It’s you against the dealer in a battle of wits and probability. While luck will always determine the cards you're dealt, a disciplined strategy is what separates the consistent winners from the players who just burn through their bankroll. To give yourself the best shot at beating the house at the vibrant tables found in a gaming lobby like Tsars Casino, you need to play like a pro. Here are the top tips for taking your blackjack game to the next level.
1. Master Basic Strategy – No Excuses This is the single most important tip. Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal way to play every hand. It's a solved game. For any hand you have against any dealer upcard, there is one single play (Hit, Stand, Double Down, or Split) that will be the most profitable in the long run. Don't play based on gut feelings or what the player next to you is doing. Learn the chart. The beauty of playing online is that you can have a basic strategy chart open right next to your game window. Use it on every single hand until it becomes second nature. Playing with perfect basic strategy can reduce the house edge to as low as 0.5%. Guessing can push that edge up to 4% or higher.
2. Always Choose a 3:2 Table This is a simple rule that has a huge impact on your bottom line. The traditional and correct payout for a natural blackjack (an Ace and a 10-value card) is 3:2. This means on a $10 bet, you are paid $15. Some modern tables, however, offer a reduced payout of 6:5. On a $10 bet, this only pays you $12. This single rule change increases the house edge by over 1.4%, making it one of the worst bets in the casino. Before you sit down, always check the table rules for the blackjack payout. If it's 6:5, find another table.
3. Never Take Insurance When the dealer's upcard is an Ace, you will be offered an "insurance" bet. This is a side bet that the dealer has a 10 in the hole, completing their blackjack. It pays 2:1. It sounds like a good way to protect your hand, but it is a sucker bet. The house edge on the insurance bet is very high, often over 7% for a basic strategy player. The odds of the dealer having a 10 are not good enough to make it a profitable long-term play. A professional player will never take the insurance bet. Just politely decline and play your hand according to basic strategy.
4. Manage Your Bankroll with Discipline You can be the best blackjack player in the world, but if you have poor bankroll management, you will go broke. You must set limits. A good rule for a session is to have a bankroll of at least 50 times your minimum bet. This gives you a cushion to withstand the natural swings of the game. Bet a consistent amount on each hand (flat betting) and avoid dramatically increasing your bets when you're losing (chasing losses). Set a win goal and a loss limit for your session. The discipline to walk away when you hit one of those numbers is the true mark of a winning player.
