Have you asked yourself why blackjack remains the #1 most popular table game at casinos worldwide? It has been that way for the past 50 years, and we can attribute its fame and fortune to the following reasons.
* Players can cut the house edge down to less than 1% in blackjack
* Players can reduce their cash losses by taking full advantage of comps
* In blackjack, players can learn when to increase bets and when to decrease bets
* Players can gain a competitive edge over their opponents in tournament blackjack
Players can cut the house edge down to less than 1% in blackjack
Believe it or not, most table games at casinos have a house edge greater than 1%. So except for dice control in games of craps (challenging achievement), there is precious little that can be done to reduce the house edge in casino games. But here's the thing – in blackjack, you can. Players significantly reduce the house edge by employing basic blackjack strategy. When done correctly, you can reduce the house edge to less than 0.5%, sometimes even lower than that depending on the rules of the specific blackjack table.
A lot of players detest learning basic blackjack strategy. They want to play and win blackjack games. Who wants to take the time to memorize blackjack tactics and blackjack strategies? It's a real bear. Fortunately, I have put together a helpful guide for players just like you. Go to Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 of my Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide. You'll find valuable information, including charts and tables with basic blackjack playing strategies, tips, and learning methodology (Chapter 4).
Did you know that you can bring your blackjack strategy card with you to the table and use it when you play real money blackjack games? These blackjack strategy cards are 100% legal in casinos, but you're not allowed to put them down on the table while playing. The best advice we can give you is to place it on your lap or hold it in your hand without distracting other players in the process. The strategy charts are incredibly effective when playing blackjack over the long term. They can reduce the house edge to less than a percent without much effort on your part.
*Be advised that a house edge of 0.5% can only be achieved when choosing a suitable blackjack game with player-friendly rules. You'll find more information about this in Chapter 2 of my Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide.
Players can reduce their cash losses by taking full advantage of comps
Here is a kicker for you! Many casinos have an inherent 1% – 2% house edge over blackjack players. That house edge applies to most players who frequent casinos and play blackjack. If you are the type of player who relies on gut instinct and the luck of the draw, you can expect the casino to hold up to a 2% house edge over you. When you employ basic blackjack strategy, you can sharply reduce the house edge to as little as 0.5% or less than that. There is a substantial difference between a house edge of 1% – 2% and just 0.5%. When you use basic blackjack strategy, you will get more comps than the casino invariably wins from you as a player.
How do you go about getting one? A casino player card is free. Just give it to the dealer when you sit down to play at the blackjack table. The floor supervisor determines the value of your card. They keep track of your wagers and the length of time you play blackjack. The short and sweet of it is this: most basic blackjack strategy players can rack up enough comps to reduce the overall house edge when playing blackjack to nearly zero. For more info on taking maximum advantage of comps in blackjack, read Chapter 5 of my Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide.
In blackjack, players can learn when to increase bets and when to decrease bets
Folks, this tip on card counting techniques is important. It's not about using progressive betting systems because that will do precious little to improve your winning chances. I'm talking about a basic entry-level card counting system. We start with groups of cards that are assigned a value. These include -1, 0 and +1. Card counting is an effective way to determine when to increase your bets and decrease your bets in blackjack. They show you when the advantage has shifted in your favour or away from you. When the odds are strongly in your favour, you should increase your bets. When the odds are against you, you should reduce the size of your bets to minimize your losses.
Card counting systems are easy to use. They require practice but are doable. You can use these to reduce the house edge to less than 0.5%. Of course, take note of the rules of play at the blackjack table. The basic card counting systems are easy to learn. You can find more information on card counting in Chapter 10, where I discuss card counting systems in greater detail. As soon as you're au fait with these basic systems, I would ramp it up and learn advanced card counting methods such as Hi-Lo.
Players can gain a competitive edge over their opponents in tournament blackjack
Many blackjack players are blithely unaware of blackjack tournaments. It's a shame because these tournaments are fabulous affairs, some of them running for one day, others for an entire weekend. You can win substantial prizes when you finish in the money in a blackjack tournament. You risk only your entry fee for the specific blackjack tournament – that's it. You're probably wondering about how to gain an advantage over the casino at this point? In a blackjack tournament, you're not playing against the dealer – you're playing against other players.
It doesn't matter whether you win or lose bets against the casino dealer. It matters whether you can come out ahead of your opponents. Suppose you win more than your opponents; good on you. If not, you can improve. Fortunately, blackjack players can employ skill and strategy regarding betting and decision-making processes. Learn when to hit, double, split, or take insurance. The better the decisions you make, the bigger your bankroll will grow. There are specific rules of play for blackjack tournaments, including betting strategies based on your bankroll relative to your opponents at the table. Your tournament strategy is critically important in the final hands of a tournament round.
For additional information on blackjack tournament play and betting strategies, please look at Chapter 15 of my guide.
Wrapping It up
The above four reasons perfectly sum up why blackjack is a universally popular casino card game. More than that, blackjack is a fascinating game to play because tactics and strategies can genuinely give you an edge over the casino and other players in tournament play. So next time you head over to your favourite land-based casino in Canada, Las Vegas, Nevada, or Atlantic City, New Jersey, try these strategies. If you are a new player, I highly recommend looking at the Blackjack Basics section of my guide.
