Blackjack 101: Getting Started with Blackjack for Beginners
Of all the casino games, there is a fair argument to say that blackjack is the most fun. The rules are easy to learn, and the drama is always high, but there is also a significantly higher chance of winning against the house as well compared with other games. These elements contribute to the eternal attraction of what is undoubtedly the king of casino games.
If you are just starting out on your blackjack journey, this post is designed to give some tips on strategy for beginners. Read on to find out more.
1. Seating Strategy
The first tip that anyone should learn when they are new to blackjack is the best place to be seated at the blackjack table. The game of blackjack typically has between five and seven players, with the dealer dealing to their left. As a general rule, it is a good idea to sit as far away from the dealer as possible to give yourself the maximum chance to make calculations based on the dealer’s upcard as possible. If you are sitting at first base, you will not have much time and could be rushed in your decisions.
2. The Fewer Cards, the Better
The fewer decks a casino uses, the easier you will find it to predict the chances of certain cards being dealt. To prevent skilled card-counters from getting one over on the dealer, many casinos today use as many as five decks of cards at a time. Before you sit down to play, it is always worth checking how many decks are in play – find one which uses a traditional 52-card deck if possible.
3. Find a Low Minimum Bet Table
When you are just starting out, there is a good chance that you will lose a couple of hands first up as you get to grips with the game. As a result, it is a sensible decision to find a table at which the minimum bet is as low as possible ($5 is one of the lowest that you will find) to start with until you feel ready to move up to the tables with the high-rollers.
4. Soft 17
Before you start playing, check whether the dealer hits on what is known as a “soft 17”. A “soft” hand in blackjack is any in which an ace counts as 1 instead of 11. Around half the casinos in the world count an ace as either 1 or 11, while the other half only allows 11. Tables which do not allow soft hands make it harder for you to win. The fastest way to ascertain whether a table allows soft hands is to observe whether the dealer hits on 17 or not.
The next time you are at a casino, make sure you play at least a few hands at the blackjack table to get things off to a good start. In the meantime, you can get some valuable practice at one of the many free online blackjack games that are running on the internet today.
