Watching pro blackjack players strut their stuff confidently at the table can be nothing short of mesmerizing. Many of the best players exhibit what seems to be an almost instinctive knowledge and feel for what is coming next and how to win. But hold up a second – what looks like the most natural gift in the world is almost always underpinned by a wealth of experience and an ability to make complex mental calculations that can only be learned by playing thousands or tens of thousands of hands.
If you are new to the game and would like to start off playing one of the many sites for online blackjack Canada has to offer, we have put together this post to share the knowledge that we have garnered through decades of playing. Enjoy!
1. Stick to Basic Strategy
Like most card games, there are some basic blackjack strategy principles that should not be deviated from if you want to stand the best chance of beating the dealer.
- Hit when the dealer has 7-Ace and your hand is 12-18.
- Stand when the dealer has 2- and your hand is 12-18.
- Always split 8s and Aces.
- Double or hit Aces-6.
- Double 11 when the dealer has 2-10.
2. Forget Insurance
If you are not counting cards, it is statistically a bad idea to take an insurance bet. Since you stand to win at only 2/1 on your insurance bets and the house has an average probability of 9/4 to make blackjack, you will end up losing more than you win.
3. Avoid First Base
It is often said by experienced blackjack players that it is a bad idea to sit in the first base chair. While this may seem like a baseless superstition at first glance, there may actually be more than a grain of truth to it. Blackjack is a game of mental arithmetic, and the more time you give yourself to assess the card, the better chance you will have of coming out on top. Sitting further from the dealer will give you more time.
4. Superstition Is Your Enemy
As a general rule, gambling lends itself to baseless superstitions about luck. Try to ignore the cards that are dealt to the other players as, at the end of the day, you are playing against the dealer, not the other people at the table. Just because two twos were dealt to the person on your left, it does not mean that you are due a pair of Aces.
5. Stop When the Fun Stops
The most important rule of gambling is to only stake the money that you can afford to lose. Do not overstretch yourself trying to make up for losses. This is only likely to get you into more trouble and leave you completely cleaned out. Stop when the fun stops!
And there we have it – If you follow these five simple principles, the game of blackjack can provide you with hours of fun, and you may even win some money too!
