Blackjack is considered one of the most well-known casino games of all time, as it involves strategic gameplay mechanics that require you to think about your every move to win more rounds. In online casinos, the rules of blackjack are still the same compared to when you play it in land-based casinos, although you wouldn’t actually touch a card, and the dealer will only show up on the live casino screen to show you your cards and his or her cards. While this situation may be peculiar for some, especially for those that have gotten used to playing blackjack in land-based casinos, there is no denying that playing blackjack in live casinos online is much more convenient, as you don’t have to travel or follow a dress code to just enter a casino since online casinos allow you to play in the comfort of your home.
Because blackjack is so popular, many beginners that have just started playing in online casinos wanted to try it. But, upon trying the game for the first time, they will realize that blackjack is such an intimidating game because it requires strategy. Fortunately, blackjack is not really that complicated, as all you have to do is to follow simple strategies and patterns to win more in the game. To help you win in blackjack, here are some tips on the game for beginners.
Always Remember the Dealer’s Up Card
One of the key strategies in winning blackjack is to not just think about the cards in your hand but also the dealer’s up card, as that card will determine how lucky you are with your cards. If the dealer’s up card has a total value of 7 or higher, there is a high chance that the dealer’s cards will bust, giving you a better chance of winning. But, if the dealer’s up card is lower than 7, the dealer may have a winning hand, so you may want to fold or pass depending on the value of your hand. We remind you in this beginner’s guide how to play blackjack is to always think about the dealer’s up card when making a decision, as it will be the deciding factor for your wins.
Never Take an Insurance Bet
The most common mistake that casino beginners make in playing blackjack is that they will take an insurance bet out of fear that they may not win anything in a round, but the truth is that they will still lose even if they take the insurance bet, so it would be best to just fold. If you don’t know what an insurance bet is, it is a type of blackjack bet that is offered by the dealer if he or she has an ace as an up card.
If there is an ace in the dealer’s hand, the dealer would then ask all players on the blackjack table if they want to take an insurance bet before a player makes the first move. If you take the insurance bet and the dealer wins the round, you will be able to get back the money you used to bet and have an additional winning for the round. Unfortunately, there is usually a low chance for dealers to have a winning hand even if they have an ace, so we recommend not taking an insurance bet.
Don’t Take the Seat at First Base
Possibly the easiest strategy you can apply while playing blackjack is to never take the first base seat, which is located to the farthest corner to the dealer’s right. The problem with the first base seat is that whoever is seated there will need to be the first player to make a move on the game.
The function of the first base seat may be advantageous to some, particularly the veterans, as it will allow them to control the round since their hand and the dealer’s up card will decide what the other players will do on the table. However, this function also has downsides, as it will not allow some players to think about what they will do since they would need to make a move right away after the dealer deals his or her up card. So, if you need time to think about your move, you shouldn’t take the first base seat.
Memorize Basic Patterns
Of course, in order for you to win more in blackjack, you actually need to learn about the intricacies of its gameplay mechanics. There are many types of blackjack strategies, patterns, and combinations that you need to memorize, and each combination would require you to make a specific move. Here is a cheat sheet to make it easier for you to memorize basic patterns.
- Stand or keep your hand if your cards have a total value of 12 to 16, as long as the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6
- Split (make the cards you own into two hands) your 8s and Aces
- Never split 5s or 10s
- Hit or take another card if your hand has a total value of 12 to 16 if the up card owned by the dealer is 7 or higher
- Double down or increase your bet if you have a Hard 11 (two cards that have a combined value of 11)
The Hard 11 hand is regarded as the most powerful hand in blackjack, so if you ever have it on your hand, don’t be afraid to double down on your bet. Always keep these patterns and blackjack strategies in mind to get more winnings.
Winning in blackjack is difficult for beginners, but as long as you follow the tips that we shared with you in this blackjack article, you will be able to win more games sooner rather than later. Remember to apply these tips whenever you play blackjack so that you won’t have any wasted rounds trying to get used to playing the strategic card game.