Blackjack is a relatively simple game at heart, but like any game, strategies have been created in order to try and gain an advantage. Card counting is perhaps one of the more famous examples of this, but card counting is mentally strenuous work that many feel is just too challenging. Add to this the fact that casinos kick out card counters when they come across them, and it’s clear that other strategies for victory are required.

Choose the Best Deal

Blackjack tables are not created equal, in that not all payouts are the same and not all rules are the same. In some versions, the dealer must hit on a soft 17. This rule is bad for you. On a soft 17 where the dealer gets an A-6 hand, he can keep on drawing until he beats your hand. Choose a table where the dealer must stand on soft 17 and you have better chances at winning.

Also, some tables pay 1:1 regardless of your card. What you should do is to look for a blackjack table that pays 3:1 if you hit a natural blackjack – two initial cards that add up to 21. On this table, you win $15 for $10 bet instead of just another $10.

Stick to a Strategy

Players that take a chance on every hand are priming themselves for failure. In gambling, the person with no strategy always goes home with empty pockets. If your strategy is to stand on 16, then stand on 16 no matter what happens. This technique is easier said than done. Gambling is an emotional activity, and you are likely to get tempted to make real-time decisions that end up costing you, but remember that small victories add up. Win the battles and you will win the war.

Never Bet on Insurance

Blackjack insurance is a side bet that you can buy if the dealer’s first card is an ace. If the dealer gets a 21, you win the side bet and lose the original bet. If he does not get a blackjack, he takes your side bet. This offer is tempting, but it will cost you more money in the long run.

The insurance costs half of your original wager and typically pays 2:1. Look at this example:

• Original wager: $100
• Insurance bet: $50
• Total shell out: $150

And here are the possible scenarios:

• If the dealer gets blackjack, you get back a total of $150.
• If the dealer does not get blackjack and you lose, you lose $150.
• If the dealer does not get blackjack and you win, you take home $200 from the original bet and lose $50 on the side bet, giving you $50 profit.

Treat the insurance bet as a separate hand and you’ll see why it’s a bad idea. Betting on it is the same as betting that you will lose your original hand. Studies also suggest that the dealer is only likely to land a blackjack 30% of the time, which means you are likely to lose your insurance bet 70% of the time.

Choose the Best Deal

Hopefully, these tips have given you more ideas of how to beat the casino at blackjack without needing to resort to the difficult and exhausting practice of card counting. Try these strategies out now at one of BitStarz many blackjack tables!