Blackjack is the most popular casino card game ever. It is the ultimate test of skill, luck, and nerves for card players. They can make or lose a fortune with one hand signal without even realizing it. That’s all because of blackjack rules, which are easy to learn but hard to master.
This article will show you how to win in blackjack by giving you tips on:
- understanding the rules
- creating your strategy and sticking to it
- managing your bankroll
- learning advanced techniques
Blackjack could be the only card game where the player can keep winning. You too can beat the blackjack odds with your perfect strategy and a modest bankroll. Others have done it, as seen in the 2008 movie “21.”
The movie reveals how a group of MIT students did the blackjack math. They pooled their money and visited casinos, where they kept winning in blackjack. They did it with over 80 people and rotated players so the casinos don’t get suspicious. That group was active for over 15 years.
When preparing for the movie, Kevin Spacey went to a Las Vegas casino and played blackjack. He had no idea what to do, but one of the students gave him secret signals. Kevin said, “I would win every time!”
Understanding Basic Blackjack Rules
The basic blackjack rules are simple:
- player and dealer take turns drawing a card
- each card has a value
- values get added up
- when the game ends, the player closer to 21 wins
- hitting 21 means an instant win (called “blackjack”)
- going over 21 is an instant loss (called “bust”)
Card values are:
- cards 2–10 are worth their face number
- jack, queen, or king is worth 10 points
- ace is worth 1 or 11 (the player picks)
As cards get shown, the player can ask the dealer to do something. The signal is either spoken or shown with a hand. If there are any disputes, the casino operators will check the camera footage. They will watch for hand signals first and only then try to figure out what the player said.
Inexperienced blackjack players can get nervous and show the wrong hand signal. When the dealer flips the card over, there is no way to undo it. Stay in control of yourself in blackjack, or you can lose it all. Do not fidget or mumble when you play blackjack.
You will see fields on the blackjack table. They are there to add variety to the game. There can be several players or several bets at the same time. If there are, they each have their own cards drawn and summed up.
There’s more to blackjack secrets that you can’t get by reading about them. You need to play to figure out how to win in blackjack. Take some time to find the best online casinos where you can practice blackjack and learn the rules.
Implementing Basic Strategy
There are five basic blackjack strategies:
- split your cards
- hit
- stand
- double down
- surrender
You can split your cards if you get two same cards, such as two 4s. You in effect get to play twice, but you have to bet twice. Each bet is standalone; if one goes bust, the other keeps going.
When you ask for a hit, the dealer will give you another card. You can ask for a hit as many times as you’d like. But, the dealer might have to hit or stand when reaching a certain sum. In New Hampshire, the government issued a set of blackjack rules that say so. If a New Hampshire casino dealer hits a 17 that includes an ace counted as 1, the dealer must stand. If the sum is 17 but has an ace that counts as 11, the dealer must hit.
Another move you can do is double down. Before the dealer acts, you can ask to double your current bet. The opposite of doubling down is surrendering. You signal to the dealer you want to quit the current game. If you do that, you only lose half of your bet.
To implement a strategy, first check the blackjack math. There are many studies and papers on blackjack chances. Once you check them, go through casino rules to prevent nasty surprises at the table. Finally, figure out your goal.
What is it that you want out of a win in blackjack? What will you use the money for? Set yourself a goal and work toward that so that you stay rooted in reality.
Beware of people promising a quick and easy guide on how to win in blackjack. The best blackjack strategy is the one that gets you to your goal. Also, it should be something you can do over and over without losing your cool. If you’re feeling lost, start by finding the best online casinos where you can experiment.
Managing Your Bankroll Effectively
Managing your blackjack bankroll is all about managing your emotions. You need to have a clear plan in place that will help you recognize and avoid negative emotions. If you don’t, it’s only a matter of time before you lose your cool and then your money. We call that “tilting.”
The concept of tilting is well known in games, card games in particular. It means the player is emotionally unstable and will soon self-destruct. The player who is tilting sees the game as unfair or thinks the casino rigged it. The conclusion to tilting is always the same — the player goes all in and loses. Don’t expect any sympathy from the casino when you tilt and lose it all.
Tilting happens to blackjack beginners because they bet big. They have unrealistic expectations and can’t handle any setbacks. They invest too many emotions and too much money into blackjack without thinking. When setbacks happen, such a beginner feels awful. But, he keeps playing instead of quitting.
Manage your blackjack bankroll by keeping it low. The more money you invest in blackjack, the more nervous you will be. That is because we all attach emotions to money. We see money as important and get stressed when we lose it, even if it’s $1.
Learning how to win in blackjack is a path of emotional and financial growth. As you learn more about blackjack, you will handle your emotions better. Setbacks won’t bother you as much, and you will enjoy everything that happens. Who knows, you might even write your own blackjack guide!
Advanced Techniques: Card Counting and Beyond
So, how did the MIT students beat casinos for 15 years? They did the math and figured out the chances for winning or losing for each card. Then, they visited casinos and watched the dealer. They discovered that a dealer uses 2–8 decks and that they can actually count the cards. By counting cards, they could tell what is likely to come and so improve their chance of winning.
Casinos didn’t realize someone could be counting cards. The students did it in secret and paid a lot of attention to staying hidden. Today, casinos know about it and they don’t like it.
Counting cards is a controversial technique. It might get you banned from the casino for life. But, the casino might decide to ignore you if you’re counting poorly. Keep in mind that casino operators watch players for suspicious behavior. They can tell who is an experienced blackjack player and who is a beginner.
In the case of Kevin Spacey, he didn’t raise any suspicion because he was a beginner. The MIT student was behind him and counting cards. When the student saw Kevin had a good chance of winning, he would push Kevin’s chair, which meant “double down.” Casino blackjack cameras, which watch at the table, did not see those signals.
If you find an advanced blackjack technique, you will need an accomplice too. How about 80 or 100 accomplices? If you want to learn how to win in blackjack, you will have to network and find others who know more. When you do find your secret method, don’t tell anyone about it. Keep it secret for as long as possible and use it until you master blackjack.