Blackjack is a game with quite a storied history, in spite of the fact that it has only been around for about a century or so. Springing from its humble origins in France and Spain to nearly all of the world’s biggest and shiniest casinos, Blackjack is considered to be one of the most definitive card games in existence, and typing in something like “blackjack uk”, “free blackjack”, or “blackjack online” to any search engine will yield more results than you know what to do with. Yet, while the game itself has evolved to include a wide variety of different rules and styles of play, the essence of the game itself has not changed, as blackjack online is all about 21 or bust.
It seems simple enough on paper, keep drawing cards, outscore the dealer, and don’t go over 21 at any time. But as deceptively intuitive as this seems, a lot of gamblers don’t understand the numbers and logic behind this mechanic – some even disregard the use of skill and blackjack strategy altogether. Blackjack (especially online blackjack) consists of far more than just randomly pulled numbers, and any gambler foolish enough to treat the game as a matter of blind chance will find themselves burned more often or not. Playing blackjack online is no different. There are plenty of guides on how to play blackjack, but not so many on the finer points of playing the game.
Blackjack is famous for the constant psychological peaks and valleys one experiences during a session. Given the rapid-fire pace of a typical game, you can see fortunes come and go in the blink of an eye. Some of these wins and losses can be attributed to random chance, but you have the power to tilt the odds somewhat in your favour. This isn’t as difficult as it seems – as opposed to the complex math movies like “21” suggest is required, most of your strategy will boil down to following just a few simple tips of what and what not to do. Successfully applying the following blackjack online strategies will depend a lot on how much you practice them, but just committing them to heart and using them whenever you can will result in some noticeable improvements in your overall bottom line.
Things you should do
Make sure to take regular breaks – Playing blackjack online takes a toll on your body and mind just like any other form of gambling. Casinos understand this, and they intentionally avoid putting any clocks on their website. This is a calculated maneuver designed to warp your sense of temporal grounding, increasing the chance that you will spend hundreds or thousands of pounds because you didn’t know you were playing for six hours straight. This is easy enough to counter if you are playing blackjack online as your computer has a clock, but make sure to keep one with you if you are playing blackjack at a real casino. This will keep your mind sharp and your body grounded in the present.
Manage your money effectively – Online casinos are counting on you to avoid managing your money fastidiously. Every player likes to entertain the possibility of winning enough money to avoid having to do that, but don’t fall into that trap. Keep complete track of every penny you win and lose when playing blackjack online, and don’t be afraid to take advantage of any deals you find – many online casinos offer some form of free blackjack online. Set and adhere to an absolute amount that you are willing to lose for the night, and never deviate from it no matter how tempting it is to play that cool new type of online blackjack. If you don’t have the willpower to keep to a limit once, then you will find yourself losing more and more money.
Accept defeat with grace – Luck is fickle and capricious in its blessings. You aren’t going to win every game of blackjack online no matter how good you are, and there will come days when you embark on a long losing streak that you just can’t seem to turn around. Should this be the case, don’t get too discouraged. You can’t ever win them all, and being able to maturely deal with loss will give you a degree of perspective and self-control that many of the best blackjack players have spent years developing.
Things to avoid
Never gamble and drink – this piece of advice is something that should boil down to an application of common sense, but that is a trait that a lot of people simply lack. A lot of things don’t mix well with alcohol, and gambling is near the top of the list. I’ve heard stories about how casinos give players on winning streaks free alcohol to get them drunk and cloud their judgment. If you are playing blackjack online then this isn’t as much of a threat, but having more than a beer or two in the comfort of your own home still poses a threat to your judgment and decision-making process. When playing blackjack online or in person, steer clear of booze and keep your brain running as sharp as a tack.
Don’t jump in without a strategy – Being well versed in math will certainly help you, but you don’t need to have a PhD in Applied Mathematics to apply a good strategy when playing blackjack online. Blackjack isn’t just a random game – there is a logic and a structure to every play that is made, and understanding that process will better your chances of victory. Do a quick Google search of “basic blackjack strategy” and you’ll quickly see how many variables go into deciding whether or not to “hit” or stick”. The math involved in this process largely consists of probability and statistics, but it’s nothing that the average person can’t learn and apply.
Don’t pay attention to online blackjack “betting systems” – When playing blackjack UK, you are virtually certain to run into people who claim to have some proven system that lets them win more often than not. Often accompanying these unsubstantiated “systems” are claims that you’ll win big and stick it to your casino of choice. At worst, these are outright lies. At best, they cannot be proven, and in both instances these systems demonstrate a near-complete lack of understanding as to how probability works. Players who enjoy playing blackjack online are constantly bombarded with these offers, but just remember, if it sounds like it is too good to be true, then it almost certainly is.
Don’t fall for insurance offers – The basis of economics lies in the assumption that humans are rational creatures – that is to say, we always seek to minimise our losses and maximize our gains. For this reason, casinos will often tempt players in with offers to purchase insurance that will cover a portion of what is lost. Don’t treat this as though it is some act of charity on their part – the casinos are fully aware that they are unlikely to have to pay anything out, and the money gamblers spend on these insurance offers well exceeds what they have ever received from them. Online blackjack players won’t see these offers as much, but treat it just as you would an offer from a brick-and-mortar casino.
A lot of your fortune in the blackjack world will fall to the whims of chance, but there are simple tricks you can use to tilt the odds ever so slightly in your favor. Whether you are playing blackjack online or in person, you’ll always be tempted with bad decisions and offers designed to part you from your money. As long as you keep your wits about you and stay informed, you will do much to extend your funds and boost your chances of winning.