Top Five Blackjack Moves to Avoid
1. Playing to never go bust
This seems weird right? But it’s actually bad to play to always avoid going bust! This is something which fools both new and experienced players, so don’t worry if you’ve been following this rule… just stop now! Why? It is illogical; if you play to never go bust you will stick on low hands and the dealer will win. The dealer must stand on soft 17, and so if you’re sticking on 14 or other low hands then you have no chance of winning.
2. Not doubling down
This is a very useful tactic and is the best way to make money. Generally it is new blackjack players that avoid doubling down in fear of losing double the wager. Be careful id casino’s only let you double down on specific amounts, as these are likely to have the better house edge. But if you think you have a good chance of hitting your hand, double down and rake in more cash.
3. Tables where the dealer stands on soft 18
Avoid blackjack tables where a dealer stands on soft 18 at all costs! If a dealer has to stand on a soft 17 you gain an advantage: the house edge is 0.02% lower when a dealer stands on a soft 17 than when they hit. The percentage is very low, but with casino games the secret to winning is to shave the house edge as much as possible.
4. Splitting a good hand
Never split a decent hand into two separate hands. That would be crazy! This is a common mistake but not only does it lower your chance of winning; you also have to pay an extra wager for the pleasure! A simple rule which will get you started is to never split 10’s (including picture cards) or 5’s. If you split these cards you will either go bust or be forced to stand on a low total - and either of these mean you lose over time.
5. Counting cards
It’s a fallacy that counting cards will get you anywhere unless you’re a mathematical genius who has unlimited hours spare to sit at a blackjack table. If you try card counting in an online casino you’re going to be even more disappointed! Never heard of the Random Number Generator? It can’t be predicted or counted.
