Everything you need to know to win more Blackjack games 

The answer you get to the question – is Blackjack a game of luck or skill? – will depend on who you ask. If you ask someone who is down on their luck they will promise you it is a game of luck. However, someone on a winning streak will swear blind that it is a game of skill. 

Blackjack was invented in France in the 18th century (or possibly as far back as 1st century Rome) and has been one of America’s favorite card games since it arrived in the country in the early 19th century. 

Today, we are going to answer the above question and show you some ways that you can improve your chances of winning at Blackjack. 

Is Blackjack A Game Of Luck or Strategy?

Research done at Santa Clara university proved without a doubt that Blackjack is a game of strategy. 

If a player understands the mathematics that underpins the game then they can beat the house 7.5/10 times – without stooping to card counting. Those are the kind of odds that we like to see. 

So, how can you use tactics to beat the dealer, keep reading to find out more? 

6 tips to improve your Blackjack odds 

#1 – A game of Blackjack has three results 

Our first tip for succeeding at Blackjack is to play with all three options in your mind. 

Because Blackjack is not played against the other people at the table, many think that the only options at the end of the game are win or bust and they play that way. 

However, the end of game options are actually threefold – win, bust, lose to the dealer. Think about this when you play and you will make better choices. 

#2 – Know the dealer’s odds 

When you have a tough hand – like 15 or 16 – it can be hard to know what to do. Do you risk taking another card or do you play it safe? 

Well, we have a statistic that will help you answer this question, 4 times out of 5 the dealer’s hand will be better than 17. 

What does this mean? Well, it means that if you don’t have the two best hands (20 or 21), as long as you have 17 or above then you have a good chance of drawing with the dealer or beating them. Take cards until you get above 17. 

#3 – What to do with a 16

Knowing that the dealer is more than likely to have a hand that is higher than or equal to 17 80% of the time – what do you do when you get a 16. 

Some people would tell you to stick, that this may be the 20% of the time when a 16 is good enough. 

However, if you know that 80% of the time you are going to lose with a 16 then it is worth taking the risk that you might go bust and try to boost your score. 

#4 – What to do with an 11 

This may surprise you but 11 is the third best hand in a game of Blackjack – coming in behind 21 and 20. 

Why? 

Well, at 11, you can take a third card and guarantee that you won’t go bust. Getting a 10 or a royal card will put you on 21, and a 9 will put you on a 20. Taking another card has a 39% chance of finishing above 20. 

11 may seem like a low hand, but it is one of the best things that can happen to you in the game. 

#5 – Winners practice 

Before you start to play blackjack online for real money each night, you should spend some time warming up by playing free versions of Blackjack online. 

We would also recommend that you put in at least 200 practice games before you start playing for money at all. If you want to be good enough to regularly win money then you need to get as much practice in as possible. Remember that you are putting your own money on the line, be respectful to your wallet. 

#6 – Take breaks 

There are two reasons that you should take breaks when playing Blackjack. 

Firstly, if Blackjack stops being fun, then you should take at least an hour’s break. You may no longer be having fun because you are losing, you want to take a break to avoid the urge to chase losses. 

Another benefit to taking breaks is that it gives your brain a chance to rest and refresh. Your brain can perform at peak for no longer than 50 minutes at a time. This means you should be taking a 10 minute break every 50 minutes at a minimum.