The immense popularity of blackjack increased even more when it finally appeared online. This card game has been the first choice of gamblers around the world for a long time, all because of its simplicity and the thrill it provides.
Despite knowing that the outcome of the game wasn’t in the players’ hands, this still made some of them wonder if there was a way to gain an edge. This has led to many strategies promising to increase your chances of winning. Yet, the tricks blackjack players apply to their gameplay aren’t always helpful. The best you can do is to rely on your own wits.
Blackjack Rules
The rules are quite easy to understand — several 52-card decks will be mixed up and placed in a box called “the shoe,” and gamblers will place their wagers. Then, the dealer will take cards from this box, one by one, and deal them until the dealer and each of the players have two cards. All the players’ cards will be facing up, while the dealer will have one card up and one facing down. The objective is to have cards that have a total value of 21 or less, but higher than the dealer.
Now, if neither you nor the dealer has 21, there are five possible moves to make. You can either hit (get another card), stand (take no more cards), split (when you have two identical cards), double down, or surrender (in some game versions). Which move you will make, depends on the cards you get.
Basic Strategy
If you see that the dealer’s up-card is either ten or an Ace, some variants of the game will give you the option to take insurance. Nonetheless, you should not do that because the house advantage will increase, and that will cause you to lose money systematically.
If you have either a 10 or an 11 and the dealer’s card is lower, you should double down. Also, when your total is 18, stand.
Now, as we mentioned, the Ace can have either a 1 or an 11 as its value. That is why you should have a different strategy in each of the cases. For instance, if you get a total of 17 made from an Ace that has 1 as a value, stop. And in case the dealer has an up-card that is higher or equal to 7, while your total is from 12 to 16, the smart thing to do is to ask for another card.
When Ace counts as eleven, you should stop if your total is 18. In case you get 17 or lower, you should take another card.
The good thing about online blackjack is that most casinos have a rule that implies the dealer will have to stand if they draw 17 as total value. Still, have in mind that, if they get a soft hand — a 17 made of an Ace and a 6 — they will have an opportunity to draw an additional card.
Mental Attitude and Psychological Preparation for the Game
Blackjack is a game that requires real patience. So if you are in it for the long run, you should be in the kind of state of mind that is going to lead you to a win. Here are some online blackjack psychological tips and tricks you can apply the next time you decide to play a game or two at your favorite casino; so that you can help make your experience less stressful.
First of all, you need to be prepared. That means you have to know the rules and what you can expect from the game. Additionally, be ready to lose more often than you win. Statistics say you’re likely to lose happens about 70% of the time. The whole point of blackjack is to have fun while winning money; but if the cash part doesn’t go so well, you shouldn’t panic! Instead, predetermine the sum that you can afford to lose.
This is a game that you should play with full focus. If you’re unable to follow the gameplay and you get distracted a lot, just walk away.
Finally, whether you’re playing in a real casino or live blackjack online, do not play too quickly. Take your time to consider your options and make the most beneficial move for you, by sticking to basic strategy.
Manage Your Bankroll
The crucial element of any successfully played casino game is money management. You shouldn’t take this too lightly. As we mentioned, never invest more than you can afford to lose. That means you should never play with your rent money!
Smart gambling implies you’re going to set your bankroll. That will be a certain amount of money that you will spend on one gaming session. You should do so before you begin playing. Once the sum of money you’ve decided upon is finally gone, walk away! Do whatever you please, but make sure you don’t cross that line. Many gamblers get carried away, and they end up with some pretty disastrous results!
On another note, many online casinos will have different rules for the game. That is why you should read their T&C sections very carefully. It would be a smart move for you to choose the game with the lowest house edge.
As far as betting is concerned, you shouldn’t increase your wager if you’re losing. If you hit a losing streak, you should lower your bets and enhance them only when you start winning. And on that note, you should never try to compensate for your losses with big stakes.
If you hit an extraordinary winning streak, you should cash it in instantly and quit before your luck turns on you. However, you should be prepared to lose 70% of the time; so if your losses continue, just call it a day.
Conclusion
Even though many gamblers play blackjack for real money online hoping they will eventually win the game, you should know that it’s not going to be easy. As we’ve mentioned already, you don’t have full control over the game, but you do have a choice! You can choose which of the blackjack tables you’re going to approach, and how much money you’re planning to invest.
And whatever choice you make, you need to be prepared. Knowing the game’s intricacies, rules, and odds of winning is the defining line between bankruptcy and having fun! Anyhow, you should still make sure you don’t get carried away. If you want to play blackjack long-term, understand that your losses are certain to be more frequent than your wins.
All in all, whether you prefer online gambling or land-based casinos, you do need to know what you are getting yourself into, and just try to make the best of it. Playing online blackjack might not be exactly the same as the live game; but if you play for real money, you need to know that luck is the sole factor determining the outcome.