How to Play Blackjack Like a Pro

As a close relative of perhaps the most accessible beginner’s card game (pontoon or 21), blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. Online blackjack is second only to video slots regarding accessibility in the consumer market. Although this classic card game may be the first port of call for many casual players new to the land-based or online casino setting, it’s still complex. Like the best casino games, blackjack combines elements of chance and skill – this means that the likelihood of striking a profitable win will only increase the more you play. If you want to improve your skillset for blackjack, increase your win and success rate or even transition into playing professionally, knowing where to begin can be tricky. Luckily, there are plenty of pro players at hand who can help you. Let’s take a closer look at some steps you can take to master the game of blackjack and even play like a pro!

Who Are the Most Famous Blackjack Pros?

There are plenty of casual players who earn real money by playing blackjack online or at land-based casinos. Despite the game’s global popularity, only a few proficient blackjack players have established themselves as renowned professionals, consistently dominating the top rankings and earning recognition as authoritative figures. These include Bryce Carlson, a world-famous blackjack player who penned the popular book Blackjack for Blood and invented the Omega II Blackjack Machine card counting system. Other famous blackjack pros include Arnold Snyder (gambling author and Blackjack Hall of Fame inductee), Edward O. Thorpe (mathematics professor and hedge fund manager-turned blackjack pro), and Russ Hamilton (founder of the Elimination Blackjack tournament). Another notable blackjack professional worth a mention here is Don Johnson, whose 6-month spree in the land-based casinos of Atlantic City saw him net $15 million in winnings!

The Top Tips from Pro Blackjack Players

Reaching a level where you seek advice from professional blackjack players indicates that you are doing well at the game and are on the path to becoming even better. While playing blackjack for fun is enjoyable, if you want to profit from playing it, you should consider some tips from professional players. If you’re a UK-based casino enthusiast looking to improve your skills and become the best online Blackjack player, check out this handy Blackjack game guide for British players. The guide provides step-by-step instructions, expert tips, and recommended strategies to help you improve your game and increase your chances of winning big at the virtual tables. Now,let’s look at some top tips from seasoned pros that could help you master the game!

Get Familiar with the Rules!

If you want to build on your existing skillset and potentially generate a record-breaking win at the blackjack table, you’ll first need to develop a thorough understanding of how the game works. This includes basic inherent probabilities and the best way to communicate with a dealer at the table. There are plenty of handy resources out there which can help you to understand the intricacies of the game better. The probability of landing a natural blackjack is around 8/663 for a 1-deck game and 16/1339 for games played with 2 decks. Remember that cards 2-9 in the deck are worth their face value, but high cards like 10, J, Q, and K are all worth 10 points in a game of blackjack – Aces can be either worth 1 or 11, depending on the results you’re looking for in a specific hand. Once you’re confident with how the game of blackjack works and its inherent average probabilities, you’ll be better equipped to generate a big win at the table.

Get to Grips with Basic Playing Strategies

Once you’ve thoroughly understood basic blackjack rules and probabilities, it’s time to work on your strategy. It’s now possible for blackjack players to expose odds, gauge outcomes, and decide on optimal blackjack strategies using data and statistics alone. However, if you’re playing blackjack at a land-based gaming venue or iGaming platform, you must rely on your expertise and instincts. As a beginner or aspiring professional blackjack pro, it’s easy to compensate for a relative lack of playing experience by sticking to some tried and tested strategies. These include ALWAYS assuming that any obscured cards hold a value of 10 (the odds of this should correlate with your assumption) and ensuring that you always double-down on your initial bet if your first two cards total a combined value of 11. Other handy strategies could include splitting pairs of Aces and 8s and NEVER splitting pairs of 5s or cards valuing 10 – remember that 10 is considered a magic number in blackjack. It’s recommended that you practice playing for free online to perfect your sense of strategy before making any real money wagers against other players.

Make Use of Strategy Cards to Prompt

If you’re struggling to learn a strategy for playing blackjack games or apply different strategies to varying hands when playing in real life, consider using strategy cards. These small laminated cards can be legally used in the casino as a ‘prompt’ for players seeking out the optimal strategy for their hand. Following this relatively simple tip could help to significantly improve your gaming experience online and increase your success rate at a blackjack table. Even professional blackjack players use strategy cards, and having them with you while you’re playing is legal.

Respond to Winning and Losing Streaks

The blackjack game naturally ebbs and flows, with players likely to experience both winning and losing streaks with relative regularity. Remember that both winning and losing streaks can usually be measured in threes. If you win three hands in a row during a blackjack game, it’s highly recommended that you significantly increase your fourth wager. If you lose 3 hands in a row or find that your winning streak is ending, lower your wager amounts and roll with the punches until the next positive streak comes around.

Don’t Be Influenced by Other Players at the Table

While card games like poker place more of an emphasis on bluffing and reading the ‘tells’ of other players at the table, blackjack favors solitary players who focus more on their strategy than the actions of other players at the table. To increase your chances of taking a win and playing like a pro, just remember that the actions of your fellow players will not affect your ownership of success at the table. Stick to your strategy! This is extremely important, regardless of how hands play out and the actions of your competitors.

Stick with Mechanical Shufflers – Avoid Continuous Shufflers!

Most pro players will tell you that continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) used by many modern casinos can increase the house edge and reduce your chances of success at the table. If you want to play like a professional, try to stick to tables that use traditional mechanical shufflers.

Make the Most of Blackjack Bonuses and Rewards!

Many potentially profitable casino bonuses could enable you to play for free and win real money at the blackjack table. To increase your chances of hitting a handsome payload when playing the game, consider using free casino bonuses to further the cause wherever you can!

In Conclusion

Every beginner who masters their blackjack skills will understand that it is definitely the most exciting and thrilling game available at casinos. Using basic strategies and following tips based on the world’s most famous blackjack players’ experience, beginners will get closer to the winning combination sooner than expected. So, wait no more, find your blackjack table, and bring your skills to light.