Calculating your Odds in Blackjack
- Details
- Category: Online Casino Articles
Now, any avid casino gamer will know that odds in games are difficult to calculate, but knowing them puts you one step ahead of the game. So, today we will focus on Blackjack, and some techniques you can use to calculate your odds. While none of these are going to guarantee you a win, you can count on having an edge, even if it is a small one.
The first part of calculating your odds in blackjack, is knowing how the game is played. You must know that cards carry face value. Aces can be played as a 1, or 11. K,Q, and J, will always count for 10. The objective of the game is to is have cards which add up to 21, without going over. If you get a number lower than 21, you have hope that the dealer gets one lower than yours, without hitting the 21. Going over, causes you to bust. If you hit, and have a total of five cards without hitting 21, you win the hand, unless the dealer gets 21. Assuming all of this makes sense to you, we will now move on to putting the odds in your favor.
Now, you must realize that counting cards is only as difficult as you make it. Card counting simply allows you to keep track of how many high cards have been dealt, and how many you can expect to come. This will help you in factoring in the possibilities, and thus make your bets somewhat wiser. Using your knowledge of the deck will help you know when you should bet higher (when you expect to get face cards), and when to bet lower (when you expect the dealer to get face cards).
There are several card counting systems out there, and no single system has been proven any more effective than another. The important thing to remember is that a simple card counting system applied with perfection is going to be more effective than a complex card counting system that has been executed with many errors.
The most important thing to remember is that you will not get more than about a 2% edge over the house, no matter how perfect your skills, and knowledge of the game. When you factor in that most players only have average skill in both the game play and card counting, you should consider that your maximum edge is more along the lines of 1.5%. The more card decks that get added to the game, the less your odds of card counting working in your favor, so count on 1%.
Good Luck!
