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.

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