by Tony Narloch

Created on: June 13, 2009   Last Updated: June 15, 2009

Blackjack tips: How to stack the odds in your favour.

Blackjack is defiantly one of the most popular of the casino games for one very simple reason it gives the player an actual chance (albeit a rather slim one) to beat the casino. The objective of the game is disarmingly simple and even a novice can have a decent spell of wins with an understanding of some of the basic strategies and aspects of the game.

Blackjack is a game that relies on mathematics and probabilities so whilst you will have to make some estimates and take a few guesses in regards as to what your next move should be, you will not be acting blind so to speak but will be able to rely on formulas to shave the odds in your favour.

The objective of blackjack is to get a higher score than your opponent whilst ensuring that you do not go bust (this happens when your total numeric value of your entire hand exceeds 21). A common casino rule (and one which is always clearly stated so don't worry) is that the dealer is always required to stand (draw no more cards) whenever their hand reaches 17. This seemingly innocent act causes a great deal of confusion and uncertainty among many blackjack players both novices and seasoned veterans alike because the temptation to take action and thus trump the house often poses too great.

If you are wavering as to whether or not to ask for another hit just think for a second as to why the casino chooses to always stand at 17. Remember that casinos always ensure that the odds are firmly stacked in their favour regardless of trivial or insignificant they may seem and this stand at 17 rule is no different.

The logic behind this seemingly arbitrary rule is that if the hand currently totals in at 17 then the chances of drawing a card with a numeric value of 5 or higher outweighs the chances of drawing a card which equals 4 or less.

This can be plainly seen, there are 52 cards in any deck of playing cards, and a total of 4 suites. Each card from Ace through to the royals will occur 4 times, and given that the highest value of a card in blackjack is ten (ok 11, but that's a hard ace) this would mean that if a players score stands at 17, then they need 4 or less to win. This means that there is a 40% chance of drawing a card with a value of 4 or less but a 60% chance of drawing a card with a value of 5 or higher. Relying on mathematical statistics and percentages like this will help you reach the best decision, allowing you to help minimize the chances of failure. Make sure you rely on these hard facts and not on your emotions.

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