Most Common Player Mistakes in Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the easiest casino games to learn, and as such, is definitely the most popular—right up there next to slots! But, because it is a game many players start with, it’s common to see all sorts of mistakes while playing.

Common Blackjack mistakes include hitting the wrong numbers, taking insurance bets, and splitting a pair of tens. Don’t know what we mean by this? Read on as we explain all the most common player mistakes in Blackjack so you can avoid making them.

1. Not Hitting a Soft 18

A soft 18 is when you have an ace and a 7 in your hand. An ace can represent either a 1 or an 11, and there is no reason not to hit when you have a soft 18. This is because most dealers HAVE to hit when they have less than 17, meaning if they get anything under a 4 when they hit a 16, they are more likely to make it above 18 than they are to pull an ace and stand at 17.

So, when you’ve got that ace, even if you have a 7 for your other card, definitely hit. Only stand when you’ve got 19 or more.

2. Standing on Anything Less Than 16

Now, 16 is a tough one, and generally, you have to make the decision to stand or hit on your own. But, whenever you have less than 16, you should definitely hit. Although there are a lot of face cards in the deck, there are also many cards that aren’t face cards. Even if you have a 15, anything up until 7 will give you a better chance of winning that standing.

Of course, the number 16 is where these odds change, and because you are so likely to bust at 16, you’ll have to make your own choice. Just remember that dealers typically have to hit anything below a 17, and the house always wins.

3. Splitting a Pair of Tens

We’ve all seen it, and we’ve probably all done it. You see two tens and are tempted to split because two hands are better than one, right?

Wrong.

Two tens is a powerful hand on its own, and your chance of taking that powerful hand and splitting it into two powerful hands is weak at best. It’s better to keep your two tens as one, because 20 is a common winning hand in Blackjack—only a 21 beats it!

4. Don’t Up Your Bet on a Winning Streak

This is a common mistake all over the casino (not just at the Blackjack tables), but many individuals, when they have a “hot streak,” start to up their bets to “take advantage of it.”

Hot streaks, or winning streaks, are a myth. The best Blackjack players bet consistently on their tactic, which works. This means that even though you win 3 hands in a row, you still bet the same on the next hand as all the previous.

This is because Blackjack is still a game of chance, and other than counting cards, there is no such thing as a “guaranteed” win just because you’ve won other bets. Choose your bet amount for a session (i.e., $5 per hand) and stick to it.

5. Buying Insurance

We are fully convinced that “bet insurance” at the Blackjack table was invented by casinos for casinos. While they may help you from time to time, you lose far more by playing them than you win. Blackjacks are just that rare. So, skip any time you are asked to place an insurance bet.

6. Not Knowing the Side Bets

While we are against insurance bets, there are many useful side bets in Blackjack that players simply don’t know. Therefore, they leave money on the table simply out of ignorance. We recommend spending a day researching side bets and which ones are local at your casino, so you can take advantage of them. We recommend starting with Perfect Pairs, 21+3,  and Over/Under 13.

7. Not Splitting Pairs Less Than 10

We know, we just told you not to split 10s. But the cards under 10 should always be split if you have doubles. Why? Well, remember, we said don’t split 10s because 20 is already a strong hand, this is not the same for a pair of 9s, which is 18, or a weak hand. Same goes for 8s, which are 16. In both of these cases, you’re better off splitting and trying to see if you can get anything better.

You can also split cards under 8 and 9, like 4s and 2s. But in these cases, splitting is a personal decision, and though mathematically you should split either hand when the dealer is showing a 5, 6, or 7,  the “best” choice depends on your play style as well as what the dealer has.

8. Playing a Busy Table

It’s always fun to join a large Blackjack game which is already in swing—and many gamblers feed off the energy of a full table. However, when a table is full, a dealer is much less likely to allow you to explore side bets and other aspects that increase your bottom line. At a busy table, the dealer just wants you to play, tip, and move on.

Remember, casino workers do not get a share of casino profits. Despite common belief, they want you to win because it usually means a better tip for them. That’s why many are willing to answer your questions about side bets when you ask. This doesn’t mean they will tell you when to play these side bets; it just means you are more likely to have your questions answered when you ask.

In fact, as a beginner, we recommend heading to the casino during “off” hours (like 10 am on a Tuesday) and playing Blackjack at an empty or near-empty table—you might just be surprised by what you learn.

Above all, Blackjack is a game of chance with a good house edge, so never bet any money you don’t intend to lose—even if you follow all these tips.