12 Blackjack Tips For Beginners
So, you want to learn how to play Blackjack? Well, there are some things you need to know before getting to the casino. 12 Blackjack Tips For Beginners will help to eliminate that table game intimidation. Most players and dealers are sympathetic to newbies at table games. Unfortunately, there are always a few that can be impatient or even downright rude. Play at a table that is friendly the first few times.
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Blackjack Tips For Beginners Before Visiting the Casino
Preparation before you are thrown to the blackjack wolves at the casino is important. Blackjack is easy at the entry level and is part of the “American Casino Fearsome Foursome” (with Roulette Craps, and Poker). So, everyone thinks they’re an expert, and some are. However, practicing at home will give you a foundation for that first time.
1A) Get Started with Learning Basic Strategy AT HOME
Practice at home with free apps or programs to teach certain situations. For example, it would be best to learn the basic playing strategy for hitting, standing, doubling, and pair splitting.
- Practice for Free – You can practice basic blackjack strategy with online blackjack in demo mode. This will give you the time and freedom to carefully think of your next move and cross-reference it with your chart to verify if it is correct.
- Chart Accessibility – Keep the blackjack basic strategy chart printed for quick reference when unsure of the right call to make while practicing at home.
- Flashcards – Maybe you are better at studying with flashcards. Once you have studied the table, a good way to remember the information you have learned is to use flashcards with different hands on them. You can then go through each of the cards and vocalize the best playing strategy out loud to reinforce your knowledge for when you play blackjack.
1B) Refine Your Basic Strategy With a Blackjack Trainer Apps & Videos
Here are some Blackjack resources:
- Wizard of Odds Blackjack for Beginners – Free Blackjack Tutor
- Blackjack 101 (Apple) – WARNING: This is *not* a Blackjack game, it is a practice aid for learning basic strategy in Blackjack, and it assumes you already are familiar with the rules.
- Blackjack Strategy Practice. (Android) – Get immediate feedback on every move. Automatically track your accuracy, hot streaks, and detailed stats. + No Ads, + Learn perfect strategy
- Blackjack All-In-One (Google) / (Apple) – Provides basic practice with a House Edge calculator, a trainer, and card counting.
- YouTube – Yup, there are a lot of questionable videos out there, but there are excellent training videos also. Stick with any Wizard of Odds and American Casino Guide videos and you can’t go wrong.
- How to play blackjack – a great explanation you need to know at Casino.org
- Wizard of Odds blackjack videos / Learn Basic Strategy With Michael Shackleford, The Wizard Of Odds!
- Top 10 Tips For Beginning Blackjack Players – Part 1 – with Casino Gambling Expert Steve Bourie
2) Go to the casino when it’s less crowded and with someone who knows how to play.
Blackjack doesn’t have a lot of etiquette rules. But, some essential points like touching the cards and signaling the dealer are essential to know.
Related Post – Beginners Guide to Blackjack Etiquette
3) Stick to your basic strategy,
no matter what the “experts” at the table say. This is one of the most critical 12 Blackjack Tips For Beginners. Get comfortable with your strategy play, not what others say. Blackjack players are known for giving unsolicited advice, and not necessarily in a helpful way!
Be strong. The playing decisions of other players on your table do not affect the long-run odds of winning – or vice versa. Remember, Blackjack is not a team sport. So always use the basic playing strategy regardless of how other players play their hand, how much you bet, and whether you lost or won your previous sessions.
Understand Blackjack Rules and Payouts
4) Try to Avoid any game paying 6:5 for a blackjack.
Play only on tables where Blackjack is paid at 3-2. Be careful that it plays to your bankroll limits. Unfortunately, in 2024, finding 3-2 games below the $25 table limit is almost impossible.
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5) Try to find tables with dealers manually shuffling cards instead of shuffle machines.
However, “pitch games” are rare. We are stuck with most casinos using shuffle machines.
6) Scout the tables to find the most liberal playing rules.
Besides the stated above 3:2 payoff for a Blackjack, other good rules are:
- The dealer is standing on all 17s (including soft 17),
- Players can double down on any two cards,
- After splitting pairs, players can double down on any two cards,
- Surrender is good if you are aware of that strategy.
More Blackjack Tips – Side Bets, Anyone?
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7) Don’t take Insurance
This is an important part of our 12 Blackjack Tips For Beginners. No matter how much money you wagered on your hand don’t take insurance. Insurance is considered a sucker bet. a side bet offered to the player if the dealer’s up-card is an ace, as insurance against the dealer’s hand being ‘blackjack’. Blackjack insurance odds pay out at 2/1 and the maximum bet allowed is generally half of the player’s main bet.
8) Before you take any action, check the dealer’s upcard.
Is it favorable to the player (2 through 6) or not (7 through Ace)? ) What the dealer’s up card is and your cards will dictate your next decision.
9) Don’t sit in the first base seat.
Instead, sit in the middle to give you more time to review your hand and the dealer upcard. Stay away from the third base or last seat. Unfortunately, some players think your play changes the outcome of the game. But, mathematically, it doesn’t matter in the long run. The decisions of other players at the table won’t impact your hand.
“You’re playing alone against the dealer – They don’t know what you have and vice versa.”
Frank Scoblete, author of many gambling resources.
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10) Always give your Player’s Rewards Card to the dealer before you play.
This gets you on your way to being rated and earning comps.
11) Bring only the bankroll you can spend and Have fun.
And finally…
12) If the table isn’t fun – grumpy dealers, drunks, unhappy “know-it-alls” – then move if you can! Life’s too short.
Final Note:
Remember, stadium gaming video blackjack can be fun. There is less pressure and no one will care if you have your strategy card. However, earning reward points can be much harder. It is often not close to your rating and time spent at a real table.
Robin “Binbin” Aubin