What’s the difference between playing blackjack and playing effective blackjack? It’s simple answer, one you may have even come across here and there. But in the lure of flashing lights and bright colors perhaps the answer was forgotten. The best way to play effective blackjack is practice.
Yes, I said practice. By now you’ve read about basic strategy and card counting, and you’re psyched that this is the game you can win. Blackjack will make you money. But in order to make that money you have to play blackjack effectively.
To do so means practice. You know there’s a basic strategy chart for blackjack—in fact, there’s two charts for: one for soft hands and one for hard hands. But are you really going to take those to the table with you?
Imagine you sit down with six other people, probably seasoned players. You’re dealt your cards. The dealer has a 7 and you have a hard 16. The first three people make their decisions. It’s your turn. What do you do? You whip out your blackjack charts. The other six people sigh—they’re playing with a beginner. One or two of them offer you advice. Maybe someone else mutters how the game is being held up. You get flustered. You stand. Next player’s turn. You take a peek at your chart. Oops, you should’ve hit. Not effective play.
How to avoid that? Play effectively! Practice first! Study the basic strategy charts, focus on hard hands first. Then visit an online casino, one that will let you play free blackjack online (most reputable sites have this option). Leave the chart face down on your desk. Try to remember what it advises. Play your hand, then check your chart, see if you played effectively. This way you aren’t faced with slowing down the game and upsetting other players—after all you’re in your own home, nobody can see you. Keep practicing until you don’t need check the chart to see if you played effectively—you know you did. This is how practice makes for playing an effective blackjack game.
