Beating with Blackjack Odds

Blackjack, much like poker, is a very popular casino card game, to the point that competitions are actually being broadcast as major sporting events. But the similarities don't end there. Blackjack is also heavily reliant on probabilities and odds. In fact, if you try watching a blackjack tournament, you'll find that the odds of a certain player winning or getting a blackjack are almost always displayed on the screen; it's that big a part of the game. Understanding or at least knowing some of the common blackjack odds will go a long way in helping you study and use the theoretical part of playing blackjack.

You can start with the most obvious one - the blackjack. Assuming you're playing with a full, untouched deck of 52 cards, your chances of getting the best and most profitable hand in the game is a very slim 1.2%. Yes, it's alright to dream, but it's also downright stupid to put all your blackjack bankroll eggs in that basket of 1.2%. Even if you stand to win a 3:2 payout on your bet, you could lose your bankroll several times over while waiting for that elusive 1.2%. The key here is to look for other much more realistic odds that will allow you to win and profit less per round but more consistently and more often.

For example, you could aim for a 19 - a respectable number in blackjack that'll allow you to win a fair number of blackjack games - because it has a more reasonable 6.03% probability of showing up. A 20, obviously a more advantageous and sought after combination, is even more reasonable because it has odds a little better than 1:10 for showing up.

Ask any professional and he or she will most probably tell you to go for the reasonable numbers rather than the 21. Aiming exclusively for 21 is for amateurs because they'll probably run out of money, time and patience without even seeing a 21 come up in their own hands. The pros, on the other hand, understand that making a profit and ultimately winning at blackjack is all about the long term and not the short term. Focus on making those small wins more often instead of on making that one big win for the night. You'll find that, if you go with the former strategy, you'll end up with a respectable net profit at the end of a session at the casino. Heck, you might even find that profit enough for a consistent income.