Professional (or even close to it) playing blackjack is aerobatics for casino visitors. This game is like no other and requires theoretical knowledge, practical skills, maximum concentration, psychological stability, and the ability to resist gambling.
Thanks to some films, television broadcasts, and publications in mass media, society has formed a stereotype of a blackjack player. He is believed to be a math genius with an iron will and exceptional skills.
In fact, learning how to play blackjack at a high level is possible for each person, if their intellect is not too low.
The main components are the desire to achieve a result, diligence, and perseverance.
The authors of Casinoz wrote this article to point you in the right direction in the blackjack study. Special thematic publications offered in specialized sections of our site will help you learn about various aspects of the game. But first, you should know where to begin.
General Rules and Terms of Blackjack
The first thing a new player who wants to learn how to play blackjack should do is understand the basic rules and all the terms. In this case, we recommend you remember the terms and learn the basics of the game. This approach will help you later when you choose blackjack in the casino.
You should clearly understand the meaning of each word in the game's rules. Surrender, doubling down, the Charlie rule, insurance, even money - these and other terms should not cause a puzzled shrug.
Choosing the Best Blackjack
Do not rush to take on unusual varieties of blackjack. Start with the classic versions. Let it be a traditional European or an American blackjack (you should know the fundamental differences).
The main criterion for choosing a blackjack for real money is the minimum percentage of the house edge. The lower it is, the better your chances are.
When you have no problem playing blackjack without the hassle of rules and understanding the entire process from start to finish, you can proceed to the study of strategy.
Online Blackjack vs. Offline Blackjack
Where is it better to play blackjack: in online casinos or brick-and-mortar clubs? It all depends on your goals, capabilities, and circumstances. Choosing one option over the other can only be done considering several aspects.
- Territorial location - Not all users can visit offline casinos. In some countries, gambling is prohibited. In the Russian Federation, playing for money is legally allowed only in certain zones. Ultimately, you may live in a remote village where reaching the nearest blackjack table is difficult. In such cases, online blackjack comes to the rescue.
- Objectives - Some players play for the outcome, others for enjoyment, and others to distract themselves from problems, and so on. If you intend to make a living from blackjack, brick-and-mortar casinos are more suitable. In online gambling, it's extremely difficult to eliminate the house edge, which is inherent in almost all game variants.
- Blackjack rules - Even if there are casinos with blackjack nearby, it's not always worth visiting them. Often, they offer highly unfavorable rules and conditions. In such cases, it's better to opt for virtual casinos.
- Overall policy - In many offline clubs, pit bosses and managers are afraid of card counters. They view visitors who play according to basic strategy, change bet sizes, and switch tables with suspicion. They may create unbearable conditions for customers, such as discarding cards into the discard tray face-down, cutting the shoe halfway, etc. It's not advisable to play blackjack for money in such casinos.
We recommend paying attention to online blackjack in casinos with live dealers. While this format does not allow the use of tricks employed by professional players, it has several advantages over blackjack based on a random number generator.
Basic and Optimal Blackjack Strategies
Blackjack belongs to the category of games where the outcome depends mainly on the user's actions. To maximize the probability of winning, you must decide according to the optimal strategy.
Usually, a table indicates what to do with certain players' cards and the dealer's exposed card. The strategy is selected based on all blackjack rules.
Similar tables can be found in the finished product or by special computer programs. In the second case, you should enter all the information about the chosen blackjack; the program will give you the optimum strategy.
Then, you must train hard to make the right decisions in any game situation automatically. We recommend doing this in the free online casinos; you will immediately get used to playing in these conditions.
You can test your skills using blackjack software. Some programs have multiple modes, which is very convenient for exploring all aspects of the game. Moreover, the best software of this type can calculate the house edge for specific blackjack rules. Consequently, with its help, you can choose the most favorable version.
The various programs are described in particular articles on Casinoz.
You can start to play after you find the most attractive in terms of benefits casino version of blackjack and thoroughly master its optimal strategy.
If you want to play online, that's enough. Counting cards and other methods are applicable only in brick-and-mortar casinos.
Counting Cards and Other Methods
The principle of card counting and how it helps the player was described in a particular article (even several publications). We also explained why it could not be used in online blackjack with a random number generator.
But even if you always play in virtual casinos, learning to count cards will not be superfluous. This will help you better understand blackjack. It is also possible that you will visit a real casino where you can apply your skills. Do not forget that the administration is usually not too keen on the counters, so do not flaunt your skills.
Any player can learn how to count cards.
There are several systems. Some are easy, others are complex, but they all are possible to study.
Shuffle tracking, sequencing, and other techniques used by professional blackjack players were also described in other articles. Mastering them is more complex than counting cards, and in an online casino, they are useless. Applying them even in games with live dealers is almost impossible.
The Importance of Mastering Blackjack
Finally, a few words about practical training: no profession can be fully explored in theory. If you're going to play for the result, blackjack is also a craft. So first, you must train a lot and then gradually move on to the actual bets.
Do not rush to do this step too early. You will feel the psychological burden once real chips are on the line. And in brick-and-mortar casinos, there will be more difficulties.
Playing Blackjack for Fun
Not all blackjack enthusiasts become professional players. Moreover, if you prefer online casinos over brick-and-mortar clubs, it's unlikely that you'll be able to make a living playing blackjack. Counting cards is practically impossible online, and many additional tricks cannot be used. However, you can achieve maximum results by following the recommendations below:- Look for the most advantageous variants of the game.
- Choose an optimal strategy considering the specific rules.
- Always play according to the strategy, disregarding intuition, superstitions, and other foolishness.
- Learn how to manage your bankroll correctly.
- Avoid the development of gambling addiction.
These tips and practice will be your best companions.
Good luck at the blackjack tables!
