For the first time in over a decade full moon falls on Friday 13th, so here are a few tips to make sure you don’t lose at blackjack.

It’s going to be a rough night for superstitious gamblers. If you’re one of those people who believe that Friday 13th will wreak havoc on their mobile casino bankroll, prepare yourself, because today could turn into a disaster.

Two of the most common superstitions will combine today, when full moon falls on Friday 13th. It has been almost 14 years since this phenomenon last occurred, on October 13, 2000. The good news is that, once this day goes by, you’ll be safe for the next 84 years. The next full moon-Friday 13th combo won’t happen until 2098.

Here at BlackjackChamp.com, we don’t believe in superstitions; we believe in mathematically proven methods, such as basic blackjack strategy. But just in case, here are a few tips that will help you get lucky:

1. Never split 10s

Winning at blackjack is about getting closer to 21 than the dealer, without busting of course. So if you have two 10s, you’re already very close. With such an excellent hand, it’s better not to push your luck. If you split, you’ll probably end up with two mediocre hands. But if you don’t split, there is only one way the dealer can beat you, and that is with a 21.

2. Never split 5s

Two 5s equal a value of 10. The best move here would be to double down and draw only one more card. Splitting them would only result in two bad hands, because chances that your next card will be good enough are very slim.

3. Always split 8s

If you have two 8s, don’t even worry about what the dealer has in hand. Even if he is showing an Ace, you should always split your cards. Think about it this way: two 8s make a 16, and that’s not a good hand in blackjack. If you split, you’ll have better chances of getting at least one winning hand. The money you get from this one will compensate for your other hand, in case it’s a bad one.

4. Splitting other pairs

So we’ve already covered a few basic rules for splitting pairs in blackjack. Besides 8s, you should always split Aces. Having two Aces will get you either 2 or 12 points; but when splitting them, each is worth 11. Pairs of 4s, 5s and 10s should never be split.

Split your 2s and 3s, but only when the dealer has a card value of 4 to 7; 6s should only be split when the dealer is holding cards 3 through 6; if you have a pair of 7s, only split them if the dealer is holding 3 to 7; your pair of 9s should be split when the dealer is showing cards 2 to 6, an 8 or a 9.

5. When to double down

If your cards add up to 11 points, do not hesitate. Double down even if the dealer is showing a 10 or an Ace. When you have a card value of 10 and the dealer has 9 or less, double down. Do the same when you have a card value of 9, but only if the dealer’s card is worth 2 to 8.

Here are the other situations when you should double down: when your card value is 9 and the dealer is showing 4 to 6; when you have a soft 13 or 14 and the dealer has a 5 or 6; when you’re holding a soft 15 or 16 versus a dealer’s 4, 5 or 6; if you have a soft 17 or 18 and the dealer is holding cards 3 through 6.

6. How to play hard hands valued 12 or higher

Always stand when the cards you’re holding add up to 17 or more. If the dealer has 2 through 6, you should stand on all hands worth 12 through 16. Otherwise, if the dealer has 7 or a higher card, you should hit.

7. How to play soft hands

Soft hands are great because you can easily turn them into a winning hand, but even so, it’s important to know that you should only draw on soft 18 if the dealer is showing cards 8 to 10. If you have soft 17 or less, you should always draw another card.

We hope these valuable blackjack tips will help you get through this full moon-Friday 13th without losing.