By Melissa Wong.

Think you’ve got blackjack figured out? Think again! No matter how many years you’ve been playing this card game, there’s always something new to learn. Like, figuring out the holes in your strategy that are leading to a leaky bankroll.

The truth is, even the most experienced of players—actually, especially the most experienced of players—can fall into traps that slowly bleed value. Players with years of blackjack under their belt may have read all the books and memorized strategy chart after strategy chart, but they still find themselves on the back foot. Why? Because they’re making mistakes that don’t look like mistakes.

Whether hitting up the tables at a swanky Vegas casino or indulging in a few rounds of online blackjack, confidence is a must, right? Well, sure! Confidence is important, but overconfidence in your strategy can lead to becoming just a little too comfortable in it. Habits can quickly become part of your routine, even the ones that aren’t serving you.

If you want to put out those bankroll burners before they start, it’s time to start rethinking how you play. 

Stop Counting Cards Online

This strategy is as old as the game itself, but card counting remains as controversial and misunderstood as ever. We won’t get into the specifics here, but suffice to say, it can be a useful tool to add to your toolbox when playing in-person games with finite decks.

When playing RNG-based online blackjack, though? Forget about it!

These games are designed to shuffle the deck before each and every hand, so there’s no memory, tracking, or edge to gain. However, plenty of experienced players out there still go through the motions, convincing themselves they’re building an edge.

There are better strategic plays you can be making here. If you really want to improve your odds, focus on learning how rule variants in different online formats affect house edge and player returns. These days, the best online blackjack libraries are stacked with multiple formats (Double Deck, European, 21 Burn… you name it!), which makes it easy to compare them.

Test things like changes in payout ratios, how dealer rules affect your results, and the number of decks in play to build a clear picture of the formats that offer the most value. And don’t forget to take advantage of demo modes where you can.

Do The Math Before You Side Bet

Uh-oh. Side bets are where player discipline goes to die!¹⁾EDITOR NOTE: Taking insurance in blackjack is also considered a sidebet and should be ignored.  Unless, of course, you are playing in a game with finite decks, are card counting and know when this bet is profitable to take. If you stick to the main game and master blackjack basic strategy the odds against you are under 1%.  One other tip:  Do not play in games that only pay 6 to 5 on blackjacks!

They’re flashy and fun… until you look at the numbers, that is. When it comes to side bets, most of them carry a house edge north of 5%—some even exceed 10%. That’s a brutal ratio, especially if you’re doing your level best to play tight to keep things under 1% and maximize expected RTP.

We’re not saying you should avoid all side bets all the time; some rulesets favor specific hand combinations. But, unless you calculate the math and adjust your bankroll strategy to accommodate variance, it’s definitely smarter to stick to nailing the main game.

Remember That Surrender Is A Valid Option

How does that old saying go? “Pride comes before a fall”? Well, acting like surrendering is for beginners, or ignoring it entirely, could spell disaster for your bankroll.

In fact, taking the option to surrender is a pretty smart thing to do: we’ll settle for a 50% loss over 100% any day. Yet, so many players skip it because they assume they’ll be able to turn the hand around—even when basic strategy is shouting “surrender” loud and clear.

Of course, when you’re playing online, you’ll likely run into a format that removes the option at some stage, and there are some formats that only offer late surrender. None of this needs to hamper your edge if you’re fully aware of what type of game you’re playing (see above). 

Slow Down Playing Multiple Hands

Online blackjack moves fast, and that’s a big part of the reason why so many of us love to play it. No hanging around waiting for the shuffle and no aimless chatter to deal with; just you and the software.

For all its convenience, that speed is a double-edged sword. It’s all too easy to fall into the habit of playing more hands than your bankroll or brain can keep up with. If you’re on a roll and keen to get as many hands in as possible during your gaming session, you need to adjust your bet sizes and keep a handle on your mental state.

This particularly applies to multi-hand games. Playing three hands at once might feel like you’re being efficient, but you’re also tripling your exposure with every round. That’s fine if you’re tracking every move, but it can be fatal when you start to zone out.

And Finally?

Play deliberately. Blackjack tends to stand apart from other types of casino games, like high-volatile jackpot spinners²⁾EDITOR NOTE: “high-volatile jackpot spinners” link www.slotslvcasino.com/casino-games/slots-games/best-online-slots-for-big-wins-by-jackpot-jay/ removed – no longer available., precisely because it is a mix of both chance and skill. From the moment you pick up your hand, you need to be fully present and plugged into the decisions that you’re making.

Audit your habits: are you chasing hands or ignoring surrender? Playing on autopilot? These tiny actions can quickly pile up, so learn from the best players out there by identifying and putting a stop to them.

IMAGE CREDIT: Pixahive.com

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