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Why Blackjack is the Online Casino Game you should Master

Blackjack, unlike the majority of casino games, is a skill-based game. A skill-based game as averse to a luck-based one is certainly easier to win money by playing, once you learn the skills. If you are new to the game of blackjack or if you are a blackjack player looking to improve your game, then you have come to the right place. If you are able to master the game of blackjack, then you will go a long way to beating the casinos.

Some History

Blackjack was originally known as ‘Twenty-One’ a game of unknown origin. The first ever written reference of the game was found in the 1601 short story ‘Rinconete y Cortadillo’ by Miguel de Cervantes, the author of the famous novel, Don Quixote. Blackjack therefore dates back at least 400 years, probably more.

Twenty-One evolved into Blackjack when it was introduced to the United States. Gambling houses in the USA would offer bonus-payouts in order to stimulate players’ interests. One of these bonuses included a ten-to-one payout if the players had a hand which consisted of the ace of spades and a black jack (either the jack of spades or the jack of clubs) – this hand was called a blackjack and the name stuck ever since.

The first attempt to devise an optimal blackjack strategy was in 1956 when a group of scientists and mathematicians came together. This group published a paper together named ‘The Optimal Strategy in Blackjack’. This paper paved the way for all future efforts to beat the game of Blackjack.

Becoming a Master of Blackjack

Other extremely popular online casino games, such as online slots and roulette, are solely luck based. Although you can win money in the short term by playing luck based games, in the long term you will at best break even and with the edge always slightly in the favor of the casino, you will always lose money over a longer period of time.

It is for this reason why blackjack is the optimal casino game to learn if you want to be a profitable player. If you study Blackjack and learn all the edges, then it can become a very profitable game for you. Skillful and strategic blackjack play will lower the house edge so that you can produce the best possible results for yourself.

Books and Strategy Guides

When you choose a blackjack strategy, you must stick with it. The goal of a good blackjack strategy is to come out statistically on top so that your total winnings beat your total losses. There is no blackjack strategy which will ensure that you win every hand and crush your opposition but if you stick to a set blackjack strategy then you will become a winning player.

There are various blackjack strategies available for you to choose from, so ensure that you read through them all and pick the one that you feel most confident in performing. It is important to learn the strategies before using them on the blackjack tables as they need to be implemented perfectly in order for them to be successful for you.

Blackjack strategy guides will include rules on which options to take depending on both the dealers hand and your own, including:

when you should hit
when you should stand
when you should double down
when you should split

All of these instructions are based on math and will increase your chances of winning if you follow them.

One of the best things you can do when you are a student of something is to read books about the subject that you are studying. There are a variety of blackjack strategy and skill books that you can read. The psychologist Malcolm Gladwell stated that it takes 10,000 for a human to master any skill in the world – “10,000 hours is the magic number of greatness” he wrote. If you want to be good at something, then you have to put in the hard work.

Hard work always reaps the rewards no matter what the field. Once you have finished studying the game and you have learnt and memorized at least one blackjack strategy, then it is time to head to the blackjack tables. However, you should first practice your new blackjack strategy at one of the various free blackjack tables available. Once you have practiced the strategy and only when you are confident enough should you make your way to the real money blackjack tables.

Being the Master

Don’t forget, playing blackjack with a strategy does not mean guaranteed instant success and riches. First of all, bank roll management is still very important. Only play with what you can afford to lose. There is still lots of variance in blackjack so do not torch your cash in a single session. The strategy guide is there for a reason. Don’t be tempted to stray away from the guide by using your gut feeling. The skill in blackjack revolves around knowing the correct math and playing the game using logic rather than gut feeling or instinct.

Tips for playing online blackjack successfully!

Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in the world. Tracing its history back to 18^th Century France where it was known as vingt et un, it has now spread far and wide and is one of the most played games in online casinos. But if you are used to playing blackjack with friends and family, or in a traditional land casino, it can be hard to make the switch to online versions. Whether you are playing on your PC or on your mobile we are here to give you some tips to mastering the world of playing blackjack in an online casino! Read on to find out more!”

Knowing when is the right time to hit or to stand is a key part of playing blackjack. There isn’t really a big strategy for this but it is worth having an idea in your mind what to do when certain cards are dealt to you, in relation to what the dealer has. If the dealer gives you any card between four and eight, we advise that you hit. If however, you are dealt between twelve and sixteen and the dealer has a low card, we would suggest that you stand. In general, the worst cards that a dealer can have are two to six so keep that in mind when you are playing.
Unless you are a card counting professional, we would highly advise that you don’t take insurance because it puts the house at an advantage. This is really relevant in online casinos because card counting is impossible due to random number generators that are responsible for dealing.
If you are dealt a ten or eleven, it is wise to always double down- most online casinos will allow you to do this, especially if the dealer has a two to six. Yes, you might have to double your bet, but remember that you are also doubling your chance of winning!
Should you be lucky enough to be dealt a pair of eights or aces, then always make sure you split them. Should you ever land two identical cards, it is not always advisable to do so, but in the case of two eights or two aces, we say do it. Remember that two eights is the worst possible hand so if you split them, you double the chance of getting a better hand such as an eighteen. Likewise with aces- two aces equals twelve, but if you split them then you are doubling your chance of getting twenty one, twice!
So, we recommend you always split your aces and eights, but we highly advise against splitting a ten or a six. Splitting two sixes will result in an awful hand and as two tens equals twenty, there is no point risking a worse hand by splitting them. Just don’t do it!

These are a few tips for playing blackjack online, remember that it is a game of chance and that the best way to win, is to have lady luck smiling down on you!

Common Blackjack Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

Reading too much into bad runs – In the short to medium term, blackjack is largely a game of chance. That’s so when you’re observing perfect basic blackjack strategy, and even when you’re counting cards. It’s a bad idea to get frustrated just because the cards are turning against you. And it’ll often be a disastrous move to raise your bets in order to make back the cash. Provided you have a sensible method, there should be good sessions to make up for the bad sessions. So don’t make the latter any worse or more debilitating than they need to be.
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Assuming a 0.5% house edge really is a 0.5% house edge – Blackjack’s 0.5% house edge is much talked about. It’s one of the main reasons why ‘savvy’ players line up around the blackjack table, rather than chucking away their money on roulette, or games with even more unfavourable payouts. However, blackjack is a far more nuanced game than the simplistic roulette, and inexperienced players won’t get anywhere near that 0.5% edge.

To do so, you’ve got to know basic strategy inside out. And it’s not just about knowing when to hit and when to stand. You also have to be prepared to throw extra money in and double down or split – but only at key moments.

Always Standing on a 17 or 18 – Common wisdom says that if you have a 17 or an 18, that’s a healthy hand to have, so you should stand. But common wisdom, as often is the case, is wrong – part of the time. The key is to look at the dealer’s card. If they have a 9 or 10, you really should consider hitting, especially on a 17. If a dealer has a 10, drawing an Ace, a 9, or any 10-value card will scoop them the win. And an 8 will allow them to share the pot. So there’s a 46.1% chance they’ll draw a superior hand, and a 53.9% chance you’ll share the pot. And, of course, if the dealer draws a 6 or lower, they’ll hit again, which could give them further chances of winning. A 17 or 18 is frequently not a winner against a 9 or a 10, so be prepared to hit when the dealer has a good card.

Not Splitting 7s and 8s – 16 is a fairly awful hand. If you stick, you’re relying on the dealer going bust in order to win with it. At the same time, 16 is sufficiently high that there’s a good chance of going bust while trying to improve on it. Even assuming you don’t go bust, an A or a 2 (or even a 3) may still not result in you creating a winning hand. So what’s the solution? Well, you can split the the pairs, which means you double the bet. Only now you have two chances to win, and one of those 8s may end up producing a pretty strong hand. You should always split 8s. 7s aren’t quite as clear-cut, but it’s still worth splitting them.
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Not Splitting Aces – By themselves, Aces can be quite weak. However, split them, and you have two cards that can be turned into fantastic hands. There’s a 30.7% chance you’ll draw a card with a value of 10, and create a blackjack. Other cards can also turn them into strong contenders for wins. This is an opportunity to hit the dealer with two searing hands. Don’t turn it down.

Not Doubling Down on 10 or 11 – Players are often reluctant to double down. And they’re mostly right to do so, as the situations where the odds favour you doubling down are quite slim. Effectively you’re paying extra for one more card. On the face of it, that seems a poor deal – you’re paying extra for the ‘privilege’ of receiving just one more card? Well, that’s why you need to be careful. But when you have 10 or 11, the long-term odds favour you doubling, just as long as the Dealer has 8 or lower. In fact, in the case of a hand of 11, you can double down even if the dealer has 10. You’ll win handsomely long-term by following these rules. You can also achieve some success by doubling down on a hand of 9, but only assuming the dealer has a hand of 6 or less. If you don’t ever double down, you’re throwing away potential to carve into the house edge.

Standing on Soft 17 – Standing on 17 is one of those hints that blackjack players like to pass on to one another. And there is often some sense in standing on 17, depending on what the dealer has. However, a soft 17 (one that uses an ace with a value of 11, most commonly Ace, 6) is a hand you should rarely stand on. Casinos run some varieties of blackjack where the dealer doesn’t have to stand on 17, provided the hand is soft. This form of blackjack gives the house a bigger edge than the common ‘Always Stand on 17’ version. Casinos know you shouldn’t stand on a soft 17, but players are often unaware of this. When the dealer has a 7 or higher, hit with a soft 17.

Accepting Insurance or Even Money bets – Many blackjack players know that Insurance is a bad bet. When the dealer draws an Ace, the player has the option of taking out a side-bet of half the original stake. If the dealer pulls out a blackjack, the player loses their original bet, but has the loss compensated for with the side-bet – which is paid out at odds of 2/1. The problem is that the blackjack only comes up 30.8% of the time, so the side-bet will be wasted on the other occasions. Insurance, then, is a bad bet, and you shouldn’t even contemplate it unless you’re a card-counter who suspects there’s a high chance of a blackjack being drawn. However, while most players know Insurance is not a good option, many are hoodwinked by the very similar ‘Even Money’ side-bet. This is a variation on Insurance that comes into play when the dealer has drawn an Ace, but the player has already scored a blackjack. The player will agree to a 1:1 payout. In return, if the dealer also draws a blackjack, the player will be paid out on their side-bet at 2/1. However, the costs of the side-bet again fail to pay out over the long-term. In short, both Insurance and Even Money are poor bets. So ignore them.

If you are looking to try out the tips mentioned above head over to our friends at gamingrevolution.com and check out their live blackjack game reviews.

How the online blackjack industry is doing against other online games

The online gambling industry has grown quite substantially over the last few years. People are starting to play these games more and more because they are easily accessible and don’t require you to leave the house. Simply connect your credit card and start playing. But how do these games fare against each other in the online gambling industry? More specifically, how does blackjack stand against other, similarly popular games? In this article, we will review the facts and talk about the contrast between these games.

Blackjack vs Poker

Many people say that blackjack is purely a game of luck while poker requires strategy. The facts are quite different. Blackjack does require a fair share of luck but, in the end, it all comes down to technique and strategy.

The main difference in these two games is that in blackjack, you’re only playing against the dealer and no one else. No matter how many players are playing, you’re only interested in the dealer. When it comes to poker, you are playing against others which means that if you’re alone in the room (online) or at the table, you won’t be able to play.

When it comes to speed of play, online blackjack is faster than online poker. Online poker can last for a lot of time while blackjack games can be finished in a matter of minutes.

Popularity wise, both blackjack and poker are quite popular, but most seem to prefer blackjack as it’s faster and you can play without other players in the room.

Blackjack vs Bingo

Online bingo has grown to be a globally played game. It’s one of those games that you can sit down and play in the afternoon and if you win – you win! If not, it’s not a big deal, you can go back and play again later. It’s almost completely luck based but since it doesn’t last for so long, its popularity exploded. At least in the online communities.

Comparing blackjack and bingo is quite difficult. Blackjack is a card game where bingo isn’t. The rules are completely different and there’s almost nothing about these two games that is similar. However, both are quite popular in their online forms.

While blackjack is most people’s go-2 choice when it comes to online gambling, bingo is a great choice for those people that don’t want a potentially stressful experience. The number of younger bingo players has increased, as well as the number of guys playing the game. Blackjack is still mostly dominated by men when it comes to playing.

Bingo is also easier to implement online considering that the core part of the game is a Random Number Generator. Blackjack is a bit more complicated but, nonetheless, it’s present on most gambling websites.

Blackjack, compared to other games, is very popular and people love playing it. It’s probably going to stay popular for a long time due to how fun it is.

Feeling lucky? 5 Tips on how to win big when playing blackjack

We all dream of placing a bet when playing blackjack and winning big; very big! We all dream of the car we buy with cash we know came so easy… But as dreams are not going to make you rich, you need to improvise and get a number of ideas on how to increase the chances you have at winning those wads of cash. Believe me, if you could increase your chances of winning, you would!

Needless to say, there are ways of outsmarting even the cleverest blackjack dealer should you wish to do so! If you want to win big when playing blackjack, you need to use these smart tips on how to get the odds on your side.

Know your cards

If you and your friends want to know what’s on at Royal Vegas, you can be sure that this tactic will let the odds come running right into your hands. It is always a good idea to hit a soft 17 or cards ace to 6, split aces and 8s, double down on 11 and stand on a hard 17. Keeping this in mind will get you the advantage you need to win.

Take a break

If you believe that you are on a winning streak, you will be tempted to continue playing the game. Blackjack dealers work on shifts and so should you. If you feel your concentration wavering, get up and stretch your legs. Foolish plays will make you lose and if you do not concentrate, you may lose even more than you came in with.

Hot and cold

When playing Blackjack, it has been said that a table or dealer can be either hot or cold. This simply means that the table or dealer is going to make you win or lose. This is a myth and should not be believed. The secret to winning lies in the cards, not in the table or dealer.

Counting cards

It does not benefit you to keep track of the aces and 10-cards that still remain in the stack of cards that still needs to be played. Rather concentrate on the cards in your own hand to make sure you stay ahead of the others.

The emotion game

Many Blackjack players tend to use emotion as a distraction. Taking notice of other player’s emotions will cause you to make bets that are too high and if the other player in calling a bluff, you can lose all the money you have used to bet.

If you want to win big at blackjack, you need to be prepared to think out of the box and look for interesting ways to lure the big guy we call Odds to you. If you have that big guy by your side, the chances you will walk out of the casino with a pocket filled with crisp notes will be significantly higher