How Long Does It Take to Learn Basic Strategy for Blackjack?

When someone says casino, most people think first about all those table games shown in the movies, like poker or blackjack. Being one of those iconic games, blackjack has been the choice of so many gamblers also when playing in online casinos. Another fact that attracts so many players is the simplicity of the gameplay. It is said that anyone who can count to 21 can actually play it. It does offer a couple of strategies for playing, but the basic one can get you pretty far. The rest, you can learn as you go.

If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably wondering how much time will it take to learn the basic strategy?

You have two options when it comes to learning the basic strategy: learn at the table, or learn before you actually start to play. Both will not require much time, since the rules are pretty simple.

What you should also know is that you’ll be playing against only one person – the dealer. Your aim, of course, is to defeat the dealer.

The second thing you should know is the value of the cards. Those numbering from 1 to 9 have the same wort as the numbers (3 is worth 3, and so on), a jack, queen, or a king is worth 10, while other cards like the ace can be worth either 1 or 11, depending on what you need at the moment. Their value stays as long as the game is on. When you see your two cards, you decide will you continue or would like to stop. Once you decide, it’s the dealer’s turn. Both of you are aiming for a total of 21, or to get as close as possible to the number.

As you can see, it is a simple and easy game which means that it can be a bit of a problem when you want to play online, given the fact that there are so many platforms to play on. In any case, one thing is certain, all the casinos you find on goldenrivieracasino offer you a good experience. And as an addition, you can be rewarded with great bonuses, so it’s a good idea to choose one of the lists on the site we’ve recommended.

Source: imgix.net

Knowing the basic strategy gets you going in the gameplay, but there are also some mistakes you should avoid. These include mostly your behavior and some general rules for gambling. Applying them can increase the potential winning. Let’s take a look at what they are:

  • Learn the basic rules. Do not sit down at the table until you have learned all the rules and at least one basic strategy. It can be easily learned before you start playing, and it will prevent you from losing tons of money because of rookie mistakes.
  • If you play in an online casino, then you don’t even have to memorize the strategy, you can simply print out the strategy table and keep it with you. However, if it’s a live online game, then you need to be surer in the strategy you play with.
  • Don’t play when you’re tired. This is a game that requires luck, concentration, and skill, and when you’re tired, your concentration drops making you prone to more mistakes, which results in a more considerable loss of money.
  • Don’t Drink While Gambling. Although it’s very tempting to have a drink while at the table to relax a bit if the game becomes tense, that drink can cost you a lot more than you paid for. Alcohol impairs your judgment, so you make more mistakes. That’s why casinos often treat players with alcoholic drinks, knowing that it will pay off handsomely in the end.
  • Control your bank. Before starting the game, determine how much money you will sit down with and how much you will leave the table with, regardless of whether you lose or win. Not being able to stop playing at a certain point can lead to an addiction. You should always remember that the casino always has an advantage and that the more you play, the greater the possibility of losing. So, if you’re losing, come to terms with the specific loss and stop, and don’t keep playing hoping to get back what you lost. The chances of an even bigger loss are greater. Also, if you’re winning, stop playing at a certain win, because the winning streak won’t last forever and by playing longer you’re doomed to return all the winnings to the casino.
  • Don’t imitate the dealer. There is a belief that if a player imitates the dealer’s play, he can turn the advantage in his favor. In short, this is utter nonsense. Imitating the dealer’s play by the player only increases the house advantage, because then you give up the possibility of doubling and splitting cards, both of which are in the player’s favor. A player can achieve the best game by playing according to the optimal strategy, so there is no reason not to print out a table with the optimal strategy and learn it.
Source: rwcatskills.com

As we said in the beginning, this is one of the few games in which the player can gain an advantage over the casino at some stage of the game. So, even though you’re playing online, your skills still count as an advantage. It is very easy to understand it and play, i.e. it can be learned quickly. What we failed to mention earlier is that it can be played with one or more decks of cards. The more decks are used, the chance for the casino to win increases significantly, and where the game is played with fewer decks, the chance for the player to win increases. The largest number of casinos have a certain number of tables where the game is played, while some casinos do not offer this game at all.