Blackjack is one of the most frequented tables at any casino. Blackjack can become an addicting game, and players often wonder how to increase their skills.

With a few simple tricks you can up your skill level no matter how experienced, or inexperienced, you are.

Tips for Playing Blackjack

1. Practice makes perfect. Blackjack is a fast paced game where players are expected to add quickly in their heads, and make instant decisions on their hands. This can be daunting to new players. If you are uncomfortable playing at the fast paced level of a casino table you can practice at an online casino, or during a home game of poker, until you feel more comfortable playing against casino dealers.

2. Gauge your bank roll. The longer a player is able to stay in the game, the higher their odds are of winning. If you can, start with a bankroll that is at least twenty times the minimum bet. This way you are guaranteed to play at least twenty hands of Blackjack at the minimum bet.

3. Start with small bets. Poker players, especially beginners, are prone to getting overly excited at Blackjack tables and tossing their entire bankroll in to one hand. This is a risky business, especially if you are playing with a limited bankroll. Instead, try starting off betting only the minimum. Not only will this increase your playing time, but it will allow to you develop a higher bankroll as you start to win hands. Once you have a high bank roll you can start betting those riskier bets.

4. Know your terms. Blackjack is such a popular game that there are entire websites, books, and television shows devoted to learning the skills behind Blackjack. Take time to read a book or two. Blackjack has its own set of lingo, betting rules, and skill sets. The more you know about the game, the better you will play.

5. Only bet when you feel comfortable. Blackjack tables can be intimidating places to some poker players. Instead of worrying about what your neighboring player is doing, worry about your hand. If you don’t feel comfortable betting on a hand, or betting to a certain amount, then don’t do it. Take the game as slowly as you wish. After all, Blackjack is meant to be fun.

Find the Right Table

The first thing you want to do is find the right table.  Scout out several tables before you choose one.  Watch a few hands at each table and pay close attention to the rapport of the dealer and the players.  If there are heavily intoxicated players at a particular table, then move on.  Intoxicated players can be both distracting and annoying and will, undoubtedly, take away from your enjoyment of the game.  You want to have fun, but your ultimate goal is to win some money.  If you are surrounded by drunk players it will most certainly lead to a lack of concentration on your part.

Crowded tables can make for an exciting atmosphere, but they can also be uncomfortable.  Of course, you don’t want to sit at a table with no players, but you don’t want to be elbow-to-elbow with a throng of other players either. Again, an overly-crowded table can easily break your concentration.

If a table has a lot of slow/novice players it will limit the amount of money you can win per hour.  Conversely, if players are slow it can also limit the amount of money you can lose in an hour because you’ll be placing wagers at a slower pace.  Lastly, hostile dealers should be avoided.  Much like the intoxicated players, an unfriendly dealer can break your concentration in addition to creating an unpleasant atmosphere.

Manage Your Money Wisely

The strategy of playing blackjack differs greatly from that of slots or roulette, but the principles of managing your bankroll do not.  Don’t bet over your head, bet with it. Some experts recommend using the 1/20 rule.  This simply means to never go to a table with a bet size that’s more than 1/20 of your bankroll.  Obviously, if you don’t have a large bankroll or are playing to kill a couple of hours, you’ll want to find the tables with the lowest minimum bet.  On the other hand, if you have a sizable bankroll and are looking to win some money and move on to the next game, you’ll want to go to a high-limits table.  Many low-to-mid sized casinos will offer lower minimum bets that the higher-end casinos do not.  Just about every casino will offer free drinks to blackjack players, just be sure to tip your waitresses.