All gambling requires risk. There is no formula that will eliminate that risk to the extent that gambling could become a predictable form of revenue. The “house edge,” never goes away, regardless of how well you manage your systems.
That said, it does seem like some people have more luck than others, doesn’t it? This is particularly true of games like blackjack where skill and strategy do genuinely influence outcomes.
See if you can improve your experience a little the next time you play online blackjack at Bovada by following some of these tips.
Understanding the House Edge
The house edge in blackjack represents the mathematical advantage the casino maintains over players in the long run. Usually, it ranges from 0.5% to 2% depending on specific table rules. This may not sound like much, but it’s why you don’t often hear about casinos losing money.
With blackjack, the house edge is built right into the rules. Are you ready for a mathematical phrase that you’ll forget as soon as you read it? “Sequential action problem.”
You as the player are forced to act before the dealer. Let’s say there are three people at the table. You, another player, and the dealer. All three have two cards. The next three cards on the deck are enough to make each of them bust, but only the players do.
Why? Because the players bust first. The hand ends there. The dealer never gets the fatal card.
There are other little things. For example, one of the dealer’s cards is hidden, which means you’ll never know exactly what they have.
These conditions combine to ensure that, with enough time, the house will come out ahead. But “enough time,” is the operative phrase. By understanding the game and effectively managing risk you can increase your chances of landing wins.
Develop a Process For Taking Hits
Good players will often develop a system for when they hit or stay. Not only will this improve your statistical averages but it will also reduce the likelihood of impulsive, ill-advised decisions.
It’s usually advised that you hit when your hand is worth sixteen or less, and stay when it is worth more than sixteen. Of course, you can still bust when you hit holding 15, or come up well short when you sit at 17.
In the long run, however, you’ll probably do a little bit better than if you hit or stay based on how you are feeling in the moment.
What the dealer is showing can influence your strategy as well. Usually, when the dealer is showing a lower card, it indicates you can get away with a lower number yourself. The opposite is true when they show a higher card.
Always Assume The Dealer Has 10
It’s helpful from a probability perspective to always assume that the dealer’s hidden card is worth ten. There is a reasonably high chance that this assumption will be correct because the 10 card, the Jack, the Queen, and the King are all worth ten.
Obviously, the card won’t always be worth ten but the goal is to win with as much frequency as you can. Systems are not about individual outcomes, but long-term results.
Get Out At The Right Time
This is ultimately the best advice in any gambling situation. It can also be the hardest to follow. When you get on a good run, you want to keep the fun times going. That’s how they get you. Remember that house edge we talked about in an earlier heading?
It’s a mathematical certainty that is powered by time.
Eventually, the dealer will win about 2% more than you do. The only way to avoid that is to leave the virtual table before the laws of probability do you dirty.
To get good at knowing when to fold’em some people set timers for themselves where they will sign out at a predetermined time regardless of what is going on in the game.
It’s also a good idea to take regular breaks. The adrenaline and dopamine that you feel during the game could cloud both your judgment and your perception of time, leading you to not realize how long you’ve been at it.
Conclusion
It’s important to understand that all of the tips in this article are focused on improving your odds, not providing guarantees. Remember the sequential action problem. The hidden card. Blackjack rules are very literally engineered to ensure that the house wins more often than you do.
The best blackjack strategy in the world is not a dependable way to make a living. Play for fun and never bet more than you are comfortable losing.
With responsible gaming practices and the right strategy, you can take your online blackjack experiences to the next level.