Cultivating a strategic thought process when playing Blackjack
Blackjack is a strategy based casino game that requires you to weigh a number of factors before making a decision on how to proceed with each hand. In certain situations some factors will matter more than others so it is vital to your success that you are able to evaluate every situation and identify what is most important at that time.
If your aim is to become a high-level blackjack player then you will need to learn and cultivate the correct thought process for establishing which play is correct in each hand dealt to you. Here we will examine a framework that will assist you in doing just that, taking your blackjack game to a whole new level.
When you a dealt a hand there are two aspects to consider immediately ‐ the first is the strength of the dealer's up card. If it has a value of anything between two and six then it is weak but if it is valued at seven or higher it is strong. Next you will need to examine your own hand in order to determine whether you're holding a soft or hard hand and whether the value is 17 or higher. Based on this information you will be able to form a general idea of how to proceed.
If the dealer's hand is weak and you are holding a soft hand with a value of 17 or lower you will be need to double in order to take advantage of the situation. If however the dealer has a weak hand and your hand is a hard one totalling less than 17, then you should stand in order to avoid busting, this will also make it more likely that the dealer busts. These two situations give you a strong advantage and they will go a long way in making up for any losses you experience as you play, so always be sure to identify them early on and exploit the advantage.
When you're up against a strong dealer card, no matter what hand you are holding you will need to hit often in order to achieve a total of 17 or more. This is the best way to win and minimise the dealer's edge.
Memorize the blackjack tips above and practice this way of thinking as you play and soon making the correct decisions according to sound blackjack strategy will become second nature and take your game and winnings to the next level.