You can, and will gain an advantage that will give you an edge in playing for long term consistent profits, if you make the required effort by learning the basic strategy, card counting and play to a predetermined plan. Here are 10 blackjack tips to help you win 1. Learn the Basic Strategy Statistically, there is one perfect action a player can make, for each of the hands he is dealt, against each up card the dealer holds. This is known as the Basic strategy, and all winning blackjack strategies are based on it. 2. Manage Your Money Correctly All blackjack players will have losing periods and bad runs and so need to manage their bankroll. A money management rule that is effective is to bet with 1% of your bankroll. For example, if you have a bankroll of $2000, your betting size is 1%, or $20. If you are playing with a 1.5% advantage over the house, (with a card counting strategy), the chances of losing your entire bankroll are only 5%. It's a mathematical certainty that you will hit a losing run, so you need to be able to ride out those periods. 3. Learn to Count Cards Using a Specific System Most people who play blackjack do not go beyond basic strategy. However, for the serious player, it has been proven mathematically that by counting cards, you can actually get and maintain a positive advantage over the casino. You can then keep a running count of, and work out the probability of, the undealt cards to come out of the deck. There are lots of different counting systems and you need to pick one that's right for you. However, even a simple system will give you an edge over the casino. 4. Estimate the True Count Once you know the running count, you are then able to calculate the true count. The true count is the running count divided by the number of decks of undealt cards. The true count gives a better indication of how favorable the remaining cards are than does the running count, and only needs to be calculated when you want to perform an action i.e. betting. 5. Learn to Adjust Your Bet Size Based on the True Count As the true count goes up, so should the bet size. As the true count goes down, the bet size should be decreased. You will lose more hands then you will win, so in order to make money longer term, you need to up your bet size when the odds are favorable. This tip is the key to winning big in blackjack. 6. Play with Favorable House Rules The house rules dictate how much money you can expect to win in the long run. You therefore need to look for favorable house rules to give you an extra edge. 7. State of Mind If you are seriously playing for money, make sure that you are mentally alert and are concentrating fully. Don't play when you have had a row with the wife, or have been drinking! You need to be sharp and focused. 8. Discipline - The Key to Success The final blackjack tip for greater profits is obvious: If you have a plan, you need discipline to implement it unemotionally, and stick with it even in losing periods. Without the discipline to implement your plan, you don't have one! |
