Avoiding Bad Blackjack Plays

With the glut of Blackjack strategy sites on the Internet, you may be wondering why is it that a majority of players still come out losers when they leave the casino. The answer is simple: people read these strategies, but when it comes down to making decisions, they just rely on their gut feel than what the odds tell them.

Of course, there are also those who don't even bother to read up on Blackjack basic strategy, thinking that the game is easy to play, and that since it is "beatable", "I'll eventually make some money in the end". The end result is that they make elementary mistakes.

Probably the best example is when a Blackjack player holding a 16 stands against the dealer's 7 or higher card. In nine cases out of ten, you'll see that person just either say no more cards or just give up. The "logic" is that he or she will bust, especially if small cards have been dealt.

But in fact, the best Blackjack strategy is to hit. If the casino dealer's hole card is a 10, then with a 7 to A, the odds are already stacked against you. You're likely already beat on your 16, so why not take a chance and see if you can get a small card?

In most cases, hitting is also applicable with the 15. Most players will just lay down the hand, but if you follow the basic techniques, taking a chance on another card is the right thing to do, regardless of the circumstances.

Another bad play you'll see often in Blackjack tables is standing on a 12 when the dealer has a low card. If you hit with the hand, the reaction from the other players on the table will range from surprise to dismay. But look at the odds. Only the 10 will lead to a bust.

As in the case of the stiff 16, hitting will raise eyebrows, because most of the people there have never heard or seen the basic chart. But as you can see, a quick look at the odds will reveal why hitting is necessary.

There will be times when you will bust when you hit on a 16 or 12, but that's beside the point; the point is that Blackjack is played in a basic manner, and doing so is the key to victory. It doesn't matter if it's live or online, or if you get unsavory remarks from other players; keep playing this way and you'll come out a winner more often than not.