The game of Blackjack is a fun and exciting one, yet it is more complex than many other casino games and whether you’re a novice that is still learning the game or a seasoned pro, you’re bound to make a few mistakes when playing, which of course can have an adverse effect on your casino bankroll and decrease your odds of winning.
Fortunately though, even the biggest blackjack mistakes can be easily rectified if you know how to spot and fix them. Here we discuss how to do just that.
Mistake #1: Trying to get too close to 21
Blackjack is also known as 21 so one automatically thinks that the object of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible, which can mean that new players makes some costly errors in attempting to do so. It is important to note that in the game of blackjack the real objective is to beat the dealer’s hand, which you can end up doing by holding cards valued at 12 if the dealers busts. In fact, sound basic blackjack strategy dictates that you stand on 12 in many game variants.
So if you’ve always tried to get as close to 21 as possible instead of looking at your own hand in comparison to the dealers, now is the time to change your game play and work according to basic blackjack strategy instead.
Mistake #2: Ignoring Blackjack Strategy
Aiming to score 21 and not playing according to any blackjack strategy are often interlinked with many players just playing the game without a real knowledge of the rules and basic game play strategy which gets costly quickly!
If you want to conserve your bankroll and actually win some money in the long run, then learning blackjack strategy is a must. It does take a little time but it is relatively simple as all you have to do is play according to a blackjack strategy chart which shows you which plays to make in each instance and before you know it you will have memorized these and be winning more of the bets you make.
Mistake #3: Playing the wrong variants
There are a large variety of blackjack variants offered by casinos and all are not created equal as rules differ from one game to the next, often giving the casino an increased edge over players. Be on the lookout for and avoid any games in the “party pit” at land based casinos as these often have a house edge of 2% or more. Also avoid any game with a payout of 6:5 on natural blackjack as these have a house advantage of an additional 1.4%.
Keep in mind too that any game where the dealer hits on soft 17 will increase the house advantage by a miniscule 0.2% that can still make a difference to your bottom line! There are games with more favourable rules available so play these instead.
As long as you avoid these three main mistakes by taking the measures discussed to counter them, you will stand a good chance of turning a profit when playing blackjack. Remember in this game knowledge is power and the more you know, the better you’ll play and more money you’ll make.
