Las Vegas executives are desperately seeking for alternatives to slot machines, once the most popular – and profitable – games on their casino floors. The reason is simple – younger generations, who are more tech-savvy and have grown up playing video games, don’t find the slots entertaining enough, choosing to play table games instead. And the most popular table game of them all – which happens to offer players a pretty good chance of winning – is blackjack.
Blackjack is an ancient game, present in all today’s land based and online casinos. While if you live in the US your options are limited, you can still play quality blackjack online for free at the Royal Vegas. You might not legally be allowed to wager real money on the games, but the Royal Vegas serves as a great practice ground for learning how to play blackjack. Playing online is not so different from what your experience in Las Vegas might be – the dealer might be less tricky, but the basics of the game are the same. Besides, the Royal Vegas will allow you to try different variations of the game, with different sets of rules, making it easier for you to decide which table to head for once you hit the Strip.
But knowing the rules of the game is not enough to play impressive blackjack. There are things not even the Royal Vegas can show you about the game. But you can find some of them below – and I hope they will be helpful for you to become a better blackjack player.
Always assume the dealer has a hidden 10
This is one of the rules of the basic Blackjack strategy, which has helped me win a series of less than ideal hand. Assuming the dealer has a concealed 10 will help you better predict the outcome of the hand, and while sometimes the prediction will not be accurate enough, most of the times it will help you win.
Never take insurance or even money
Insurance is a side bet in blackjack that you place on the dealer’s hand. If the dealer has blackjack, you win 2 to 1. Sounds good? Well, consider this – the dealer has the same chances of having a blackjack as you have. This means the dealer has a 33% chance of having a blackjack with an ace showing – and 67% of not having one. It doesn’t sound that good, right?
Often, when the player has a blackjack and the dealer has an Ace as an upcard, the dealer will offer the player even money (a 1 to 1 payout). You should never take such an offer. Same as above, the dealer has only a chance of 1 in 3 to have a blackjack – in which case the hand ends in a Push and you get your bet back. While if the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, your win will be more than even money.