Playing blackjack for real money is a lot of fun, but it can be intimidating if you’ve been used to playing online slots or have never played it before. If you’re new to the game and want to play for cash, here are eight ways to you could try, to make your first experience a good one:
1. Get familiar with the rules
Knowing all of the rules of blackjack is essential to playing a successful hand. If you don’t know where to put your money, how much to bet on each hand and what cards have been dealt, you’re going to have a hard time making a good decision when it comes time for action.
Blackjack card counting is one of several strategies that can help players gain an edge over casinos and possibly make more money in the long run. However, there are many ways you could increase your winnings without ever needing to count cards: simply knowing the basic strategy might give you more insight into how certain hands should be played. By learning the basic strategy, you’ll also be able to identify situations where it would be better for you to play out certain hands, as well as knowing when not to play is just as important.
- Learn to count cards
If you’re serious about winning money at blackjack, it’s important to learn how to count cards.
In blackjack, there are four basic rules:
- The dealer must stand on hard totals of 17 and higher. (A hard total is any hand with an ace that has not been counted as 1.)
- The dealer hits soft totals of 16 and lower. (A soft total is any hand without an ace that has not been counted as 1.)
- A blackjack pays out 3:2 odds against the player’s bet. (If you bet $10 on a double-down and hit 21, you win $30.)
- Face cards receive one point; aces receive either 1 or 11 points depending on whether they’re used in making up a soft or hard total; 10s receive 10 points regardless of whether they’re used for hard or soft totals.* All other cards have no value (i.e., 2 = 2 points).
3. Take free lessons
One of the best ways to learn how to play real money blackjack is by taking free lessons online. These instructions explain all the rules of a game and give you tips on how to improve your strategy over time. If you want to practice playing with fake money first, try it out before going out live at an online casino!
4. Practice at home
Practice at home. Playing blackjack for real money is a whole different ball game than playing with fake money. The stakes are higher and the pressure is on, so it’s important to be prepared. Try your hand at blackjack by yourself or with friends and family members before heading out to the casino floor.
Practice online. If you’ve never played online blackjack, do so! There are plenty of free games available so you can test out your skills without risking any real money—and if you don’t feel comfortable yet, these games will probably give you an idea of what kind of strategies work best for you before playing in person.
5. Stick to your budget and leave when you are ahead
There is no shame in leaving the table when you are ahead. It’s better to leave while you’re winning, because it means you had a good run, instead of dragging it out and ending up with nothing.
You should similarly not feel bad about leaving when you are behind—nobody wins them all! If your luck has turned for the worse and things aren’t looking good for your bankroll, take your chips back to the cage and find something else to do until you feel like playing again.
Leaving when tired or bored isn’t a great idea either; these two states can lead to poor decision-making which can further hurt your chances of winning money at blackjack online. If this happens while playing any online table games or physical table games, then consider taking a break from gambling altogether and doing something else instead.
6. Never chase losses
One of the most important rules to remember is not to chase losses. This means that if you lose at a game, don’t make another bet on the same game. If you do, then it’s likely that even more money will be lost in the long run.
The only reason people tend to chase their losses is because they feel like they can win back the money they just lost. But this rarely happens and it often leads to even more lost money for players.
This rule is especially important for blackjack because it’s one of those games where luck does play a part in whether or not someone wins or loses. A player might have played well and still lost due to bad luck, so don’t get discouraged if this happens! Just remember: there are no sure things in gambling, just enjoy yourself while playing!
7. Never be afraid to ask for help
It’s okay if you don’t know every single rule of blackjack, or you’re unsure of what your strategy should be in a certain situation. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a dealer or other players at the table—you’ll likely find that they have plenty of knowledge and are more than willing to share it with you!
If all else fails, Google is your friend and can provide some much-needed answers when it comes to playing blackjack online. The best part is that most casinos will offer free seminars at their property where employees walk players through basic strategies and tips on how to play safely and effectively.
In Blackjack, the house edge is less than 2%, and even if you have a bad run, that’s statistically normal and certainly not a reason to get stressed or upset.
Conclusion
There is a lot to learn when it comes to blackjack, but you can start by reading this article and taking the tips we’ve given you. You don’t have to be an expert in order to enjoy blackjack, but with some practice, you’ll soon be ready for almost any casino game out there!
