Blackjack is an exciting game that can quickly be learned, but to master the game, one will have to take time and put in some efforts to develop proper game strategies and gain knowledge. Playing like a pro is possible for anyone and with some tips and tricks, players can learn how they can improve their game and play right along with the best players in the world.

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According to basic strategy, blackjack players should always stand on hard 12 when the dealer’s up card is 4-6. Standing is also encouraged on hard 13-16 when the dealer’s up card is 2 through 6. These may seem like defensive plays, but any 10 or face card would force the dealer to hit, and quite likely bust. Being a professional blackjack player requires self-discipline and self-control. Some people have a hard time managing themselves effectively. You must learn how to do this if you want to make money at blackjack. Don’t drink alcohol while you play: There is a time and a place for everything. Drinking alcohol at the blackjack table is a bad idea.

The first step in learning how to play blackjack professionally is to familiarize yourself with all of the rules of the game. Many blackjack players stick to the basics-for them the only options are hitting and standing. However, there is a lot more to the game of blackjack than hitting and standing. When you learn all the rules of the game you can learn to effectively double down, split, take insurance and when you should surrender. By understanding all of your options you can greatly increase your chances and make moves like a pro.

To become a pro in Blackjack is not a walk in the park. You need time, practice and patience.

When playing blackjack you must be able to execute decisions without a second thought, which is why game skills and the use of proper strategies is essential. As skills are advanced, you will become a better player and can use this knowledge and various strategies throughout a blackjack career. The number one thing to remember is to always stick to a basic strategy when playing. Memorize this strategy and always use it when playing. Never rely on hunches or the thought that the next hand will be a winner. Any professional blackjack player will always adhere to basic strategies because they know they provide information to make the right decisions at the table.

The basic strategy charts found right here on BlackjackGala.com provides a first step to mastering the game and learn how to play like a pro.

The Art of Card Counting

Card Counting is a skill that is used by many professional blackjack players and it is one that can be altered to suit each player. There are different strategies that can be used for counting cards at blackjack, including beginner strategies like Red Sevens, Hi-Lo, and Knock Out Blackjack strategies. It is best to start with these and master them and then move on to more advanced strategies like the Omega II system or Wong Halves that can improve counting accuracy. Practice counting cards at home by shuffling a deck and then counting through the entire thing. If you end on 0 for balanced systems, or on the appropriate number of unbalanced systems, you know you are right on track.

A report from ABC News cites Alan, a professional blackjack player and gambler who states that “card counting can turn the edge against the casino, which is why management bans card counters when they are caught.” (1) While card counting is not illegal by any means, it is a practice that is frowned upon at land casinos. Players will take the risk of being banned if they are suspected of such activities, which is why it is essential to master counting skills and learn how to employ them without being obvious that counting is taking place.

Movies and television have done a great job depicting card counting as a simple task. However, it is quite difficult than what most people believe. While card counting is not the best blackjack strategy, it can provide players with a 20% edge. Great card counters will only gain about 1% in an edge over the casino. Richard, a former professional card counter explains, “As the composition of the cards in the deck fluctuates, the player’s advantage fluctuates. When he knows he has the advantage, he bets higher. When he knows the advantage has shifted to the house, he bets lower.” (1) This take on card counting will help players understand how the strategy can be used to alter bet amounts and know when to increase or decrease wagers.

One of the things that many overlook is the size of the bankroll that will be required to count cards. Most players will not even have a bankroll large enough to survive the different swings while playing, which is why most beginners will find themselves losing thousands in a single night at the blackjack table. It is recommended to have $20,000 or more to be a card counter and to keep your risk level of 5% or lower. (2)

Unlike what many people think, you don’t have to be a math genius to learn card counting.

Other Strategies to Use

While most players believe that card counting is one of the best game strategies to play like a pro, there are other things that can be more beneficial. Many players will make use of betting systems, where they will use specially designed systems like the Martingale system, where bets are doubled each time a hand is lost. Some players will rely on a bet everything strategy, where they can enjoy huge wins if they are lucky or immediately be out of money and the game.

One of the strategies that can be used by new and experienced players is the use of tells. A tell is a type of communication that is nonverbal and this can include body signals, gestures, even facial expressions. The science of body language can be used to gain an advantage in blackjack. Steve Forte, a professional blackjack player offers tips and tricks on tells in his handbook, Advantage Playing: the Ultimate Way to Play Winning Blackjack. (3) In this handbook, players can learn how to begin recognising dealer and player tells and using these to improve their game and win more often.

What a Pro Player Can Earn

The size of the bankroll will relate directly to what a professional player can earn. Professional players will have to bet between 300 and 500 times the average bet (4) in order to win enough to have a career. A working bankroll of $50,000 will be required, where bets will range between $50 and $100 per hand. It is impossible to say exactly what can be earned, though most professional players will make $100,000 and more each year playing blackjack. Of course, this does not reflect the amount of money that has been invested to yield the returns.

Professional Poker vs Professional Blackjack

Colin Jones, a professional blackjack player has often commented on his career and states that many people do not understand the differences between professional poker and professional blackjack players. He states, “Poker pros are celebrities while blackjack pros stay under the radar. You have much to lose as a poker celeb. You get invited to tourneys, you get book deals and speaking gigs, you intimidate opponents with your largesse, and you amass other benefits with your name recognition and face. A blackjack card counter, however, has nothing to gain and everything to lose with notoriety.” (5) With poker, every player at the table is a competitor, yet with blackjack, it is just one player against the dealer, no matter how many are sitting in on the game.

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There are major differences when it comes to skills and strategies as well. Where poker players can become quite successful playing on hunches, this same playing tactic can be the downfall of a blackjack player. Professional poker players also play differently, each having their own style. Blackjack pros will always play the same, since they are always adhering to basic strategies. These differences set the pros apart, though many blackjack pros will be thrown into the same classification as poker pros, which is not only insulting to blackjack players, but also dead wrong. True, both are pro card players, but each has a different set of strategies, skills and knowledge that must be possessed to be a winner.

When it comes to card games, few have such a high skill ceiling as Blackjack. Other than skill, Blackjack also requires patience, practice and a bit of luck. Add the possibility to make a lot of money, and it’s no wonder that mastering Blackjack is one of the most relentlessly pursued forms of gambling. The game has been around since the 1700’s, and naturally there have been more than one remarkable individual seeming to have completely figured out the game since then. Many of these renowned gamblers decided to share their knowledge with the world, often in the form of books. For the aspiring Blackjack player, picking up one or a few of these books can greatly help with understanding and mastering the game. Let’s have a look at some of the most influential Blackjack players throughout history, and the titles they produced. Special thanks to Nettcasino.nu, who helped us put this list together.

Edward O. Thorp – The grandfather of modern card counting

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Born in 1932, Edward Thorp is considered by most to be the grandfather of modern card counting. After reading an article about a scientific approach to gambling in his 20’s, Thorp ended up dedicating most of his life to beating the dealer and stock market. With immense success. The mathematics professor has written several books on subjects such as elementary probability, the mathematics of gambling and strategies and systems for playing Blackjack. While his works have aged a bit, most- if not all professional Blackjack players will vouch for his books. No matter if you are interested in making money on Blackjack, casinos, Wall Street or even sports betting (For more information visit Legalni-bukmacherzy.eu), Thorpe is definitely a must-read! His most well known titles include:

• Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One
• Beat the Market: A Scientific Stock Market System
• Elementary Probability

Stanford Wong – Redefining the old ways

Stanford Wong, the pseudonym used by John Ferguson, was born in 1943. He started playing Blackjack in the mid 60’s while getting his Phd in Finance, and simultaneously teaching finance courses at San Francisco state university. It was not long before he realized that he stood to make a lot more money while playing Blackjack than teaching, and so he came to an agreement with the University: Wong would be paid a salary of $1 USD teaching his final term, and in exchange he would be excused from all faculty meetings and use the time to pursue his gambling career instead. Throughout his career, Wong managed to produce multiple high quality books about gambling, coin the Blackjack expression “wonging” and create the first ever commercially available Blackjack probability analyzing software. His most influential books on gambling include:

• Professional Blackjack
• Blackjack Secrets
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Gambling Like a Pro

The masters of Blackjack today

Without Thorp and Wong, Blackjack would not have been the same today. But for aspiring players, many prefer to get a more modern take on the subjects of Blackjack strategies, systems and card counting. Luckily, the techniques invented by the masters have spawned a multitude of incredible players and counters that have gone on to make history. Who could for example forget the MIT Blackjack team that started playing in the late 70’s, and went on to clean casinos for more than $50 million dollars over the years? This incredible story can be seen in the blockbuster movie 21, or read in Bringing Down the House. These modern players, and many others, went on to make millions of dollars and write their own books about how to play Blackjack. If you want a more modern take and writing style, and for online casino Blackjack to be taken into consideration, opt for one or more of the following titles:

• Blackjack Attack – Playing the Pros’ Way by Don Schlesinger
• Blackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson
• Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder
• 101 Ways to Win Blackjack: Includes Tips to Win at the Casino and Online by Sonia Weiss and Tom Hagen

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