Our Top Tips for Mastering Online Blackjack

Anybody can play blackjack online and do reasonably well. Blackjack is unique in that it can be a game of chance for those who are unskilled but also a game of skill for those who want to practice. We’re here to walk you through the basic steps of becoming a better blackjack player, namely by delivering a few top tips for beginners. Let’s get stuck in.

Learn Basic Strategy and Don’t Deviate from It

One of the best ways to become successful playing blackjack online is to learn how to stick to basic strategy. For the most part, this is a strategy chart that tells you the best moves to make based on what’s on the table. You can find these across the net. We strongly recommend that you print out a copy and study it. If you’re playing online blackjack, you don’t even need to study it. You can keep your blackjack Basic Strategy chart beside you while you play and consult it as needed.

Read and Acquire Knowledge

There are other ways to acquire knowledge about blackjack. Some of the world’s most famous blackjack pros have written books about their own top tips and secrets to success. Any of these would be required reading for any blackjack player eager to hone their skills and become better at the game.

Practice Free Play Games

Whether you pocket a few tips via blackjack books and websites or want to master Basic Strategy, practice is key. It is entirely possible for you to practice your skills at home using nothing more than several decks of cards. However, we don’t all have multiple decks to use. Therefore, it may be worth playing blackjack online for free. This can be arguably more advantageous, as it allows you to play the exact game you’re going to play for real money, only as a free-to-play demo.

Pick Your Poison

Blackjack is a game that does allow you to pick your poison. There are several variants out that have largely the same rules. The only real difference is that some of these games have unique twists, which make gameplay a touch different. By choosing from various games, you are likely to find a blackjack game that is bang on what you’re looking for, albeit marginally different from the base game found elsewhere. After finding such a game, you’ll also be able to practice it.

Balance Your Budget

Why not balance your budget when betting on blackjack? It can be a fatal mistake to wager too much too soon. Similarly, you’re not going to win large sums of cash if you don’t take risks. It is wise to develop a strategy for balancing your budget before you decide to start betting with real money. Again, this is something that is practised in free-to-play blackjack games.

Common Blackjack Mistakes You Should Avoid

Making mistakes in blackjack can happen – even for more skilled players. However, it is likely to happen if you hone your skills, practice gameplay, and avoid the most common blackjack mistakes. To better explain what we mean, we should introduce you to some of the most damaging mistakes found in blackjack. Any skilled blackjack player worth their salt knows to avoid these calamities.

Never Stand on Soft 17s

There are certain hands you simply shouldn’t stand on in blackjack. One of these is the Soft 17, or an ace and a six, for those not in the know. A soft hand is one that you cannot bust if you take one more card. As you should always assume that the blackjack dealer’s hole card is an ace, it is worth having a go. The same is true on a Soft 18. You’re more likely to lose standing on Soft 17s (in the long run) than you are if you hit.

Never Split Pairs of 4s or 5s

Splitting cards is fine, but there are certain times when you shouldn’t. For instance, we don’t recommend splitting a pair of 4s or 5s. Playing a pair of fours is unlikely to see you bust, and you could end up with nineteen if you land an Ace. Similarly, if you play a pair of fives, the worst you can end up with is blackjack (if you land an Ace). Splitting these will almost always result in you having a low scoring hand and then risk busting when you hit. Splitting 4s and 5s isn’t worth it.

Don’t Split 10s

It may be tempting to split a pair of tens, but this is the worst mistake you can make. Two tens equal twenty, and unless the dealer has blackjack, you’re assured of a win or at least a push. It just isn’t worth splitting tens, even if your brain tells you that splitting tens will give you two half-decent hands. Engrain this into your head now – never split tens.

Don’t Play Games with 6:5 Payouts

Any blackjack game that has a 6:5 payout is not as valuable as 3:2. Las Vegas casinos (in particular) have tried this, and while it sounds similar, it triples the house’s edge. A 3:2 win will see you paid 1.5x your bet, while a 6:5 win sees you paid only 1.2x your stake. It simply isn’t worth it, and you shouldn’t be fooled by these blackjack games.

Never Deviate from Basic Strategy

Finally, and this should go without saying – don’t deviate from Basic Strategy. Once you have learnt Basic Strategy or even printed out a chart, be sure to stick to it. Most blackjack dealers and AI dealers use Basic Strategy because it showcases the best moves to make based on the hands available. If you want to win at blackjack, you should not only use it but trust it. Don’t deviate from Basic Strategy.