Blackjack Money Management & Betting Strategy
Blackjack is a wildly exciting, entertaining and social gambling game. It also can be either very lucrative for those who control their money well and experience a bit of luck or problematic for those who don't. Following a few simple strategies will help protect your pocketbook.
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Set Limits
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Set an absolute limit to how much you can afford to comfortably lose. Do this before you begin playing, since your judgment can become clouded once you begin playing. If you don't trust yourself to keep to your limit, bring only a set amount of cash and leave your debit and credit cards at home.
Bet Consistently
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Try to play and bet consistently throughout the game. Dramatically changing your betting and playing patterns often leads to nothing more than losing more money. Instead, try betting the same amount consistently so you will be in a better position to gauge how your play is going. If you're doing well, consider increasing your bet slightly. If you're doing poorly, consider reducing it slightly or leaving the table. Playing consistently means that you should treat the combination of cards you are dealt the same way: when to hit, when to stay, when to split, and so forth. This will allow you to more easily control your betting and allow you to learn what works for you and what does not.
Play Smart
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Before playing, learn the basic rules and basic pitfalls. This will not only protect your pocketbook, but will prevent your from becoming the scapegoat for the rest of the table because you have played cards poorly and altered the hand. If you're new to the game, try reading one of the numerous books on the subject and/or practicing with friends so that you can get a grasp on the basic rules. For instance, not only is it a bad idea to split a pair of 10s, it will also draw the ire of others at your table. Additionally, pay attention to cards. As you learn the game, you will begin to realize that certain cards and certain patterns should affect the way you should wager. For instance, 10-value cards (10, jack, queen, king) are money cards. If the session is nearing an end and not many 10s have been played, you should consider increasing your wager because the chance for profit is much larger. Conversely, if the session is nearing an end and nearly all of the 10s have been dealt, you should consider decreasing your wager as the potential to lose is now much higher.
Know When to Walk Away
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Knowing when to leave the game is as essential as knowing how to play. While it's important to set a limit on how much you can comfortably lose, you also should set a realistic goal for how much you hope to win and, soon after achieving that goal, leave the table. It's also important to set time limits for how long you would like to stay at the table. Above all, leave the table when the game stops being fun.
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