Blackjack Odds

Affecting the Odds in Blackjack with Sound Decisionmaking

Blackjack is one of the few casino games in which you can affect the odds through sound playing. With foolish play, you can screw up in most any game of chance. But most of the decisions of games like craps and roulette are left out of your hands. In blackjack, you decide when to hit or when to stand, as well as how much to bet and when, so you have control over the house edge. Quite simply, your odds will not necessarily be the same as the poor sap standing next to you.

You will often hear the words "basic strategy" when you read about blackjack. This is an important term to take note of...and an important guide to follow. When you follow basic strategy, you're following hard science and mathematics. If you following correct basic strategy, you can shrink the house edge to 0.5%.

Reckless players will see the house edge notch up to somewhere between 3% to 5%. That means they are wasting the opportunities they have to win at blackjack.

There are several things to keep in mind when considering odds and basic strategy. First, keep in mind the number of decks being used, as well as whether the dealer hits on a Soft-17. Basically, the fewer decks, the easier to tell which card might next come up. Also, casinos where the dealer stands on the Soft-17 are better for you.

Second, figure out the rules on doubling. Never play at a table where doubling is not allowed. Double anytime the charts call for it. Find out whether you can double on a split, or whether you can surrender. You want to have these options, which help your payout odds.

Third, remember to keep a handle on your bankroll. If you win early, pocket some of your winnings. That way, you either walk out with big winnings or minimal losses. If you lose early, make it a hard-and-fast rule that you don't bet again when you get past your limit. It's foolish to double bets just because you're on a losing streak. It is when you aren't thinking clearly that you can hurt yourself in a casino, and those are the worst blackjack odds of all.

Be sure to visit the following pages for more information about blackjack and blackjack odds:

Blackjack Online - An article about the best places to play blackjack online.
Blackjack Tips - Some general tips to help you improve your blackjack game and put the odds in your favor.
Blackjack Basic Strategy tells you exactly how to improve your odds by using basic strategy.