7 Blackjack Facts That Will Surprise You

It’s a given that Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games anywhere. But are you aware of all the Blackjack facts there are to know? Let us surprise you with this list of interesting Blackjack facts.

 

1. You can actually earn a living playing Blackjack

You heard it correctly. Naturally, not all gambling games have the odds in the player’s favor. Most of them have a house edge that you can’t ignore. Blackjack is one of the few exceptions. You can get a huge advantage if you count card. But even if you’re not counting, your game can be nearly break-even – see the next fact to understand how.

Just read about Don Johnson the gambler, who single-handedly won nearly $6 million playing blackjack in one night, won $5 million at the Borgata and $4 million at Caesars.

 

2. In Blackjack, the house edge is lower than one percent!

If the game involves a small number of decks, the rules are sensible and the blackjack pays off 3 to 2, casino’s edge on your is less than 1%. Sometimes it can get as low as 0.3%! And in case you don’t know what an edge is, here is an explanation: in general, the house edge is the average sum you’re expected to lose in the long run. And with Blackjack, the chances are nearly 1:1. In addition, if you are dealt a blackjack, you actually win 1.5:1 for these occasions.

You can also watch the following video for the best and worst casino game odds, and choose to play casino games with better odds for the player than the house.

 

3. Blackjack is one of the few casino games that are influenced by your decisions

While it’s still a game of chance, your decision can influence the outcome in your favor. You can correctly decide to hit, stand, split or double, thus increasing your winnings or reducing your losses. You can even insure yourself against dealer’s possible blackjack. This usually does not happen in most of casino games. In roulette, for instance, you cannot influence the rolling ball.

 

4. Card counting really helps and works

While it’s an old “trick”, the first proven system was published only in 1962 by Ed Thorp. Most of the previous systems were intuitive, with the players making them up without basing on solid statistics. Thorp used serious math and successfully proved why the counting truly works.

Many books have been written since then, and eventually casinos took notice. They even hired private detectives to expose counting players and remove from the casino. The fear to lose their edge drove them to modify the rules in order to make the Blackjack game even harder.

These actions are a sure sign that card counting in fact works. Throwing counting players out of casino shows that the house’s concerns are real. You don’t see the same thing happening with craps players, because those can’t really predict the outcome.

Visit our casino videos section, look for Blackjack card counting and learn how to count card too and beat the game in 4 easy steps.

 

5. Card counting is very easy to master

The concept is actually really simple, and there is no need to remember all the cards that were laid down on the table. The rule of the thumb behind this system is the following: you usually earn from a deck with many high cards, while casino usually earns from a low cards deck.

Therefore, if the deck has a lot of aces and faces/tens (in comparison to the number of low cards in it), you need to bet more. You have more chances to win, or even get a blackjack that pays 3 to 2.

A working counting system helps you to assess the ratio of high versus low deck cards. The systems add a value to certain cards (for instance, -1 and +1). You start with 0, and every time you see a low card, you add 1. If you see an ace or a 10 card (Ten, Jack, Queen, King), then remove 1 from the count.

If the count is larger than 0, consider taking insurance, as well as raising the bets’ sizes. If it’s 0 or less, avoid insurance and keep your bets as small as possible. It shouldn’t take you more than a couple of days of practice to master this system.

 

6. Card counting is, in fact, legal

Casinos would have you believing that this system does against the law, but that’s preposterous. You are not manipulating the cards in any way, you just silently count them. Mentally adding and subtracting simple numbers can never be illegal. Who can read your thoughts and prove in the court of law that you were having them?

Nonetheless, the casinos still have the right to refuse service to specific players, just like any other place of business. They might politely suggest the card counters to move to different type of game, or leave the establishment altogether.

 

7. The goal of the game is not getting 21 or close to it

The actual goal is beating the dealer. If you’re focused on hitting 21 or even 17 and higher, then your strategy is completely wrong and you might lose a lot of money. For instance, you’re dealt 13 while the dealer’s face up card is 4. Hitting ace to 8 will get you nearer to that “winning” number, right? Wrong! You need to stand, because the dealer has a high probability to go bust.

That should be your only object. You can beat the dealer simply by standing and waiting for him to go bust. 21 is only one of the possibilities, but not the ultimate goal.

 

In conclusion, Blackjack is a captivating card game, whose lost history got even more gripping in the last several decades. It managed to accumulate some incorrect myths, which we hopefully dispelled for you. Always remember to rise above the half-truths and myth, keep a cool head and stick to the basic strategy and proven system.

Now, that you know a thing or two about the game of Blackjack, try our amazing casino bonuses and promotions, have fun and win some money as well.

Good luck at the tables!