Blackjack is the one game that you can play with a positive edge against the casino. It's this edge that makes blackjack the preferred game for the serious player interested in making long term profits. To win at blackjack long term you need to have a strategy, but you also need to play games with favourable rules and use strict money management techniques. Here are four tips to help you make big consistent profits: Tip 1. Basic Strategy When you play blackjack correctly and use basic strategy, you cut the casino edge - it's a mathematically proven fact. The casino's initial edge in the game is 5.75%, but by using basic strategy, you can reduce the casino edge to around 0.5% There are plenty of free sources on the net that have strategy cards to tell you how to play. Tip 2. Card Counting After learning basic strategy, you can gain a positive edge over the casino (about 0.5 -1.5%) by card counting. There are many card counting systems. A Player needs to know the system they are using well and execute it without errors. Errors are costly and they will wipe out your advantage. A simple system executed correctly will make you more long-term profit than a complicated one, which causes you to make errors. You need to use a card counting system that you can execute with confidence and without errors to make it effective in giving you an edge over the house. Tip 3. Look for Favourable Rules For card counting to be effective, a player needs to play blackjack games with favourable rules. Here are some rule variations and the effect that they have on a player's long-term profits. Favourable Rules for the Player Early surrender +0.62% Late surrender single deck +0.02% Double down after splitting +0.13% Drawing to split aces +0.14% Re-splitting of aces +0.03% Double down cards any number +0.20% 2:1 payoff blackjack +2.32% Unfavourable Rules for the Player No doubling on hard 11 -0.89% No doubling on hard 10 -0.56% No doubling on hard 9 -0.14% No doubling soft hands -0.14% Dealer hits soft 17 -0.20% Dealer takes no hole card -0.13% 2 decks (v single) -0.35% 4 decks (v single) -0.51% 6 decks (v single) -0.60% Pairs no re-splitting -0.05% You need to play with favourable rules otherwise; the casino will wipe out the edge you gain through card counting. Tip 4. Money Management You need to decide what your bankroll is going to be and play at a level that will enable you to ride out losing periods. Keep in mind card counting is not a predictive theory, it's a probability theory, and losing periods can and do occur. To win at blackjack you need staying power. There is no point in having a great strategy and no bankroll! You need to vary your bet size. This is one of the most important keys to playing blackjack like a pro - having the courage to bet big when the odds are in your favour. Winning at Blackjack Requires More than Card Counting To win at blackjack not only do you need to know basic strategy and card counting, but you also need to be able to play with favourable rules and execute proper money management techniques. Using a combination of the above four tips will enable you to make money over the long term playing blackjack. |
