Although its exact origins are a matter of hot debate, Blackjack likely originated in Spain during the 17th century. That means that we’ve been enjoying it for a little over 400 years! Whether you’ve just started exploring the wonders of 21 or you’re an old hand, getting some inside information on winning more can’t hurt.
Choose the Right Online Casino
You’d be surprised by how many players ignore this all-important first step!
Where you play is a vital element when it comes to how often you’ll win, and finding a reputable website to get to 21 at is very easy thanks to the thousands of review sites available online these days. Pick a site that has lots of variations available and generous bonuses to help you get started.
Count the Cards… Decks of Cards, That Is
Stick to games that use as few decks as possible. Single-deck variations are the best for players, but, logically, casinos aren’t known to provide many options in this category.
And although there are people out there who promise that card counting works even better when you’re using fewer cards to play 21, you must remember that this trick simply doesn’t work when you’re playing online. This is because all legitimate gambling sites employ Random Number Generators which automatically reshuffle the cards after each hand is played.
Know the Table
Online casinos are so massively popular in part because they can provide far more game variants than brick-and-mortar establishments can. You need to keep this in mind when you’re choosing what to play since the requirements for each can differ enormously.
Try to stick to tables that pay Blackjack at 3:2 instead of 6:5, and those that require the Dealer to Hit on a Soft 17 are not a great idea. Rather play at one where you have the option to Surrender if the Dealer’s upcard is very good.
Learn the Basic Blackjack Strategy
21 is not a guessing game where sometimes you Hit your 16-point card against the Dealer’s 10-value upcard and other times you Stand. Expert mathematicians have been studying it for years and have proven beyond a doubt that an optimal way to play every hand you’re dealt exists.
It’s called Optimal Blackjack Strategy, or Basic Playing Strategy, and it allows you to reduce the house edge to less than 1%! Don’t even bother beginning a game unless you know these rules backwards and forwards. Thanks to the fact that you’re playing remotely, printing the chart out is always an option.
Learn the Glossary
You’ll start picking up the initially unfamiliar phrases quite quickly once you make a habit of playing often and, again, printing out a list is always an option, but you need to have a firm grasp on what all the vernacular refers to before you start betting.
For instance, do you know the difference between a Hard and Soft hand? If one of the 2 cards dealt you is an Ace, your hand is Soft, because your risk immediately drops. Thus a Hard hand is one that doesn’t include an Ace.