Improve At Blackjack

Perhaps it's the streamers and TIkTokers posting their big wins, or maybe it's due to the general rise in online gambling, but Blackjack is more popular than ever in the world. If you're thinking of hopping on the bandwagon and giving the classic game of 21 a shot, or maybe you already play but are looking to improve your skills, this article is for you. Blackjack is a simple game, but with just a few tips, you can increase your odds and hopefully win at trusted casinos such as TopCasinos.mx. Here's everything you need to know about this thrilling game and how to get better at it.

Don't Plan on Counting Cards

Counting cards might work at physical casinos, but online casinos are a different story. If you're using a virtual deck, it might be shuffling the deck for each hand, negating the purpose of keeping a count. If you're playing at a live dealer table, you might be able to get a slight edge, but they often use 8+ decks, making the benefit of keeping a count negligible. Also, like physical casinos, counting cards is often against the rules of online casinos. If an online casino detects suspicious betting patterns in line with card counting, you could find yourself banned.

Understanding Basic Strategy

If you ever plan on getting better at online Blackjack, you need to understand basic strategy. A basic strategy helps narrow down the house edge and is easier than it sounds. The easiest way to explain basic strategy is that it's a flowchart of rules to follow—if you have card X, make move Y. It's easy enough to learn but takes time to master. The best advice you can get is to spend time practising basic strategy with free Blackjack games that don't use money. A basic strategy also changes depending on if the dealer hits a soft 17, so make sure you know the rules of the tables you play at before.

Whether you hit, stay, split or double down depends on the dealer's upcard. In a game of 4, 6 or 8 decks where the dealer hits on a soft 17, if the dealer has any card and you have a total of 8, you hit. This is because any follow-up card improves your hand without the possibility of busting. Likewise, if your hand totals 9, 10 or 11, you should always hit. A hand total of 11 is always a double down if possible, as you're extremely likely to make 21 and win the hand. For a hand total of 9 or 10, it's a little more complicated, but there are some situations where you should double down and some when you should simply hit.

The above serves as an example of a basic strategy and is not a full explanation. For a full understanding of basic strategy, you should keep a cheat sheet nearby while you play virtual no-cost blackjack. There's no timer and no money to be lost, giving you all the time in the world to hone your skills.

Using the Martingale Betting System

The Martingale System is a popular betting system used by people at casinos from all over the world. It's extremely easy to learn, easier than basic strategy. You simply double your bet on a loss and go back to your original bet sizing on a win. It helps to start with a small bet sizing so that you don't find yourself wagering your entire bankroll after just a few losses. 

The system looks like this: You bet $1 on a hand and lose. You double your bet on the next hand to $2. If you lose that hand, you double your bet to $4. This continues until you win a hand, at which point you go back to your original $1 bet. This ensures that as long as you have enough in your bankroll to keep doubling your bet, you'll always win back your original wager. Paired with a basic strategy, you'll find that you might just see a rise in your winnings.

Not Being Afraid to Double Down

Doubling down can be scary for new players, but it's all pure math and statistics. The best example of when to double down was already mentioned—when you have 11 and the dealer is showing a low card. The odds of the dealer busting or staying at 17 are great. The odds of you getting a face card or ten and hitting 21 are also great. Doubling down can often be the single greatest thing you do in Blackjack.