Live blackjack is a classic card game that attracts players in droves. It's simple to play as you only need to beat the live casino dealer to a total of 21 to win. And even more excitingly, you can use optimal strategies to reduce the house edge significantly.
So, if you're still a greenhorn in live dealer blackjack, this article targets you. You'll learn some smart tips to help you play this classic card game like a pro.
Playing live blackjack is one of the easiest things you'll ever do at the best live casinos. Players start by choosing a blackjack game to play and then place their bet. Then, you'll select the betting chips, and the dealer will deal two cards on both sides. The dealer gets a face-up and face-down card. The face-down card is the hole card. Remember that Aces count as 11 or 1, with the other cards representing their pip value. The objective is simple; hit blackjack or anything close to 21 to beat the dealer.
Novice players just hop in and start playing any blackjack game. But intelligent players pay attention to how the table pays out. Typically, most blackjack games pay out at 3:2 or 6:5. But what's the difference between these tables?
Creating a winning hand in 3:2 blackjack gives you a payout of $3 in every two or odds of 1.5:1. But if you play in a 6:5 table, the payout is $6 in every five or 1.2:1 odds. This difference may seem small, but it will undoubtedly affect the long-term win amount. Fortunately, most live casinos offer 3:2 paytables.
Insurance is a side bet in blackjack that's available after exhausting all the initial cards and the dealer shows an Ace. Like other blackjack side bets, the insurance bet is independent of the original bet. Also, you must let go of 50% of your wager to take it. Sounds good, huh?
But this tempting side bet is actually a well-crafted ploy to increase the house edge. The thing is that if the dealer holds an Ace card, their chances of drawing an Ace is around 33%. If you add in the 2:1 payout, this bet may not be worth the trouble.
Learn about the best moments to double down if you're a blackjack beginner. Doubling down is about increasing the size of your initial bet by up to 100%. In return, players get an extra card, and the player in question stands.
With that said, never double down when the dealer shows an Ace. That's because their chances of hitting the magic number are too high. Also, don't double down if your hand value is more than 11 as you may bust.
Doubling down is an effective blackjack strategy, so you should stick to it. When your hand total is 11, your chances of hitting 21 or anything close to it is high if you double down. Imagine receiving an Ace if you have a soft 17 or hard 11.
Speaking of soft and hard cards, double down if you have a soft 18, 17, or 16. You can also double down with a hard 10 or 9. But the dealer must have a low-ranking card (2-6) in both scenarios.
Hitting and standing are two popular blackjack moves. To hit is to ask for an additional card by simply tapping the table. On the other hand, standing is about withholding your total and ending the game. Whichever strategy you choose depends on the dealer's hand.
If the dealer shows an Ace or a 10-value card, you should hit if you hold a 10 because they have a high chance of landing a 10. But you should stand or risk busting if your hand has anything more than 17. So, hit on 8 or less and stand on 12 or more.
Blackjack is a flexible live casino game that comes in many shapes and designs. It's easy to find live blackjack variants in live casinos. The goal is to give players a rewarding and entertaining experience while maintaining the classic nature of the game.
Consider Lightning Blackjack by Evolution, for example. In this game, players get a ton of random multipliers that can hit 2x to 25x on a winning hand. You can win a life-changing sum on live dealer blackjack variants if you're lucky.
See, there are many skills to beat the house on their own game. Besides the techniques listed above, you can also count cards, take advantage of bonuses, split cards, etc.
But here's a piece of advice; don't count on anything, as luck plays a significant role in blackjack results. Another thing, you can lower the house edge, but the house will always have the advantage. So, just have fun!
