Blackjack: Common Mistakes Some Players Make

Blackjack is one of the most popular card games you can play in casinos all over the globe. Following the recent changes in US online gambling laws, more and more American citizens can enjoy the game across various gaming hubs. For example, blackjack is available at any PA online casino and at pretty much any serious casino in any state where gambling has been officially legalized. The game’s appeal rises from simplicity as the basic rules can’t be easier to understand. You just need to get as close to 21 as possible. But is the game actually so simple? The obvious answer is no. 

We’ve seen numerous strategies on how to beat blackjack. Even if you are an occasional player, you must have heard of card counting. Now, instead of dealing with specific strategies, we are going to discuss some of the most common mistakes a player can make at a blackjack table. 

Make sure to understand that a mistake in blackjack represents any deviation from basic strategy. Basic strategy is the play with the highest expected value. So, we know exactly what to do and what not to do in certain situations to avoid making mistakes. To increase your chances of beating the house, you need to strictly follow basic strategy. In other niches/games, you have the option of choosing whether or not you are willing to follow suggestions, i.e. tips on how you can franchise your business, but there is no option in blackjack. You want to win, you need to follow the main tips. Stay tuned and pay attention to the following common mistakes made by players at blackjack tables.  

Taking Insurance 

Taking insurance is a huge mistake, although players usually feel comfortable claiming the option hoping to at least break even. The mere play represents a negative expectation bet, worth half of your original bet. Since there are 16 cards in the deck worth 10 (four Ks, Qs, Js, & 10s) and 36 other cards, we can easily calculate that the dealer has a 9/4 (shorter than 36/16) chance of hitting a blackjack. The maths says that the house edge increases from 0.5%-1% to 7.69% if you regularly take insurance bets.  

Splitting 10s

It is always great to see a pair of 10s in front of you at a blackjack table. It means you have a total of 20, the second-best hand you can possibly get. You will only lose if the dealer hits a blackjack. However, players still usually tend to split these 10s, especially if the dealer shows any card from 2 to 6. The purpose is getting more money in action, but it is generally a massive mistake because. 

Hitting on two 4s

So, you should not split the 10s, but what should you split? The answer may surprise you as it includes yet another common mistake made by most players. Although most basic strategy rules state that you should never split 4s, 5s, or 10s, there is an exception. It is a mistake not to split the 4s when a dealer has 5 or 6. In this case, a dealer from a typical PA online casino has more chances of busting and you want to involve more money by splitting the hand. 

We could argue for days about blackjack mistakes, but the three listed above are some of the most common ones. We sincerely hope this article will help you avoid them next time when you stand in front of the dealer.