The Three Essentials of Blackjack

Blackjack would just be a game of chance if you weren’t required to make some essential variations in the play. Making choices is what makes blackjack a game of strategy as opposed to being a game of luck.

In essence, you have three game elements to master when playing any at any casino whether you are playing online or in a real room. These three elements are: the potential for the dealer to bust, the opportunity to double down and the chance to split a pair.

Whether you win is very dependent on the casino dealer’s potential to bust especially if you have a low hand. In this case your only hope of winning is if the dealer goes over 21 and busts. The dealer is more likely to bust if holding a 4, 5 or 6. If one of these cards is face up then it is quite lucky the dealer is holding a 10. The more likely the dealer is to have a 13, 14, 16 as a total then the more you are in luck as the dealer must draw another card until 17 is reached and potentially bust.

Your ability to maximize your profits is also increased if you split your pairs. When you split your pairs you are obviously given two chances to beat the dealer. However the absolutely best cards to split to beat the online casino dealer are Aces and 8s. This is because it is probable that you would hit at least an 18 with the 8 and 21 with the Ace on at least one of the hands. However it is not always the best idea to bust. If the online dealer is showing hands that might bust then sometimes it is a waste of time and money to risk splitting your pairs.

Another way to make money while playing at a casino is to learn the fine art of doubling down. When you double down you increase your bet in the middle of playing a hand. It is best to double down if you see that the online casino blackjack dealer is holding cards that might bust such as a 4, 5 or 6.

Keep in mind however that most casinos will not allow you to double down on anything but a hand containing a 9, 10 or 11. The rules vary greatly from casino to casino though so be sure to know the rules first.

Remember however, that it is not always a good idea to double down on a 9, 10, or 11 especially if the dealer is showing busting cards. One golden rule however is to always double down on an 11 except when the dealer is showing an Ace. Got more rules? Share them in the comments