Why Do Blackjack Players Lose and How to Avoid The Same Fate

Blackjack is as classic as the card game can get. It has been popular for many years because it is one of only a few gambling games that integrate luck and skill. That is why a lot of blackjack players have developed systems and strategies to beat the house and have earned millions throughout their careers.

But even the best of them have also made mistakes at some point, some of which have led to huge losses that prevented players to bounce back.

So, if you’re just starting out as a blackjack player, you can learn a thing or two from the mistakes made by other players and be better at your game:

Poor bankroll management

This mistake isn’t only limited to blackjack but in other casino games too. Any expert gambler will tell you that good bankroll management can spell the difference between success and failure in gambling. And if you’re playing blackjack, you need to protect two things at all times, your brain and bankroll.

It all begins with setting aside a specific amount each month for gambling. Think of it as your budget for entertainment and never go beyond that amount. Experts also recommend that you should never bet more than 1% of your bankroll and spread your bet so you can mitigate your risks.

Skipping the playing rules

When you’re giddy to take that first open blackjack seat, it’s easy to forget about the playing rules. But you have to remember that blackjack games are not created equal, so you need to read the rules before you take a seat at the table.

You’ll find that some casinos have favorable rules while others will make it harder for you to win. Whether the rules are favorable or not, it’s up to you to find out because no casino manager will point that out to you. And while you’re at it, you can also check out websites like blackjack.org to learn some tips and tricks that will help you improve your skills.

Using betting progressions

A lot of blackjack players are fascinated with betting progressions, a strategy where a bet depends on the result of previous hands, thinking that they will walk away with more money.

But in the history of the game, there has never been any study that proved that you could win based on the results of the previous game. In fact, using a betting progression actually loses you more money in the long run, which is why it’s best to stick with regular amounts for every hand.

Forgetting about the basic playing strategy

It’s no secret that blackjack is mostly a game of math and mathematicians who also became some of the best blackjack players have already determined the right way to play every hand in what is known as the basic playing strategy. The rule here is simple: you need to split every single time. It doesn’t matter where you stand, how much you lost or if you’re new or old. You should always split.

Choosing a table with a Continuous Shuffling Machine

Whether you’re playing in a real casino or through a live game, it’s best to steer clear from a table the moment you see a Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM). Casinos use this machine to speed up the game and go against card counters.

But what they might not be telling you is that a CSM also increases your theoretical hourly loss because you get dealt more hands per hour compared to a dealer hand shuffling the cards. It also exposes a bigger chunk of your bankroll to the house edge, which is quite dangerous in gambling.

Betting more thinking you’ll win more

One of the biggest mistakes that any gambler can make, whether in blackjack or in other casino games, is to think that they will win at some point if they continue betting after losing several games. In blackjack, one fact always holds true. No matter what happened in the previous hands, you’ll always have a 48% chance of winning the next hand. So, if you don’t want to suffer huge losses, bet more only when you’re at your best not when you think that you’re about to win.

The bottomline

The best blackjack players in the world have spent years studying the game of 21 where they made mistakes like everyone else did. But what made them last long in the industry is their passion for the game of blackjack more than the money it can give them.