should certainly quit before you lose more than you're comfortable with.
You should also avoid the classic mistake of chasing your losses. Trying to make a recovery by increasing your stakes is something you should never do in a casino.
Playing blackjack online doesn't provide quite the same experience as playing in a live casino, but it does offer some notable benefits. It's far more convenient for one thing, as you can play whenever you want to without have to make a trip to your local casino.
You can also play a lot more hands, as the game goes by a lot faster online.
Online casinos are also a great way for beginners to learn how to play blackjack. Most casinos have a play for free option, which means you can familiarize yourself with the game before risking any of your own money.
They also tend to have lower minimum stakes than live casinos, so when you do start to play for real money you don't have to bet any more than you feel comfortable with.
Here are our three best blackjack tips, and three worst. And, we'll toss in two bonus blackjack tips, too.
Live blackjack dealers:Play now at SugarHouse
Top 3 best blackjack tips
Mastering basic strategy — If you're serious about making a few bucks at the table and plan on playing at some decent stakes, mastering basic strategy is a must, and top the every list of best blackjack tips. There are numerous books and websites devoted to the subject, so check them out and know how to play each hand that's dealt versus the dealer's up card. Got two nines? You'll want to split those versus a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 or 9. Stand on a 7, 10 or ace. Following perfect basic strategy can reduce the casino's edge to about 0.5 percent, the best bet in the casino.
Doubling down — Players who know basic strategy will know when to utilize this option at the tables. Doubling down allows the player to double the bet and receive one card. This is also a good bet in more situations than just holding 9, 10 or 11. For example, it's usually a smart move to double a soft 17 (ace-6) against a dealer's 4, 5 or 6. Simply doubling the initial bet may not seem like a big advantage, but in the long run, winning these bets can be the difference between a losing night or a winning night.
Splitting aces — While you never split 10s, splitting aces is absolutely a best blackjack tip. (If you don't, you lose.) When splitting, you'll ante up another wager for the second hand, and then receive a card for the first with options to stand or hit. The same continues for the second hand. Some casinos allow for splitting if another of the same card is dealt again. With so many cards valued at 10, odds for a blackjack is high. And with nines and eights also in the shoe, players have a great chance of drawing two winning hands here instead of one. Like doubling down, these types of hands increase profits in the long run and can help turn a losing night into a winner.
Top 3 worst blackjack tips
Blackjack Casino On Facebook
Splitting 10s — Are you crazy? You've hit that great hand of 20, and then want to break it into two separate hands and two separate bets? All this move does is turn a usual winner into possibly two losers. And yet people still make this mistake all the time at the tables. Invariably, the (un)lucky gambler will draw two inferior hands or bust after splitting and the dealer will draw to an 18 or 19. Don't pass up opportunities to book a win. Take the money and run.
Taking insurance — Insurance is an option for players when the dealer is showing an ace. A player can usually bet half his bet as 'insurance' against the dealer having a blackjack. The bet pays 2 to 1, so even if the dealer does indeed have 21, the player ends up at break-even. However, a player who has blackjack and takes insurance will only get paid even money for his if the dealer doesn't have it. With a blackjack paying 3 to 2 (or 6 to 5 nowadays at many Vegas Strip casinos), ponying up for insurance is a loser in the long run and should be avoided. Insure your car, insure your house — don't insure your blackjack hand.
Boulder strip slot machine. Taking a stand — This one is pretty simple to remember: Never stand on a 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 if the dealer has a 7 or higher. The odds aren't in your favor to win this one and you will lose in the long run (see basic strategy above). Too many uneducated players are passive with these hands, scared to bust. But more often than not, you're guaranteed a loser — with more money going to the casino.
Play live dealers online:Sign up at Golden Nugget
Bonus: 2 more best blackjack tips
Don't go cocktail crazy — A night out at the casino can be fun, but there's a reason the drinks are free. Getting sauced can be a great way to lose more cash than you planned. Even if playing online, don't imbibe in too many Bud Lights in the recliner.
Have a plan — Don't gamble more than you can afford. This may sound obvious, but it's a best blackjack tip for a reason. Have a set gambling amount and stick to it. Know when to walk away, or shut down that laptop.
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games for a variety of reasons. It only takes a few minutes to learn how to play, it's a lot of fun, and it offers a great opportunity to win a decent amount of money.
It's also one of the few casino games where you aren't entirely reliant on luck, and you can have direct influence on the outcome.
There are a few things you should do if you want to get the best possible experience when playing blackjack.
On this page, we've listed the most important facts.
These are our top blackjack tips, and they should ensure that you have a great time playing while maximizing your chances of winning some money.
Know the Rules
This is a somewhat obvious piece of advice. Before you start playing blackjack for real money you should really be familiar with the basic rules of the game. They are pretty simple, so they don't take at all long to learn.
You'll then be able to fully enjoy the game without wondering what you're supposed to be doing.
In addition to understanding the basic rules of how the game is played, you should also be aware of the exact rules of the version you are playing. There are several different variations of blackjack, and different casinos vary on some of the key rules.
The fundamental rules are always the same, but some variations do affect what you can and can't do in certain circumstances.
Unlike some casino games, blackjack isn't based entirely on chance. Results are ultimately determined by which cards are dealt, which means there is some element of luck involved, but the decisions you make also have an impact on the outcome of a hand.
If you consistently make the right decisions, then you will improve your overall chances of winning some money.
Basic blackjack strategy is essentially a set of rules which stipulate what the right decision is in any given situation. If you follow these rules, then you can rest assured that each decision you make is mathematically correct.
They are based on the probabilities of what will happen next and take into account factors such as the chances you have of going bust if you take a card.
It can take a while to master blackjack strategy, but once you've played for a while you'll probably be able to make most decisions without even thinking.
You can keep the house edge very low when playing blackjack, which is one of the main reasons why this game is so popular. You should, in theory, win almost as many hands as you lose if you're following basic strategy.
However, this theory only really applies in the long run. In any individual session you play there's always a chance you'll win a lot more hands than you lose, and always a chance you'll lose a lot more hands than you win.
If you bet too much of your bankroll on any one hand, you could easily go bust if you have a bad run.
If you instead only bet a small percentage of your bankroll on each hand, your money should last for awhile even if luck isn't on your side. You'll therefore have plenty of time for your luck to turn around.
Because of the low house edge in blackjack, it's quite likely that you will have a decent winning streak every now and then. All poker platforms. It's not at all uncommon to get a great run of cards and win a high percentage of your hands. You must, however, recognize that no winning streak lasts forever.
When things are going well it can be very tempting to keep on playing or even increase your stakes. There's nothing at all wrong with riding a hot streak, but you have to know when to stop.
If you did have a lucky streak, don't waste it by making the mistake of giving all your winnings back to the casino. You should keep some of your profit separate to make sure you walk away ahead.
The same basic principle applies when you go on a losing streak. You don't necessarily have to stop as soon as you lose a few hands, but you should certainly quit before you lose more than you're comfortable with.
You should also avoid the classic mistake of chasing your losses. Trying to make a recovery by increasing your stakes is something you should never do in a casino.
Playing blackjack online doesn't provide quite the same experience as playing in a live casino, but it does offer some notable benefits. It's far more convenient for one thing, as you can play whenever you want to without have to make a trip to your local casino.
You can also play a lot more hands, as the game goes by a lot faster online.
Online casinos are also a great way for beginners to learn how to play blackjack. Most casinos have a play for free option, which means you can familiarize yourself with the game before risking any of your own money.
They also tend to have lower minimum stakes than live casinos, so when you do start to play for real money you don't have to bet any more than you feel comfortable with.
When you join an online casino you'll usually be able to claim a sign up bonus on your first deposit.
This bonus will basically be in the form of extra chips for you to play with. You'll have to play a certain amount before you can withdraw the bonus, but it's effectively free money if you were planning on playing anyway.
Online casinos generally offer rewards based on your playing activity too. You earn more rewards the more you play, which is similar to how live casinos issue comps to players. You'll typically get better value from playing online though.
It's also worth mentioning that many online casinos offer live blackjack now. This enables you to play the game against human dealers, over a real-time video stream. This makes playing online much closer to the experience of playing in a live casino.
For reputable and trustworthy places to play, check out our recommended online casinos:
Don't Insure Your Blackjacks
In some blackjack variants you'll be offered the chance to insure your hand if the dealer is showing an ace or ten. This means making an additional bet of half your stake, which pays out at 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack.
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If the dealer has a blackjack, the hand will be a tie and their initial stake will be returned. They'll win their insurance bet at 2:1, leaving them in profit.
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If the dealer doesn't have a blackjack, they'll be paid out on their initial stake at 3:2. The insurance bet will be lost, but they'll still have made a profit.
While this safety first approach might seem sensible, it's actually a losing play in the long run. From a mathematical perspective you should never insure your blackjacks, or any other hand for that matter.
Blackjack is one of the easier games to win money at, which is obviously a good reason to play it. It's also a lot fun too, so please try and remember that.
Like any casino game, it should ultimately be a source of entertainment. If you aren't having fun, then it might be time to take a break.
