Card Counting Explained – Know the Facts and How to Win

Regardless of who you may be, if you’re paying a visit to your local casino then your main goal is to try and win as much money as you possibly can, which ultimately requires getting an edge over the house.

This is exactly why casino put a lot of effort into stopping the players at their casinos from cheating and trying to gain an upper hand.

Whether it is a loaded die or a complex signalling strategy, cunning players will do anything to win more money.

Card Counting in Blackjack

Card counting is primarily used when playing Blackjack, and in spite of what you may think, it actually isn’t illegal, nor is it considered cheating.

So, if you’re willing to give it a go, fear not because you won’t end up ‘sleeping with the fishes’, despite what many movies will have you believe.

Know the Facts and How to Win - Card Counting Explained

We tend to believe a lot of the thing depicted in films, which is probably why most people think it requires a pure genius to do, and probably also why I’ve had a sneaking suspicion the world’s casino industry is responsible for movies like Rain Man, 21 and even the Hangover.

Count Cards & Then Your Money

Jokes aside, card counting is a lot easier than you think and it basically requires a decent understanding of Blackjack as well as knowing how to add and subtract.

This ultimately means that whether you only find yourself at the Blackjack table from time to time or even if you spend most of your time enjoying the many great online slots Canada has to offer, you have just as much chance counting cards and winning big money as anyone else with a high-school diploma.

The best thing to do is practice your Blackjack skills and implement strategies to get a deeper understanding of the game and how to keep track without having to memorise every card drawn.

The Art Of Counting Cards

If you know Blackjack, you know that the 10s, the picture cards and the Aces are useful to players, while the lower cards (2-6) will be useful to the dealer because they have to stick with anything over 17 and hit with anything less.

The remaining cards, 7, 8, and 9 are considered neutral, as they don’t always benefit the dealer or the player.

This essentially means that there is always an even number of desirable and undesirable cards in play, which is where the card counting starts to come into play.

We know that every time a card is dealt the number of cards (or shoe) gets smaller, and that there are 20 desirable cards, 20 undesirable cards and 12 neutral cards.

So, when trying to become a card counting connoisseur your task is to subtract or add cards from the deck with simple maths, whereby you’ll assign +1 to undesirable cards, -1 to desirable cards and 0 to the neutral cards.

The trick thereafter is to take note of whether you are in minus figures then you know you are at a slight advantage and you can place your bets accordingly. It isn’t fool proof in terms of winning, but it certainly increases your chances.

Fantastic Variety of Online Blackjack Variations in Detail

Each online blackjack variation will vary in terms of rules and the odds of winning, but no matter which variation you choose, we can guarantee that you’re going to have fun.

The amount of decks will vary and you may come across games that use up to 8 decks, which increases the level of difficulty substantially.

Take a look at some of the most popular online blackjack variations below.

Vegas Strip Blackjack

  • Played with four 52-card decks
  • Dealer stands on soft 17
  • Dealer will ‘peek’ for blackjack
  • Players may double down on any initial hand
  • Players may double down after splitting
  • Players may split up to 4 hands
  • Aces may only be split once
  • Only 1 card can be taken to split aces
  • 21 on split aces does not constitute blackjack
  • Players may split unlike 10-value cards such as K and Q

Blackjack Surrender

  • Great option for beginners
  • Rules are identical to regular blackjack, except that players are allowed to surrender
  • House edge is lower owing to the option to surrender
  • Only half of the initial bet is lost if a player decides to surrender
  • Dealer is required to hit on soft 17
  • Dealer will ‘peek’ for blackjack
  • Initial 2 card hand can be split if both cards are of the same value
  • Players may double down after splitting
  • Player has the option to take insurance if the dealer shows an ace

Progressive Blackjack

  • Players bet as usual, but there is also a progressive jackpot up for grabs
  • Rules are the same as classic blackjack
  • Players must post an additional side bet in order to qualify for the progressive jackpot
  • Surrender is not an option
  • Players can win the progressive jackpot by having 4 suited aces
  • If the progressive jackpot is not won, there is still the chance to win smaller pay outs as such: 3 suited aces pays 5000:1, 4 aces of any suit pays 2500:1, 3 aces of any suit pays 250:1, 2 suited aces pays 100:1, 2 aces of any suit pays 25:1

Blackjack Switch

  • Rules of classic blackjack apply
  • Players are dealt 2 hands of 2 cards each
  • Once players have studied the first 2 cards of each hand, players are able to switch the cards between hands if they so choose – hence the name
  • Whether the 2 cards are switched or not, the player continues to play both hands separately, choosing to hit, stand, split, or double down
  • The player can win or lose both or only one hand

Double Exposure Blackjack

  • Both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face up which benefits the player
  • House edge is greater than standard blackjack which favours the house
  • Dealer wins on all ties, unless it’s a natural blackjack
  • Player blackjack pays even money
  • Player can only split a hand once

Spanish Blackjack

  • Played with either 6 or 8 standard 52-card deck with 4 tens removed to make a 48-card deck
  • Player hand worth 21 always wins, irrespective of what the dealer holds
  • Players may double down on any initial 2-card hand
  • Players may hit and double down after splitting any card values, even aces
  • Players may surrender after doubling, forfeiting the original bet but keeping the double down bet
  • If a player wins with a 5-card 21, the pay-out is 3-to-2
  • If a player wins with a 6-card 21, the pay-out is 2-to-1
  • If a player wins with a 7 or more card 21, the pay-out is 3-to-1

Have fun with these variations and remember to only use reputable online casinos!

7 Tips for Success with Blackjack for Beginners

7 Blackjack Tips for Success When You’re Just Starting Out

Ready for some blackjack tips? Even beginners to the game of blackjack know about card counting, and while some argue that it’s a piece of cake, the idea of card counting is beyond the purview of the average player.

However, blackjack offers good odds and it possible to achieve blackjack success without counting cards – as long as you follow a few basic rules and strategies.

We consulted a few experts for advice for rookie players.

1. Basic Blackjack Playing Strategy

Remembering the right way to hit, stand, double down, or split your hand is absolutely imperative, and if you stick to these basic rules you’ll cut the house edge down from 1-2% to 0.5%!

  • Stand when you hold between 12-16 and the dealer shows between 2-6
  • Hit when you hold between 12-16 and the dealer shows between 7-ace
  • Always split aces and 8s
  • Double down on 11 when the dealer shows between 2-10
  • Hit or double down on anything between ace-6

2. Don’t Take Up Insurance

Unless you are a skilled card counter, taking up insurance is a complete waste of money. When taking up insurance you are essentially making a 2nd bet with extra money with regards to whether the dealer has blackjack.

On average, the house has an almost 6% advantage over the play when it comes to insurance bets and even if you do have blackjack you will only win your original bet.

If the dealer has blackjack as well, it’s a push.

Blackjack tips for Beginners - online casino

3. Check the Dealer’s Up Card

This is one of the most important blackjack tips. Before you make any decision regarding whether to hit, stand, double down, or split your hand, take a careful look at what the dealer is holding.

It’s good news for you if he’s showing anything between 2-6 but bad news for you if he’s showing anything between 7-ace.

The dealer’s up card should always influence your next move. Remember, you will make mistakes when you’re getting started, but that’s why taking advantage of Canadian casino bonuses is so important – they can cushion the blow in the beginning.

4. Choose Your Seat Wisely

When you’re just getting started you’re going to need some extra time to review the dealer’s up card and your own hand before making a decision, so make sure to not take the first base seat.

Avoiding this seat will buy you some extra time while the dealer moves through the other players. This is one of the blackjack tips often overlooked.

blackjack tips for beginners - 7 tips when playing blackjack at an online casino

5. Start Small

When you’re new to blackjack it is advised that you start off slowly and ease your way into the game.

Don’t go in firing on all 4 cylinders if you’ve never played a hand before, as you will most likely come up short unfortunately.

Slow down, enjoy the experience, and every move will become far more calculated.

6. Don’t Believe the Gambler’s Myths

No matter what you’ve read, it isn’t possible for another player at the table to influence the way your hand goes.

Even though there are other players at the table, you are playing alone against the dealer, and the other players don’t know what you have and vice versa.

7. Know When to Stop

Many casino surveys over the years have documented how as many as 75% of players will be winning at some point, but only 4% come out with more than they went in with.

Having said that – decide on an amount that you’re willing to lose in a single session and stick to it. If you’re up in numbers at any point, that’s when it’s a good time to stop.

Hopefully you enjoyed these blackjack tips, and if you did, don’t forget to share this with others!

How Online Blackjack Works – The Ins And Outs Of Blackjack

A Primer in the Basics of Online Blackjack

There are countless casino games in the world, some of them played quite exclusively, and others played by millions every day.

Blackjack is one of those few games that sits somewhere in the middle – being enjoyed in bulk online by players all over the world, but also a unique table game that you’ll always find in a land-based casino. Read more “How Online Blackjack Works – The Ins And Outs Of Blackjack”

Why Blackjack is a Game of Strategy

Why Blackjack is a Game of Strategy

The best way to play blackjack in order to optimise the chances you have of winning is basic strategy, and this approach to the game is very easy for players to learn and put into practice. Unlike slots, Roulette and other games of chance, Blackjack lets you use skill to beat the dealer. This makes it more mathematical, and more satisfying. Well, in our books anyways!

The Dealer Can Make No Decisions

One of the biggest reasons for the overwhelming popularity of blackjack games at both online and land-based casinos lies in the fact that the player needs to make a number of decisions on each of his or hands, and these affect the game’s outcome. It is thus a more skill-based game than other types, and is more similar to poker in the fact that you are able to influence the outcome, and are not totally reliant on Lady Luck smiling down on you.

However, these decisions will not frequently deviate from those outlined in the rules of basic strategy for blackjack. In this game, the Dealer is bound to play via pre-set rules, and can make no individual decisions, and, since these are thus always the same, basic strategy works on the Player’s behalf every single time.

Basic Strategy is the Only Way to Keep Winning

Basic strategy has been devised by using a system of statistical probabilities which calculate what your best possible move under any given circumstances would be, according to the cards in your hand and the Dealer’s.

The aim of basic strategy when it comes to online blackjack is not only for you to win as frequently as possible, but to maximise any winnings that you do make, by using the Double Down option, in order to reduce the chance of going bust and to minimise any losses, by choosing Surrender or to refrain from Doubling. Of course the house will always enjoy a slight edge, but following basic strategy significantly reduces this edge.

Blackjack at online can mobile casinos is played with newly-shuffled deck of cards from a pack of six decks, and this means that there will generally be 312 cards in total, with 24 instances of each, so the value of strategies like card counting becomes negligible.

Basic Strategy Guides for Online Players

If you look at the basic strategy guides available for free of charge online, you will quickly spot patterns around decisions on when to Hit and when to Stand. There are instances when you should always Hit, and sometimes Double-Down, when your Hand’s value is less than 11, and you cannot bust, and times that you should always Stand on Hand totals of 17 points and more, unless it is a Soft 17.

The best way to learn the basic strategy is not to try to memorise all of the possible Hands, but rather to place your focus on the borderline Hands. As an example: when the Dealer has a Hand total of 7, the recommended strategy changes dramatically from when the Dealer has a 6.

Trying out basic blackjack strategy with free games until you gain some confidence will allow you to make great returns when you start playing real money games. It is true that in Blackjack, practice makes perfect, and you will soon see your bankroll boost when you start applying the basic strategy that governs this game.

A Look At Why Online Casino Blackjack Is A Game Of Strategy

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games played online and at land based casinos. Aside from having one of the lowest housed edges of any casino game, blackjack also gives players some form of control over the outcome of each hand. Winning in blackjack is all about having the right strategy. In the notes below, we are going to look at why blackjack is a strategy game and should not be played on chance.

The Aim of Blackjack

Unlike slots or other casino games, blackjack has a house edge that can either increase or decrease based on the skill level of the player. What this means is that your chances of winning significantly increase when you play the correct strategy, which is important, especially when you play blackjack for money. You might be wondering how this can be. It all comes down to the numbers themselves. Most players think that the aim of blackjack is to get 21 or as high a hand as possible. In fact, the real aim is to beat the dealer. It doesn’t matter how you beat the dealer, as long as you win. Read more “A Look At Why Online Casino Blackjack Is A Game Of Strategy”

The Most Important Blackjack Strategy Tip

Blackjack is emerging as a popolar game among online blackjack players in Canada.

The worst Blackjack strategy advice is one of the most popular maxims about the game: the object of Blackjack is to get as near to 21 as possible. This is not the case! The game’s aim is simply for the player to beat the Dealer, and, this subtle shift in focus may well see the player boosting his or her bankroll on a far more frequent basis.

How to Beat the Blackjack Dealer

The Dealer is beaten by the player not exceeding a card total of 21, or going Bust; the player managing to reach a card total closer to 21 than the one the Dealer has been able to gather; and having the Dealer Bust.

The General Rules for Blackjack Play

  1. Blackjack is played with between 1 and 8 decks, made up of 52 cards each.
  2. Aces can be counted for 1 or 11 points; the cards ranging from 2 through to 9 are taken at face value; and 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings have a value of 10.
  3. A Hand’s value is the total of the points of the individual cards which make it up, except for a Blackjack, the highest Hand, made up of an Ace and 10-point card, which outranks all other Hands, even those valued at 21.

Read more “The Most Important Blackjack Strategy Tip”