Blackjack is an iconic casino game and definitely one of the most popular games at both traditional and online casinos. Every casino has blackjack tables, which is another reason players love it. New players often choose to play it when they want a bit of a challenge but don’t want to dive in at the deep end.
Blackjack is a straightforward game — unlike poker, which has dozens of variants and hand values, or roulette, which has complex betting strategies. But unlike slots, blackjack isn’t a completely simplistic game — and that combination of simplicity and skill is very attractive.
It doesn’t matter if you’re playing online, in Las Vegas, or at a local high street casino, blackjack players make a lot of easy mistakes. Let’s talk more about the most common ones and how to avoid them.
Going big from the start
When you first sit down at the blackjack table, it can be tempting to make a big, bold bet. It makes you feel like a high roller who can afford to live dangerously. But going big from the start is also the best way to cut your night short.
It’s always a smart choice to ease your way into bigger bets. Start small and work your way up. Taking the time to warm up and find a table hitting the way that you want is a better strategy than placing big bets from your very first hand.
Not understanding what a Push is and how to use it
Blackjack is a basic game, but there are a few little twists experienced players know how to use. One of these is a push. A push happens when both the player and the dealer have a hand with the same point total. It’s basically a tie between the player and the dealer. However, when other players are at the table, they can still win if they hit closer to 21.
A push isn’t considered a win or a loss, so it doesn’t impact a player’s tally. It can impact the odds of later hands, though. Since many new players don’t even know a push can happen, they don’t consider it when trying to plan their betting strategies or decide what to do next.
For more information on the subject, consider consulting a casino guide. A detailed guide like the one compiled by the experts at AskGamblers fully explains everything a player needs to know about a Push — what it is, when to Push, what the push probabilities are, and the differences between a Push on 21 and a Push on 22.
Trying to count cards
Counting cards while playing is nearly as iconic as blackjack itself. Card counters have been the subject of movies like 21 (2008), The Card Counter (2021), The Hangover (2009), and Rain Man (1988). These movies do highlight the risks of card counting, but they also make it seem like a simple system for winning all the time.
One thing that new gamblers don’t consider when they’re starting out is that counting cards is only really successful when it’s done as a team. Counting cards works and can be one of the only ways players can consistently beat the House. However, the most successful card counters work in groups, have established strategies, and essentially turn playing blackjack into a full-time job. It isn’t fun or relaxing.
Additionally, just because counting cards isn’t technically cheating, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Getting caught counting cards is a good way to get yourself blacklisted from every casino in your area. It’s also much harder than it looks in the movies.
Using the Martingale system
The Martingale system is a betting strategy that is meant to return all of a player’s losses if they stick with it long enough. With the Martingale system, a player doubles their bet after every loss. That way, when they finally win, they’ve won back everything they’ve lost plus a profit equal to their original bet. The system operates on the fact that probability is an almost sure thing.
Some gamblers swear by the Martingale system to guarantee a payout at the end of the night. In reality, there are no guarantees in gambling, and probability isn’t a direct trade-off like the Martingale system suggests.
For most players, the Martingale system might pay out a few times, but most of the time it will just dig a deeper financial hole. It’s a dangerous way to quickly get in over your head. It only takes five bad hands for a £1 wager to balloon into a £36 wager. The possibility of recouping your losses simply isn’t worth the risks.
There are many other betting systems, which all have their flaws and apparent benefits. New players should research thoroughly and weigh up the risks before trying to use any of them.
