Practice blackjack in the free demo mode at Metaspins
If we take card games, blackjack is perhaps the most exciting of all. It’s chance-based and, meanwhile, lets you apply skills so that when you win you feel you deserve it. When you play it, it’s fun. When you win, it’s a euphoria.
The Rules of Blackjack 101
The rules of this game are incredibly simple. When reading this, you can turn on a free demo mode at Meta spins (American blackjack is a classic variation to start with) and apply everything you learn to practice. Three things to know:
- players compete against the dealer
- each of them wants to achieve a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand
- the hand can’t exceed 21 though.
You see, it’s really simple!
Card Values
Let’s start with the basics. Numbered cards (2-10) have face value. Face cards are worth 10 points each. Aces can be worth 1 or 11 points (whichever is most advantageous to the player).
Objective
Any game has a goal. The goal of playing blackjack is to have a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand, without going over. Going over 21 results in a bust, causing the player to lose the round. Attention is as important here as luck.
Blackjack Strategies for Novice Players
Players have different levels and skills. Strategies depend on how long and how often you play.
- Learn basic strategy: Don’t neglect the basic rules of the game. Blackjack can be mastered in practice but you’ll only progress if you know the basics. Learn the possible combinations and moves to move on to more complex strategies.
- Start with low stakes: The goal of any gambling game is to win. The more the better. But this does not work at the beginning when your skill is not yet developed. Begin with low-stakes games to practice without risking significant losses.
Blackjack Strategies for Advanced Players
The bigger it gets, the more you want to win. And it’s right because skills must pay off. What strategies exist for those for whom blackjack is no longer new?
- Card counting: This is the name of the strategy by which a player memorizes the cards that have been dealt during the game. The idea is to keep in your head what cards are left in play, and thus try to guess whether you will get the right card. This strategy isn’t good for online gambling (we’ll cover this in more detail below).
- Study variations: Different blackjack variations online may require adapted strategies, such as games with multiple decks or specific rules regarding doubling down and splitting.
- Keep an eye on the players at the table: Do not repeat the steps of your opponents. Copying behavior is always a bad tactic. You can follow their moves and read their strategy, but never copy them.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Despite the simple rules, players continue to make obvious mistakes. Below are the most common ones.
- Dependence on card counting: Card counting can be a very good idea in offline blackjack. But actually card counting will not give you anything in online blackjack. You need to know the basics of how online casino random number generators work. The RNG always shuffles the cards after every hand. This means that your card-counting skills become useless.
- Dealer impersonation: Sometimes players decide to observe how the dealer behaves and acts the same way. But there are clear rules for them. They have to make 17 either way and you don’t. You have many more behavioral options, so follow them.
- Overlooking game rules: Each online casino may have slight variations in rules that can impact strategy. Always analyze the specific rules before playing.
Final Words
Although blackjack winnings rarely reach mind-boggling amounts, players willingly continue to play it. After all, the simple rules of blackjack, ready-made mathematical strategies, and a variety of game types give you the opportunity to have a great time and earn good money.
