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Ten Rules to be a Successful Blackjack Player, 4 Things Successful Online Blackjack Players Don’t Do in Canada

4 Things Successful Online Blackjack Players Don’t Do in Canada

Control your emotions: You always need to remain cool and calm at the blackjack table. Getting upset when the dealer wins a hand or when the player next to you splits a pair of tens will only cause you to make poor decisions. Being a professional blackjack player requires self-discipline and self-control. Some people have a hard time managing themselves effectively. You must learn how to do this if you want to make money at blackjack. Always tip the dealer when you win. If you do not tip the dealer after a winning session (you do not need to tip after each winning hand), sooner or later word will get around. The dealers will not like dealing to you and they will keep their eyes peeled for any signs that you are a card counter. Dealers are one casino employee you must always keep on your good side. It is no fun to play at a table with a sour dealer. Only greedy jerks do not tip the dealer when they win. Once your session is over, decide on a percentage of your winnings that you are willing to tip the dealer.”

Ten Rules to be a Successful Blackjack Player

The Counting Edge blackjack system has given you the basic tools you need to be a successful blackjack player and make money at the casino. As you advance in your skills you will learn new methods, but the information we have given you is something you will call upon again and again in your blackjack career.

We need to say something very important at this stage. Any blackjack system that you choose to use, including ours, is only effective if you use it the way it was intended to be used. If you take shortcuts and omit parts of the system, the system will not work. In short, a system is only as effective as you make it through hours of practice and play.

In this section we are going to sum up the basic concepts of the Counting Edge blackjack system by presenting a set of ten rules. If you follow these rules you will be using the system correctly and profits are sure to follow.

Always stick to basic strategy: The basic blackjack strategy chart we provided for you is the standard for decision making at the blackjack table. Do not deviate from it. You must memorize it until all of the decisions become second nature. In live blackjack play you must execute these decisions without a second thought. Forget about hunches. Following your hunches in blackjack will cause you to go broke. A smart, professional blackjack player does not deviate from basic strategy because he knows that these decisions will always be the correct ones to make.

Learn how to count cards: You must learn how to count cards to be a consistent winner in live blackjack. It is a skill, and like any skill it takes effort and practice to perfect. You cannot become an expert card counter after 30 minutes of practice. Practice every day for at least an hour if you can. You must sharpen your card counting skills at home before you try to count cards in live play. The casino environment you will face is much different than the one you will face in your kitchen or living room. The casino is loud and there are many distractions. Try to simulate these conditions at home by playing loud music or turning on the television. The goal is to be able to maintain the count despite all of the distractions around you.

Build a bankroll: If you do not have 50x the minimum table bet in bankroll money you are not ready to play live or online blackjack. Delay your trip to the blackjack table until you have enough money to play the game correctly. Think of yourself as an old west gunslinger. The Counting Edge blackjack system is your gun, but you can’t fire that gun without any bullets. Your bankroll is the bullet you need to shoot down the casino. The number one reason people fail at blackjack is lack of a proper bankroll. Read that last sentence again. Playing with an inadequate amount of money is the number one reason people lose. Once you start playing your goal should be to build your bankroll with your profits over time until you are playing with the house’s money.

Pick the right table: Not every blackjack table is a good table . When you walk into the casino do not automatically sit down at the first open seat you come to. Look for tables with no other players or only a few. Also, wait until a new shoe is being dealt before you sit down to play. In other words, sit down when the dealer is shuffling up the decks. Starting your play on a new shoe will give you deeper penetration into the deck and make your count more accurate. Do not choose a table with a minimum bet that is over your head. Some players get so excited to play blackjack that they will sit at any table where a seat is available. Don’t do this. If there is no seat available at a table that qualifies, wait. Be patient. The casino is not going anywhere.

Small ball your way to a profit: Using win/loss limits in blackjack is the best way to put money in your pocket. It will also help you to overcome greed. Do you want to become a millionaire by playing blackjack? That’s great, but you cannot win that million in one blackjack session. You must learn to take small wins and let them accumulate. You must also protect your bankroll like a lioness protects her cubs. Always do everything you can to limit your blackjack losses and preserve your bankroll when you are on a losing streak.

Losing happens, so get over it: You will have losing sessions throughout your blackjack career. Nothing can be done about that. What you can do is learn how to shake off a losing session and not go into a funk which will affect your playing abilities. Being a professional blackjack player is like being on a roller coaster. You will have highs and lows, but you must learn how to sit back and enjoy the ride. Don’t let one or two losing sessions force you to question your abilities and skills. When you start questioning yourself you will begin to change the system. This is a mistake. Stick to the plan, Stan!

Don’t drink alcohol while you play: There is a time and a place for everything. Drinking alcohol at the blackjack table is a bad idea. The casino is more than happy to give you free drinks all night long in order to get you drunk. They know that when you have too much to drink you will play poorly and make bad decisions. They will also be more than happy to give you all of those drinks and then kick you out when you become drunk and obnoxious. Do you really think the casino gives you free drinks because they like you? Wake up and smell the coffee. Better yet, wake up and DRINK the coffee while you play blackjack.

Always tip the dealer when you win. If you do not tip the dealer after a winning session (you do not need to tip after each winning hand), sooner or later word will get around. The dealers will not like dealing to you and they will keep their eyes peeled for any signs that you are a card counter. Dealers are one casino employee you must always keep on your good side. It is no fun to play at a table with a sour dealer. Only greedy jerks do not tip the dealer when they win. Once your session is over, decide on a percentage of your winnings that you are willing to tip the dealer.”

Walk away a winner: This is perhaps the most important rule. You must learn how to walk away a winner. There are many players who are very good at blackjack but very bad at being able to leave with a profit. They stay at a table too long and wind up losing money over and over again. Pretty soon losing becomes a pattern for them. You need to make winning your blackjack pattern.

Play Online Blackjack in Canada

Blackjack is a popular game that is played in casinos around the globe, and it can be simple to get your head round once you start to learn and understand how the game works. Blackjack is particularly easy for first-timers, which makes it a popular game for gambling beginners. Blackjack only gives the house a small advantage and is a game that you can master by studying, which is one of the reasons it is so popular.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about blackjack, from the history behind the game, to the best strategy and tips to help you win. First, let's take a look at the BEST CASINOS for Online Blackjack in Canada:

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History of Blackjack

The history of blackjack is a largely contested subject that many researchers still to this day disagree on. Unlike other games, there is no one creator of blackjack and instead it has progressed from other games.

The modern game that we know now as blackjack is thought to have originated and developed from games played in France and Spain during the 18 th century. It was originally named “Vingt-un” or “Vingt-et-un (meaning 21) in France, but in Spain it was known as “Trente-un” (meaning 31), which can be traced back as far 1440.

Blackjack, then known as ‘21’, was taken over to America by French Colonists in the 18 th century where the rules were not standardized and often changed depending on the individual dealers. The game flourished and increased in popularity in America through the development of gambling establishments.

At the time of the state legislation of gambling in Nevada in 1931, the game was still just as popular and had continued to be referred to as ‘21’. Some casinos targeted this game as a way to entice more players and would sometimes offer an exclusive payout of 10:1 when a player successfully got to 21 points by using the ace of spades card and one of the black jacks. This is where the name Blackjack was established and grew from.

As states in America were starting to legalize gambling, legislation was introduced, and games needed to have a standardized set of rules. Up until this point, blackjack did not have a clear set of rules and was played differently depending on the players’ location or the individual dealer. However, the Nevada Gaming Commission created the official rules for blackjack, and those are the rules that the modern version of the game follows today. Blackjack has since been one of the most popular games to be played in casinos in Las Vegas, and the rest of the world.

The game of blackjack developed further when technological advancements enabled the establishment of online casinos, which provided the classic version of blackjack virtually. The game of blackjack developed further through the growth of the internet and there are now different versions that are played interactively.

Blackjack Odds

One of the key things to understand when playing blackjack is the odds and probabilities that exist in the game. Regardless of the cards you have been dealt and what your predicament is at the table (whether literal or virtual) you need to be aware of the chances you have of winning, compared to the probability that you will go bust.

How do I win at Blackjack?

Through studying and practicing the game, you will be able to work out the probability of going bust when you decide to add an extra card to your already dealt hand value. For example, if your hand value is 12, then you have a 31% probability of an extra card value sending you bust and out the game.

However, if you have a higher hand value at 19, then your probability jumps up to an 85% chance. Once you get your head around these odds, then it will be easier to assess whether you should take the risk of adding an extra card. Putting it simply, the higher your hand value, the higher the risk an extra card will make you go bust. It is worth keeping this equation in your head while you are playing.

However, the real trick to blackjack is to not just focus on your odds in the game, but also on the dealer. Now you need to remember that the dealer’s probability depends on what the game’s rules state. So, make sure you know the rules before you enter play.

You may think that you have been dealt a weak hand, but also look at the odds of the dealer’s hand being weak as well and you will have a better idea of how to predict their hand successfully.

Example: you could have the hand value of 12 and assume that the right thing to do would be to hit. You would consider this to be true because not only is 12 a low hand value, but you know that more than two thirds of the rest of the pack that you could be dealt from would help improve your value.

But don’t forget that the dealer may have a weak hand too! Do not make the common mistake of only focusing on your own odds and probabilities.

Blackjack FAQs

Can you play real blackjack online?

YES. Like any other casino games you need to make sure you play exclusively on safe sites. At Canadian Gambling Choice we only gathered trustworthy online casinos! Peace of mind, safety and fun ahead!

Can you win money playing online blackjack?

YES you can. You'll only find online casinos with real money games at Canadian Gambling Choice. Check our strategies & tips to make the most of your blackjack experience.

Is online gambling legal?

YES, online gambling is totally legal in Canada, you just have to make sure you're playing with the best and legitimate online casinos such as Yukon Gold, Luxury Casino or Zodiac Casino!

Online Blackjack Rules for Canadians

Blackjack is one of the most popular games played in casinos and this is because, while being relatively simple, it offers a thrill and the player can use mathematical ability (through the assessing of odds) in order to develop a high-level strategy. Before you can develop a high strategy, you need to first know the basic game rules.

How do I start?

The standard 52 card pack is used for blackjack and most casinos play the popular version where six packs are shuffled together (to make for 312 cards in total). However, not all these cards will be played as after the cards have been shuffled and bets placed, the dealer will pick a player at random to cut the pack of cards so that the last 60/70 cards will not be in play.

How does the game work?

The object of the game is to beat the dealer by getting as close to the count of 21, without going over (known as going bust). The betting aspect comes to the game as, before the cards are dealt, each player places a bet by placing a chip in the designated area. The value of the chip(s) you place down is up to you, but there are generally minimum and maximum bet limits that start from around $2 to $500, but this depends on the betting establishments rules.

When the first cards are dealt, the dealer will give each player one card facing upwards, and then give himself one card facing up. The second round of cards are delivered to players face up, while the dealer’s second card is placed face down.

Playing from the left, each player must decide whether they want to stand or hit. This means that a player can either stick with the original two cards that they have been dealt, or they can decide to have additional cards from the dealer. The player will then either stand if they have a hand value of 21 or under or go bust if they exceed the 21 goal. If the player loses by going over the value of 21, then the dealer collects the bet they wagered.

The dealer serves all the players in the same way and once this has been done, they will turn the down facing card up so the table can see his total. If the total of his two cards is more than 17, then the dealer must stand. However, if the total is under 17, then the dealer will continue to take cards until a value of 17 is reached.

Online Blackjack Strategies and Tips in Canada

Look at The Dealer's Card

There are different strategies that are followed, but one of the main ones that nearly all players begin with is based on the dealer’s up facing card. If you can see that the dealer’s card is a high value (for example between 7 and 10) then the player should take additional cards until their value is at least 17. The main strategy behind this, and the whole game, is to not take an extra card if there is any risk that it could make you go bust.

Splitting Pairs

A popular strategy is the use of blackjack pair splitting. If a player is dealt two cards of the same value, then they can decide to either continue playing with those card values, or they can split them into two playable hands. Now, a player getting two cards of the same value can be beneficial as well as damaging.

For example, if two 10s are dealt to a player, then they have a strong hand they will want to stand with. However, being dealt two ‘2s’ can be less beneficial and the player may indicate to the dealer that they want to split the pair into two hands but place another equal bet by the original bet they placed.

But make sure that you place the second bet NEXT to the original bet and not on top of it! The player should also remember that they must play out the original hand they were dealt before they can play their split (second) hand.

Side Bets

Some games will see the inclusion of side bets. These are additional wagers that can be placed only at the beginning of the game when you play your main bets. Side bets can be placed on both your own hand, and the hand the other players will be dealt. The most popular side bets are perfect pairs and insurance.

However, it is advisable to avoid getting involved in side bets as they generally have a higher house edge compared to the game itself, so it really is recommended that you avoid them.

The Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts of Blackjack

Everyone knows by now that blackjack is a game of skill and the casino game with the lowest house edge.

But those truisms only apply if you understand the game and how to play it correctly.

If it’s your first time in the casino, no one would blame you for being a little confused about how blackjack works. Even if you’ve been playing for a while, you might be making some big mistakes.

This post is meant to clear things up for you so that you don’t make the big mistakes that cost you the most money.

It’s organized into a list of 5 things you should do and 5 things you shouldn’t do at the blackjack table.

With any luck, you’ll learn as much from this “top 10 do’s and don’ts of blackjack” post as I learned writing it.

It doesn’t look like a long post, I know. Most people can finish reading it in less than 20 minutes, in fact.

But it took a lot longer than 20 minutes to write. In fact, when you consider the time I spent playing blackjack and reading books about how to play, you might say that this post took over 20 years to write.

1 – DO Learn the Rules before You Sit Down to Play

Blackjack seems like a simple enough game. You get 2 cards, the dealer gets 2 cards, and you both decide to hit until you decide to stand. Then whoever has a total closer to 21 without going over wins the hand.

Conceptually, that IS simple.

But in actual practice, blackjack is more complicated than that.

For one thing, you have more decisions at your disposal than just hitting and standing. Let’s take a look at those potential decisions and what each one of them means:

Hitting is the most basic move. It just means to get another card from the dealer, which increases the total score for your hand.

Standing is tied with hitting for being the most basic move. It just means to decline the opportunity to take more cards. Once you’ve stood, you don’t do anything else but wait for the dealer to play his hand and see if you won.

Doubling down means to double the size of your bet while simultaneously taking one more card. You’re not allowed to hit again after this card if you doubled down.

Splitting is only allowed when you have 2 cards of the same rank. When that happens, you’re allowed to post a 2 nd bet, and play 2 hands. The first card of each hand is one of the 2 cards you had in your original hand. You play each of the split hands separately.

Surrendering means giving up half your bet but also losing any right to win the hand later in the round. It’s comparable to folding in poker. It’s not a move you’ll make often, but it’s still important to know what it is.

Understanding the card values is another important part of the rules. Most people get this aspect of the rules pretty fast, but here it is if you don’t know how it works:

All cards in blackjack have a point value equal to their rank, except for aces and face cards. Aces can count as 1 or 11, depending on which would be better for your hand. Face cards (the jack, queen, and king) are worth 10 points each.

Also, most of the time, when you win, you get even money. Bet $100 and win, and you get a $100 payout.

But if you get a 2-card hand totaling 21, which is called a “blackjack” or “natural,” you win 3 to 2 on yoru money—at least in most casinos. Some casinos have lowered payouts for this hand, and we’ll talk about that later in this list of do’s and don’ts.

2 – DON’T Tell Other Players How to Play Their Hands

Blackjack is supposed to be fun. It’s a gambling game you play in a casino, and the last time I checked, that was the entire point to playing these kinds of games.

One of the surest ways to spoil the fun for other players is to correct their play.

And if you spoil someone else’s fun, you’ll have less fun, too—unless you’re some kind of weird sociopath.

Some players operate under the mistaken impression that the other players’ actions can somehow affect the luck for the other players at the table.

Most of the obnoxious players who are correcting others’ decisions at the table operate from that assumption.

3 – DO Play in Single Deck Games When You Can

Blackjack is a game with a low house edge—that’s just the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the player.

But different blackjack games have different conditions. One of those conditions is the number of decks in use.

The rule of thumb for the player is simple:

Everything else being equal, the more decks in play, the higher the house edge.

Your goal is to face the lowest house edge possible.

With more cards in the deck, as in an 8-deck game, your probability of being dealt a blackjack goes down, which increases the house’s mathematical edge over the player.

You should never give the casino any opportunity to get a higher mathematical edge over you, if you can at all help it.

Of course, the number of decks isn’t the only factor of a blackjack game’s conditions that a casino can change.

4 – DON’T Play in 6/5 Blackjack Games

One trick casinos often use to get a higher edge is to offer a single deck blackjack game, but that game might only pay off at 6 to 5 for a blackjack.

Remember how we talked about the rules for blackjack, and how a natural pays off at 3 to 2?

That means if you bet $100 and win, you get a payoff of $150 for a blackjack.

That’s a ratio of 3 to 2 on your money.

Some casinos offer games where the payoff for a blackjack is done at a ratio of 6 to 5.

If you bet $100 and win in such a game, you get a payoff of $120.

The casinos try to bill these games as superior to standard blackjack, and some people are so mathematically illiterate that they fall for this trick.

The casino might have a sign up that says “Now offering 6/5 payouts!”

When they announce it like that, it sounds special, doesn’t it?

They’re hoping that some of the less thoughtful and attentive patrons will see the 6 and think that it’s bigger than 3, so they’re getting a better deal.

A lot of players fall for that, too, but not you. You know that the 6 is relative to the 5, which means a $120 payout on a $150 payout on a $100 bet.

That’s a big difference. It gives the house another 1.4% in house edge, which is a LOT.

Just say no to 6/5 blackjack, please.

5 – DO Follow Basic Strategy on EVERY Hand

Most of the people who read my blog already know what basic strategy is in blackjack, but if you’re a new reader, you might not have been clued in yet.

In blackjack, you’ll face a finite number of situations. You can only have so many totals, and you can only face so many dealer up-cards.

When you compare a total in your hand with the dealer’s up-card, you have a limited number of options. Each of those options has a mathematically expected average result.

This expected result is called “expected value,” or EV, for short.

Some situations in blackjack are lousy, and the expected value is negative no matter how you play your hand. In those cases, the correct move is the one which results in the lowest average loss. That IS the highest expected value play in that situation.

Most people learn basic strategy using a table or chart. On the left hand side of the chart, you have a list of the possible hard and soft totals in the game. (A soft total is a total that includes an ace. It’s “soft” because you can change what you count the ace as based on the situation to avoid busting.)

Across the top of the chart, you have a list of the dealer’s possible up-cards.

You cross-reference your total with the dealer’s face-up card on the chart, and it tells you how to play the hand—hit, stand, double down, etc.

It sounds horribly complicated, but it’s easier than you think, because some totals play the same as some other totals. And how you play a specific hand against a dealer’s up-card doesn’t change much—a lot of times, the same decision applies to any dealer up-card of 6 or less or any dealer up-card of 7 or more.

Basic strategy was originally derived by having a computer play hundreds of thousands of simulated hands and seeing what the results were like.

Modern computers are able to handle more complicated algorithms, so they just calculate the expected value for each move.

Either way, you get the same set of guidelines for how to play your hands, although they might change slightly based on game conditions.

You should always play using correct basic strategy.

6 – DON’T Pay ANY Attention to Your Hunches

Some people adjust how they play based on their gut feelings. Unfortunately, confirmation bias reinforces this behavior.

Your hunches have no effect on the outcome of the game.

You’re not able to tell the future, even when it comes to a deck of cards.

Your brain is programmed to notice those occurrences and put stock in them.

The idea is to be an educated gambler getting the most action for your money.

You can’t do that by being superstitious and thinking you’re psychic.

Stick with basic strategy regardless of your hunches and gut feelings.

7 – DO Learn How to Count Cards

Counting cards is a fine skill to learn. More than anything else, learning how to count cards will increase your understanding of and enjoyment of the game.

You might think it’s not worth it to learn how to count cards in this modern casino era. After all, many casinos now use automatic shuffling machines and shuffle the cards before every hand, making it impossible to get an edge by counting cards.

Those aren’t the only ways casinos thwart card counters, though. Even in a casino where they’re not shuffling every hand, they can stop and re-shuffle the deck anytime, making it harder to get an advantage. Or one of the casino employees can just start talking to you—asking questions and just being friendly. It’s hard to count cards and carry on a conversation at the same time.

You don’t have to make a living counting cards for it to be worthwhile, either. Counting cards can just be a fun hobby. Who doesn’t want to get one over on the casino?

You just need to be willing to do some scouting to find the good games. Some of this might involve doing some legwork of your own. It’s also a good idea to spend some time getting to know other blackjack players and card counters on the internet.

You can find forums where card counters and blackjack players compare notes about specific casino conditions. Use them wisely, friend.

8 – DON’T Think You’ll Get Rich Counting Cards

Don’t forget that counting cards only nets you a small edge over the casino. The bigger the stakes are where you’re playing, the less likely you are to get away with it. Also, the more time you spend at a casino, the more likely you are to get caught.

Let’s look at how much you might realistically expect to earn by counting cards. We’ll assume that you’re really good at counting and that you’ve found great game conditions. You have a 2% edge over the casino.

You’re playing for an average of $25 per hand, and you’re getting in 80 hands per hour. This means that you’re putting $2000 into action per hour. With an edge of 2%, you’re looking at a predicted hourly win rate of $40.

$40/hour might sound pretty good if you’re a minimum wage employee somewhere, or even if you’re an entry level retail employee or office worker.

But that hourly wage doesn’t tell the whole picture.

If you could, then sure, you could be making $80,000 a year counting cards, but that’s not realistic.

For one thing, the more time you spend at a specific casino or playing with a specific dealer, the more likely you are to get busted.

For another, that amount of time spent counting cards is far more mentally grueling than you could probably imagine.

If you could pull this off for 15 or 20 hours per week, then you could make $30k or $40k a year counting cards, but you don’t get any kind of benefits package with this deal, either.

Sure, counting cards can be a fun hobby, but it’s not a realistic way to make a living.

9 – DO Take Advantage of the Casino’s Comps Program

The slots club at the casino isn’t just for the slot machine players. Table game players can take advantage of these comps, too. To take advantage of this, you just present your players club card to the dealer when you sit down and start to play.

How do they keep up with your action at the blackjack table, though?

We know how they track your play on the slot machines, but what about at the blackjack table?

The pit boss and the dealer get together and decide what your average bet size is and rate you. They know how many hands per hour you’re playing on average, and then it’s just a matter of multiplication.

In that card counting example above, we assumed you were averaging $2000 per hour in action. They just multiply that by their rewards rate to determine how much free stuff to give you.

The trick, and if you’ve read Max Rubin’s Comp City, you already know this, is to look like you’re betting more money per hour than you’re actually putting into action.

For one thing, you bet more per hand during your first 15 minutes or so at the table. You can scale back after that, but you want them to think you’re putting more money into action than you are. Start by betting $50 or $100 per hand before scaling back to $20 or $30 per hand. Mix it up enough that you look like a gambler, but not so much that you’re obviously counting cards.

The casino assumes you’re an average blackjack player for determining comps, so they’re assuming that their edge against you is around 2.5%. If you’re using perfect basic strategy, you have that number well below 1%.

You can easily come out ahead against the casino by just using perfect basic strategy and getting the most out of your comps as possible.

10 – DON’T Cheat

First, let’s make a distinction between advantage play and cheating.

Advantage play doesn’t involve changing the conditions of the game. You’re just playing with optimal strategy for those game conditions. Counting cards is advantage play, not cheating.

You’re cheating when you change the conditions of the game. If you’re using a computer to count cards, for example, you’re cheating. If you’re changing the size of your bets after you’ve seen your cards, you’re cheating.

Do you really want to go to jail (and possibly prison) and have a criminal record because you were trying to get an illegal edge against a casino?

It doesn’t seem worth it to me, although I’ve read numerous stories about casino cheats who get caught repeatedly and return to prison over and over again.

If you have that type of personality, my warning not to cheat is probably falling on deaf ears.

But if you think you’re going to cheat just on a lark, well…

Conclusion

Having a good time at the blackjack table isn’t hard to do when you keep these things in mind. Learning the rules is something you can do in less than an hour. There aren’t that many rules to begin with.

Mastering basic strategy is something you can do in an hour or 2 if you commit to focusing on it and studying. Heck, you can practice at your kitchen table.

You don’t have to learn to count cards to have fun at the blackjack table, but it sure doesn’t hurt. Counting cards is another skill that you can learn at your kitchen table in just a couple of hours. All it takes is some focus and determination.

And what could be easier than signing up for the players’ club at the casino and presenting the card when you sit down to play? I can’t think of anything.

And most of the suggestions for what not to do are common sense.

Michael Stevens has been researching and writing topics involving the gambling industry for well over a decade now and is considered an expert on all things casino and sports betting. Michael has been writing for GamblingSites.org since early 2016. .

Michael Stevens

Michael Stevens has been researching and writing topics involving the gambling industry fo .

7 Secrets of Blackjack Success

It’s easier to become a winning blackjack player than most people believe. You just need to learn a few secrets and follow the steps. The key is figuring out which secrets are useful and which ones you can ignore.

This page includes seven secrets of blackjack success. Once you learn what they are, all you have to do is put them in action. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can start making money at the blackjack tables.

1 – To Be a Winner, Do What Winners Do

I recently read an article that talked about a young man asking a successful business person how to make a lot of money. The business person took the young man aside and gave him one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever heard.

Here’s what he told the young man.

“If you want to make a lot of money, do the things that the people who make a lot of money do.”

At first, this might seem like the successful business person was brushing the young man off. I’m sure the young man wanted some inside secrets and a fast way to riches. But the advice the young man received was golden.

You can apply this idea to anything you want to do in your life. If you want to accomplish something, find people who have already accomplished the same thing, and then do what they do. How could you possibly come up with a better plan than this?

You don’t look for theories put forth by people who aren’t winning blackjack players, and you don’t try to come up with a new or better way on your own.

Everyone wants a shortcut to success, but when someone gives them a real shortcut, they either ignore it or decide that it’s too hard or that they don’t have enough time. The few that are able to make it to the top are the ones that make a commitment to accomplishing their goal and dedicate the time and energy to make it happen. They never give up, because in their mind, failure isn’t an option.

They just need to follow one of the paths that have already produced the results they desire.

If you want to be a successful blackjack player, you need to do what winning blackjack players do. This is fairly easy to find out with a little bit of research, but I’m going to include everything you need to know to get started on this page.

Here are the basic steps that successful blackjack players follow.

Learn everything about the rules and rules variations

Find games with favorable rules

Memorize basic strategy and use it 100% of the time

Learn a simple and effective card counting system

Master the card counting system so they can play for hours on end without making any mistakes

Learn how to count cards without getting banned from the casinos

Manage their bankroll properly so they never run out of money

Look for advanced advantage play methods to boost their income

As you can see, there aren’t that many steps to follow. Each step can be accomplished by anyone who’s willing to put in the time and effort to do it. It’s not easy to master all of the steps, but the path is still simple.

Are you going to make a commitment to become a successful blackjack player and follow through?

If you make the commitment and follow through, you can become a winning blackjack player. The only thing that can stop you is if you quit before reaching your goal.

2 – Insurance

Insurance is almost always a bad bet when you’re playing blackjack. You can find many books and articles that claim that insurance is always a bad wager, but this isn’t true 100% of the time. Never taking insurance is good advice for most blackjack players because they aren’t doing everything in their power to win.

If you don’t count cards and/or use other advantage play methods, then you should never take the insurance bet that the dealer offers when she shows an ace. The casino wants you to believe that insurance is an even money bet, and it’s often called even money.

This comes from the fact that when the dealer has an ace showing and completes a blackjack, you lose your original bet and win the insurance bet, which makes you break even on the hand. This makes blackjack insurance sound like a good bet.

The problem is that the insurance bet is just a fancy way of creating a side bet that increases the house edge. When you accept insurance, the bet you’re actually making is on the value of the dealer’s face-down card.

When the face-down card is worth 10 points, you win the insurance wager, and when it’s not worth 10 points, you lose your insurance wager. Insurance pays 2 to 1, so for the bet to be fair, the odds of the face-down card being a non-10-point card versus a 10-point value need to be 2 to 1 also.

A deck of cards used in blackjack has 13 ranked cards, from two through ace. The deck has four cards that are worth 10 points and nine cards that aren’t worth 10 points. This makes the ratio 9 to 4. This ratio would need to be 8 to 4 to equate to the 2 to 1 payout on insurance, so this is a costly wager.

In one of the following sections, I cover counting cards. It’s the most used path to blackjack success and the best one to use to get started. When you count cards, you track the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck or shoe.

When the ratio of high cards is much higher than low cards in the remaining shoe or deck, it occasionally reaches a point where insurance becomes a profitable option. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does, the insurance bet should be accepted.

After you learn how to count cards, you need to learn the advanced strategy that improves your results. Each card counting system has some advanced plays, usually called index plays or indexes, which you use to adjust the basic strategy at certain counts. This is where you find the information about the only times you should accept the insurance wager.

3 – Straight Math

The reason that blackjack is one of the few casino games where you can win is because of the way the game is designed and the underlying math principles of the game. Edward Thorp published a book called Beat the Dealer that included a great deal of research about the math behind the game of blackjack and how you can use this math to get an edge.

Others have used Thorp’s work to learn more and develop better counting systems, but he laid the groundwork for being a successful blackjack player.

One of the groundbreaking things that Thorp included in his book was how the removal of cards by rank changed your chance to win. This forms the basis of how card counting works.

You can learn more about card counting in section five below.

Once you see how math dictates everything that happens at the blackjack table, you can understand that there must be only one best way to play any hand that you start with. By comparing your starting cards and the dealer’s up card, you can determine the single best play mathematically for every possible combination.

This is called basic strategy, and the great news is that you don’t have to run the numbers on all of the possible combinations because others have already done it. People used to develop the best strategy by hand, but now they use computer power to run millions of hands to determine the best strategy.

Basic strategy is now found on little strategy cards available online and in casino gift shops. You can print off a strategy card online that’s designed for the exact game with the same rules variations for the table where you’re playing.

You don’t have to memorize basic strategy before you start playing blackjack, but you should always use a chart or card until you do have it memorized.

When you use basic strategy for every possible combination of hands, you lower the house edge and will quickly start remembering the most common strategy plays.

With just a little more work, you’re going to have the entire chart memorized.

4 – Have Enough Money

Have you ever heard the saying that the easiest way to end up with a million is to start with two million? This is how most players end up with their money when it comes to blackjack. Any casino games that you play that have a house edge slowly drain your bankroll.

You know that blackjack is one of the few games offered in casinos that can be conquered, but even when you can turn the tables on the casino, you need to make sure you have a large enough bankroll to overcome short-term losses. Even the top advantage blackjack players in the world have losing streaks.

The best bankroll for a successful blackjack player is one that’s big enough so you can play in any game that offers favorable rules and make the highest bets allowed when the count is in your favor. Most of us don’t have an unlimited bankroll, so you have to limit your play to make sure you don’t go broke when you experience a downswing.

You can find a wide range of bankroll guidelines in books and in articles, but I always fall on the conservative side. I want to have hundreds of times the largest bet I’m going to make in my bankroll because I never want to have to worry about the size of my bets while I’m concentrating on playing.

You don’t have to carry your entire bankroll with you, but you should always take enough to the casino so you don’t run out, even when you have a poor playing session.

The problem with having hundreds of big bets for your bankroll is that it makes your top bet fairly low, or requires a huge bankroll.

If your bankroll is $10,000, and you want to have 100 times the top bet you make, this means that you can only bet $100 per hand maximum. It’s hard to make much money, even as a great card counter, with $100 maximum wagers.

The truth is that most blackjack players don’t use such a conservative approach to their bankroll. And if you’re a good card counter, you probably don’t need to either, but you do want to make sure you have a big enough bankroll to not go broke during downswings.

5 – Card Counting Made Easy

While there are a couple other ways to be a successful blackjack player, which I cover in the next section, the most common path is to count cards. It’s not actually that hard to learn, but most players don’t even try because they don’t think they can do it.

The fact is that anyone who can learn about the blackjack rules variations and memorize basic strategy has the skills to count cards. It just takes some work.

The first thing you need to do is choose a strong counting system that’s not too hard to learn. Card counting systems are often classified by levels, based on the maximum amount you have to add or subtract to a running count.

A level-one system requires adding and subtracting one from a running count, and a level-two system requires adding or subtracting one or two from a running count. You can find several good level-one systems, so I suggest starting with one of them.

The power of card counting comes from keeping track of the ratio of high and low cards remaining in the shoe or deck. You keep track of this ratio by tracking the cards that have been played. When low cards are played, you add to a running count, and when high cards are played, you subtract from a running count.

As the count gets higher, the edge moves more in your favor. When the count gets lower, the edge moves in the casino’s favor.

The most popular card counting system is the hi lo. It’s a good system, and if you decide to use it, you can learn it as easily as most systems, and it’s powerful enough to use for the rest of your life. I recommend the system developed by Arnold Snyder called the Red 7 system.

The truth is that once you learn how to use your chosen counting system, you won’t have any trouble making the conversion required in a system like the hi lo, so the system isn’t as important as learning how to use it without making mistakes.

Each card in the deck is assigned a number. Some cards are +1, some cards are -1, and some cards are 0. As you see cards, you add or subtract the number assigned to them to or from your running count. Most running counts start at zero, but if you don’t like to use negative numbers, you can adjust your starting count to 10.

Once you choose your system and assign the numbers to each card, start practicing with a single deck of cards. Flip cards over one at a time and keep your running count. Keep practicing until you can keep the count while turning the cards over as fast as possible. Then add more decks of cards until you can count down an eight-deck shoe as fast as you can turn the cards over.

The next step is to turn the cards over in two, three, and four card hands. Keep doing this until you have the running count mastered. This doesn’t take as long as you might think. With just a few hours of practice, you can learn to keep the running count well.

One quick tip is that when you turn cards over in hand sizes, you learn the high and low cards cancel out, so you just treat them as zero.

After you master the running count, learn how to convert it to a true count if your system requires a conversion. You learn this the same way as you learned how to count: practice.

The final step is to learn the index plays for your system. Don’t worry about these plays until you master counting, and the best way to memorize them is to learn them one at a time.

Once you have all of these things done, you’re now a card counter. Go to the casino and practice your new skills in live play. If you followed the steps, you won’t have any problem keeping up with the pace of play.

Your system also has suggested bet spreads to maximize your profit. By betting higher amounts when you have an edge, you can overcome the normal house edge and show a profit. You need to learn the best bet spreads for your system while also keeping them reasonable enough to not get banned from play.

You can learn a little more about this in the final section of the page.

6 – Advanced Tips

Congratulations! If you’ve followed the steps presented on this page so far, you can be a winning blackjack player. The secrets to blackjack success aren’t really anything special, and now you know all of the important ones. You can also see that anyone can use these secrets to improve their results.

Once you master card counting, there are a few advanced secrets that you can use. These aren’t as commonly available as card counting opportunities, but if you can find these opportunities, they can improve your results more.

Shuffle tracking and ace sequencing are both advanced techniques, and they’re related. In hand-shuffled blackjack games, you might be able to track a section of discards that have a high number of aces and/or 10-point cards through the shuffle.

The way to do this is to track where slugs of cards that have a lot of high cards get placed in the discard tray. Watch this slug of cards as the deck gets shuffled. If you can track the slug, you can predict when the high-card slug is likely to be dealt.

Ace sequencing works much the same way. When three or more aces are put into the discard tray together or close together, you can watch for when they start coming back after the shuffle. By knowing when an ace or high card is likely to be dealt, you can increase your bets. When you have a higher chance of receiving 10-point cards and aces, it increases your edge.

The other advanced tip is called hole carding. Hole carding is possible when a dealer isn’t trained well and shows the value of their face-down card sometimes. You have to pay close attention to catch this, and it helps if you sit directly in front of the dealer or to the opposite side of their dealing hand.

These advanced techniques aren’t possible in many games, so you shouldn’t worry about them until after you master card counting. But once you learn how to win counting cards, you should look for opportunities to use these advanced tips.

7 – Don’t Get Banned

The only thing between you and blackjack profits once you master counting cards is being able to play in the casinos. Casinos don’t like card counters, and when they think you’re counting, they will ban you from playing.

You can use many different techniques to avoid getting banned, and you should use as many as you can. One way the casinos identify card counters is by watching their bet spread. The higher your bet spread, the more heat you’re going to come under. But if you don’t use a big bet spread, it reduces your profits.

One way to reduce your chances of getting banned is to move around often. Change tables and go to another casino to play. This reduces your time at the tables, but if you get banned, it reduces your playing time even more.

Develop camouflage techniques as you play and always watch for extra attention coming your way from the pit boss and other casino personnel. If you start feeling the heat, get out as fast as possible without making a scene.

Conclusion

To become a successful blackjack player, just do what other successful players do. Now that you know exactly what you need to do, the only thing stopping you from blackjack profits is not taking action.

Use the seven tips on this page, and you’re going to see immediate improvement in your results.

Michael Stevens

Michael Stevens has been researching and writing topics involving the gambling industry fo .

First Time Blackjack Player Do's and Don'ts

Blackjack is the most popular table game in the World. Any casino that has table games has blackjack. It also happens to be one of the easiest games to play. With a simple premise of "closest to 21 wins", it can be explained to a new player quickly, and easily.

Just like any new endeavor, there are things you should and shouldn't do when you start playing. You really don't want to look like a brand new player and you don't want to make a mistake that will get you in trouble.

The following do's and don'ts will apply at most blackjack tables. Even if a couple don't apply to where you will be playing, knowing them won't hurt. By coming in with this knowledge, you'll have a more enjoyable time during what will most likely be a stressful first few sessions.

Do Learn Basic Strategy.

This is by far the most important thing to do before playing a game of blackjack. Learning basic strategy will help you lose less money. Blackjack is a very low house advantage game and if played with the proper strategy, can be played for extended periods of time with minimal losses. You should take a few hours of your time before starting to play blackjack and learn the basic strategy chart. This can be done by just studying the chart and practicing with some cards at home, or searching online for blackjack trainer sites that help you with the correct strategy as you play.

Do Be Nice to Dealers and Staff.

These are going to be the people that can help you. They can help you when you have a question about the correct strategy. By simply asking "what does the book say I should do", most places will allow the dealer to tell you proper strategy. The supervisor can also help you with getting drink service when needed, give you a better rating when you are done playing and guide you to good food and entertainment choices if needed.

Do Tip the Dealer Once in a While.

Tipping the dealer does two things. One, dealers make minimum wage at most casinos, so occasional tips help pay the bills. But tipping can also get you better service and the benefit of the doubt if you make a mistake or there is an issue at the table. It's just human nature to take care of someone that is taking care of you. Just like a waiter or waitress will be more attentive if they know you and know you always tip well, dealers and supervisors notice when you are tipping, even if it's just a dollar every so often.

Do Use Hand Signals.

Blackjack is a Visual Game, likely because casinos are so loud and blackjack players speak all different languages. Surveillance cameras also need to be able to see requests to hit and stay for game protection reasons. There are basic hand signals for every play choice in blackjack, so be sure tp learn the hand signals and use them..

Do Get a Players Card Before Starting to Play.

Players cards help the casino track your play. But in exchange you will earn food and drink comps, invites to special promotions and events and you might even receive free play coupons in the mail or email. If you don't want mail, most places will even allow you to opt out of all mailings. Players cards are a great benefit when playing at a casino, and reduce your losses in the long run. Get one before you play for the first time.

Don't Hand Money to the Dealer.

Dealers are not allowed to accept hand to hand transactions. Money always goes on the table. When placing money on the table to purchase chips, wait until a hand is over and the dealer has picked up all the cards and then place the money toward the dealer where they can reach it.

Don't Touch the Cards.

Unless you are playing in a single deck game, touching the cards is usually against the rules. Don't touch them when asking for a hit, and don't touch them to split your cards. Touching the cards is one of the biggest pet peeves you will find from a dealer, since part of the dealer's job is to make sure players are following the rules set in place by the casino. Players touching the cards is at the top of the list of no-no's.

Don't Put Items on the Blackjack Table.

Other than your chips and maybe cigarettes and a lighter, most casinos do not want anything else on the table. Don't put your phone, keys or anything else on the table. Also, cash is usually not allowed on the table as well unless it is specifically put towards buying chips.

Don't Blow Cigarette Smoke Into the Dealer or Players.

If you must smoke at the table, blow the smoke up in to the air. Dealers are stuck in a two foot by two foot area for anywhere between 20 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the casino. Although they are likely used to being in a smoking environment, nobody likes to have breath blown in their face, much less cigarette smoke.

Don't Take Chips Away From the Table.

If you have chips remaining when you are done playing, unless you have less than five of a color, give them to the dealer to do what is called "color up". Once a hand is complete, tell the dealer you are done playing and slide your chips toward the dealer. The dealer will convert your smaller denomination chips into larger ones. This helps the dealer not lose so many chips off the table and it will help you carry your chips to the cashier cage easier.

Don't Tell Someone How They Should Have Played.

This probably won't happen as a new player, but sometimes players think they should help others because they've studied the basic strategy chart. Unless someone asks for help or confirmation of how they played, don't get involved. Everyone plays their own hand and risks their own money. Some players may do silly things, but that's ok. The cards are all random and what happens during one hand is impossible to correlate to what might happen in future hands. A player can't ruin a shoe by making a good or bad play. Just play your own hands and don't worry about others.

By using these basic do's and don'ts you should find your new venture into blackjack easier and more enjoyable. And a final bit of advice - have fun.

Blackjack is a fun and social game, with the key word being "game". You're not going to break the casino playing blackjack, but you can treat it like any other form of entertainment and have a good time while following the above-listed tips.

The 4 Types of Blackjack Players

Blackjack Cards on Table, Blackjack Table

Frank Scoblete is probably the most well-known gambling author today, and he provides a great deal of good advice. But I don’t agree with everything he puts out.

In one article I read of his, Scoblete broke down the universe of blackjack players into three groups. The three groups were counters, strategy players, and “stupid” players.

I personally believe there are actually four types of blackjack players, and because I don’t believe in labeling a particular group of people “stupid,” I’ve categorized it a bit differently.

It’s also important to understand that you get to choose which type of player you are when you play casino blackjack. You may belong to one of the four groups listed below, but if you don’t like which group you belong to, you can move to another.

Keep reading to find out what type of blackjack player you are, and how you can move to a different group if you want to.

1 – Advantage Blackjack Players

The most successful group of blackjack players are advantage players. This includes good card counters, hole card players, shuffle trackers, and ace sequence players. This group is the only type of blackjack player that wins in the long run.

It’s important to understand that some card counters don’t actually do it well enough to win.

The only things keeping strategy players from joining the advantage player group are lack of knowledge and effort. Anyone who can learn to play perfect blackjack strategy is capable of joining the advantage player group.

2 – Perfect Strategy Blackjack Players

This group of blackjack players understands the rules, and they use the best possible strategy in every situation. When I say “understands the rules,” I mean they know which combination of available rules offer the lowest house edge and they always try to play in games with good rules.

When you use perfect blackjack strategy combined with good rules, you keep the house edge lower than 0.5%. This is a smart way to play, and when you earn comps while playing, you can play blackjack with the lowest possible edge without being an advantage player.

Casino Chips Along Casino Table, Blackjack Cards Floating

The truth is that everyone that isn’t an advantage blackjack player should belong to this group. This is because it only takes about 15 minutes to learn the difference between a table with good rules and bad rules. And you can use a strategy chart or card while you play to make sure you always make the best possible play.

In truth, there’s absolutely no excuse to belong to one of the two groups below. If you’re not an advantage player and aren’t in this group yet, take a few minutes to learn about blackjack rules and get a strategy card. This will be the most profitable step you’ve ever made in your gambling career.

3 – Ignorant Blackjack Players

Ignorant is a word that’s often used in a derogatory way, but it simply means you don’t know something. Many blackjack players are ignorant because they don’t know how the rules change the house edge and they don’t understand how powerful basic blackjack strategy is.

With the vast amount of information available today, you don’t have to remain ignorant. This is especially true about blackjack and other casino games.

When you start playing blackjack, you’re ignorant. As you play, you learn more about the game. You’re already moving out of the ignorant group of blackjack players because you’re reading this page. Make the next step and join the perfect strategy group that I discussed in the last section.

4 – The Worst Blackjack Players

Sadly, it seems like most blackjack players fall into this group. This is the group that Frank Scoblete puts the “stupid” players in. Players in this group make poor playing decisions based on the way they feel or based on past experience that isn’t backed up by mathematical facts.

Players that take insurance in blackjack and do things like splitting face cards and fives are in this category. If you don’t know why these plays are bad, you should learn why. Or you can continue playing the same way that you play now.

Making mistakes and bad plays at the blackjack table doesn’t hurt anyone but you. Bad plays cost you money, drain your bankroll faster, and are a waste of time and money. The worst thing about it is that it’s not hard to move from this group to the perfect strategy group.

Players in the perfect strategy group never take insurance, never split face cards or fives, and make every single playing decision based on the best possible outcome. Blackjack strategy has been designed using computer programs that calculate the best possible play in every situation. The plays are based on solid mathematical principles that don’t leave any room for variation in play.

You can’t judge a blackjack player by a single hand. While all perfect strategy blackjack players should be making the same plays on every hand, when you move to the advantage play group you learn there are certain times when altering your play is more profitable.

While it’s true that you should never take insurance as a strategy player, there are only a few times when it’s the best play as an advantage player. The difference is that the advantage players know for a fact when it’s the best play based on math, and everyone else is just guessing.

How to Change Your Group

The only two types of blackjack players that you should be are advantage or perfect strategy. If you don’t belong to one of these two groups, you can change it today. Do it now. I’m serious! There’s no reason to remain in the ignorant or worst player group.

Join the Perfect Strategy Group

Start by learning how blackjack rules change the house edge.

Once you learn how to find games with good rules, use a strategy card or chart, like the one down below:

Once you master the rules and strategy, you can start working toward joining the advantage player blackjack group.

Join the Advantage Player Group

Don’t start thinking about advantage play until you master strategy. Without perfect strategy, card counting won’t help you as much.

Find a card counting system and learn everything you can about it.

Practice your chosen system until you can use it perfectly.

I recommend using either the Hi Lo blackjack card counting system or the Red 7 or KO system. The Hi Lo is the most popular and is proven to work.

It’s not hard to be a good blackjack player. It’s not even really hard to be an advantage player. It just takes a little bit of work and dedication. The most important thing is to understand where you are now and decide that you want to change.

Once you decide to move up to a higher group there’s plenty of information available about how to do it. All you have to do is find it, and I’ve given you everything you need here.

Conclusion

Now that you know what type of blackjack player you are, have you decided to change your group? If you’re in one of the last two groups, I urge you to move up to the perfect strategy group. I’ve shown you how easy it is to change, so there’s no excuse to stay where you are.

If you’re already in the perfect strategy group, consider adding card counting to your strategy. It’s easier than most people believe and within a couple of weeks, you could be playing break even against the casino or better.

So, let's define, what was the most valuable conclusion of this review: If you follow these rules you will be using the system correctly and profits are sure to follow. at 4 Things Successful Online Blackjack Players Don’t Do in Canada