Beginner Blackjack Mistakes

While it’s impossible for new blackjack players to know everything there is to know about the game when they start playing, there are a few common mistakes that can easily be avoided. Be sure not to do any of the following when learning to play blackjack online.

Insurance

Insurance sounds like a good deal. Maybe that’s how they came up with the name. But in truth, it’s not worth the risk.

The Upshot
Insurance should only be taken when a player has enough experience to accurately count the cards and to have a very good reason to believe the dealer has blackjack. After all, unless you are playing in a tournament, the goal of blackjack is not to get 21 – it is to beat the dealer.

The Reality
Even the most talented card counters employing advanced mathematical techniques can only be (at best) about 80% sure that the dealer has a blackjack. Overall, insurance is far more likely to pay in the casino’s favor than the player’s.

Unless you are a very experienced blackjack player, it is best to just ignore insurance bets altogether. Yes, they sometimes pay out, but the risk of losing is simply too great.

Stop Loss

The stop-loss money management system tells players to set an upper limit on the amount of money they are willing to lose, and to quit playing once that limit is hit.

While this is a sensible way to  losing your entire bankroll, it is not a very good blackjack strategy. Blackjack is a game that pays out over time. If you quit when you’re down, you’ll never get back up. Losing is part of the game, and a good player is one who has learned to ride out losses on the way to wins.

Betting Higher When on a Roll

Winning streaks are coincidences, plain and simple. It is important to remember that just because you’ve had a few good hand, it doesn’t mean that your next hit will be as lucky. Betting high when you are winning does nothing to improve your odds of winning  again.

Even Money

Even money odds (winning the same amount that was wagered) seem like ‘safe’ bets. This leads players to wager more on games that offer even money for certain outcomes, because they think they have nothing to lose. The truth is that over the long run even money is more likely to reduce your overall wins. Don’t fall into the trap of feeling secure unless you know the exact odds.