Learn the basic strategy and stick to it. The player should always assume that the card they cannot see is a 10, and statistically the odds are high that it is. Cards 2 through 9 count as face value, but the 10, jack, queen, and king are all worth 10 points bingo4d. Aces are special, they can be used as a 1 or as an 11. If you are not sure what to play, you can use the basic strategy cards, which tell you the optimal way to play a given hand. The table will tell you the best time to hit, stand, double down and split. This never guarantees that you will win, but it greatly improves your odds. You can find these tables online and purchase pocket cards that most casinos will allow you to use while playing. There are also fun apps you can download to play and practice on your phone. Remember to make hand signals to tell the dealer what you want to do. Dealers cannot receive verbal instructions from players about their hands. If you want the dealer to “slap your hand” (deal another card), use your hand to “scratch” the table between you and your cards. If you want to “stand” (stay with the cards you have and not receive more), keep your hand perpendicular to the board and wave it from side to side, palm facing down, as if you were saying goodbye to the board, without moving your arm. If you want to double down, put chips equal to or less than your original bet and use one finger to pick up a card or if you want to play a split, put chips equal to your original bet and make a “peace sign” with your fingers and extend it towards the cards, without touching them.
Always double your bet when your first two cards add up to 11 and always split pairs of aces and 8s… remember, you are betting on getting a 10.
Never separate cards of value 10 or a pair of 5s. Two 5’s should be played as a 10. Two 5’s can result in two 15’s, while playing two 5’s as a 10 you have a good chance of getting a 10, resulting in a 20 when you den.
Blackjack flows in streaks. If you are on a winning streak (3 or more hands in a row), Brian recommends that you raise your bet a little to maximize your profits for the duration of the streak. When you start losing, lower the bet again. Most people make the mistake of playing too long before cashing out. If you want to walk away with money, choose a goal or a fixed amount to spend and when you’ve doubled that amount or reached your goal, cash in your chips and leave. Resist the urge to keep playing because if you do, your luck may change and you can put it all back into the house.
Be sure to sign up for any rewards program the casino offers. Casinos award points for how long you play and how much money you bet, they are not based on how much you win, so if you don’t sign up for rewards you are literally leaving money on the table.