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Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games, but many players around the world still fail to understand it completely. The basic rules are simple and everyone can learn them, yet not all people put in the effort to find out how to win at blackjack using an arsenal of strategies and tips.

Your skills and specific knowledge of the game will make all the difference you need. While luck is involved, it’s all about doing the right things at the right time. There are several ways to lower the house edge, as well as a plethora of other ways to win at blackjack. In this article, we’ll share valuable advice that can help you perfect your skills and allow you to win more often than ever before.

Winning at Blackjack: The Basic Tips

Most things that could help you get any work done are usually simple. The same goes for all the ways that can help you win at blackjack.

It all starts with learning the basic terms. You’d be surprised to learn how many players stick to the few basic terms and fail to realize there are more key terms to learn. For example, you should know what it means to “double down”. If you opt for it, then you choose a double bet and a single card during the next draw. You can also surrender (another term that some players haven’t heard before) in case you want to discard your bad hand. This is how you save half of your wager.

Check out part of the important terminology in blackjack that’s related to the strategies you should learn all about.

  • Stand: If you decide to stand, you deny additional cards during the next draw.
  • Hit: This means you ask the dealer for a card.
  • Split: You can split two cards with equal value into different hands. This will essentially result in doubling your bet.
  • Double down: This is a combined move to make because you double the wager, ask for an additional card, and stand after that.
  • Surrender: If you feel like you will lose your hand, you can avoid this by surrendering. As a result, you lose half your wager.

Rules matter the most. Sure enough, the gameplay of blackjack is so simple that everyone could understand the concept in minutes, but the trick is to study the variations. There are often small differences and additional rules that can you can leverage.

When you play online blackjack, the rules sheet should be visible at the table. In case you’re confused, make sure to find the additional information you need. Otherwise, you risk losing time and money over the fine print you neglected. The differences in blackjack variations may seem to be too small at first, but they really count and can help you restrict the house edge.

The Essential Tips to Win at Blackjack

There are fundamental tips that can always work in your favor, should you choose to trust them. You need to use every trick in the book to your advantage because the house will not let you win easily. Let’s explore the essential tips for becoming better at blackjack.

Choose a strategy

The blackjack strategies you can choose from are all worth mastering. They will teach you how and when to double down, split, stand, or hit when you are not sure about the next step you should take. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that no strategy will guarantee your win. But improving your chances of winning is a good enough reason to practice every strategy you learn. One way to practice and have fun is to use a mobile app; there are plenty of those available for both Android and iOS devices.

Every good blackjack strategy will suggest the best step to take, depending on the hand you have. There is no way to predict the outcome of any game, but you can use the knowledge you have of the game and the particular strategy. Blackjack strategies don’t rely on probabilities. They are based on math models and using them could result in wins or at least reduced losses.

Test different strategies to master them

There are dozens of strategies and additional tips that could transform your game by simply taking advantage of the hand you have in a given moment. For example, you are advised to double down if the first couple of cards you receive equal 11 in total. In case you have a pair of 8s or aces, for instance, you should split them immediately if you want to continue to pursue blackjack’s simple goal of reaching 21.

Surrendering, for example, needs to be done when the right opportunity comes your way. It can lower the house edge just a tad, but it could be all you need to succeed. To surrender properly, you need to know how this strategy works and the ways in which it can be applied.

The rules related to surrendering may vary, depending on the casino you choose to play at. Most casinos agree on a few key points:

  • You can surrender only when you have a couple of cards
  • You can’t surrender if you’ve already taken another decision regarding your hand
  • If you have a hard total of 15 or 16, you can surrender if the dealer has an ace or a 10

The last example contains the only two cases in which you can surrender your hand when playing multi-deck blackjack. You should stick to the rest of the blackjack strategies in all other scenarios.

Follow the game and react

If you’ve already played blackjack, then you know that the game is always grouped in consecutive streaks. You could experience several winning hands one after another, but it will not last forever and a losing hand will follow. Still, you can make the most of your winning spree by increasing your bet. This is a simple strategy that will pay off in the long run, even if it seems that it’s the wrong decision to make, considering the losing hand after three or more winning hands.

Playing for too long before you even start making a slight profit is not a good idea. Gradually increasing your wager will add excitement and boost your chances of winning big. Once you meet your initial goal, you need to walk away and enjoy it. Otherwise, you may experience a change in your luck and lose more than you wanted initially.

Check out the reward programs at the casinos you prefer

Most, if not all, casinos offer loyalty programs with bonus points that you can take advantage of. You can get extra points based on the time and funds you spend playing at the casino. If you are a regular (or you plan on becoming one), then you have the right to take advantage of these bonuses.

Skip long blackjack sessions are usually not a good idea

Longer blackjack sessions are usually a no-no when it comes to blackjack. One of the reasons for that is the possible presence of shuffling machines. Not all blackjack dealers use them, but those who do deploy them every few rounds. Casinos do it to prevent counting cards during longer sessions. Some dealers use shufflers that are deployed after most of the game has been played. Still, the best option is to join a table where the dealer shuffles the cards themselves.

Set a wager limit and don’t go over it

If you want to win at blackjack, part of your personal winning strategy should be the preliminary set wager limit. You need to know how long will you stay at a blackjack table even before you choose one. Knowing what you’re willing to spend in advance will prevent heavier losses.

Consider the house edge

We already mentioned that expecting to win each blackjack game would end up in nothing but disappointment. The reason is simple: blackjack, just like any other casino game, is designed with the idea of bringing profit to the house, meaning that the house edge is always a factor to consider. When you think about this aspect of the game, you will always come up with the right strategy.

Things to Do if You Want to Win at Blackjack

When you play blackjack, you should be in for the excitement and joy, instead of focusing on the money (which matters a lot as well). This is why you need to act depending on your experience. If you are a newbie, then you need to inform the dealer. They will probably give you the push you need to learn all about blackjack as fast as possible.

After you introduce yourself and you share any concerns you might have with the dealer, you should get the hang of things soon. Once that happens, you might want to tip your dealer. The tip can be a chip that you intended for the dealer. If your hand wins, part of the profit will be for your dealer.

Things to Avoid When Playing Blackjack

Even if you are a new player, you need to understand that your competitors are not your mentors, meaning that you should never allow them to dictate your personal strategy. Being intimidated by them is normal, but you need to play your hand and learn from the experience.

The Conclusion

Both online and offline casino games are fun to play. They bring you a specific type of emotion that has no substitute, and the connection you create with other players is sometimes invaluable. Still, playing games like blackjack is also about making a profit.

Having a good strategy and knowing how and when to act can change the outcome of the game. Skills come with experience, and you will surely get there, eventually. What matters the most is to enjoy the whole process and make sure you never lose more money than you were prepared to.