Reducing the House Edge
While most casino (website) games are based on luck, casino; click here!, some table games involve an element of skill or strategy that can improve your chances of winning. Making the right choices based on probability can reduce the house edge, giving you a better return over time. Here, we'll introduce fundamental strategies for Blackjack and Roulette.
Improving Your Blackjack Game
Unlike slots, your choices in Blackjack have a significant effect on whether you win or casino lose. The foundation of skilled play is called "basic strategy." It's a complete guide to decision-making that has been perfected by computer simulations.
Simple Rules to Remember:
- Always Split Aces and 8s: These are the two pairs you should always split, without exception.
- When Not to Split: A hand of two 10s is a 20, which is a very strong hand you don't want to break up. Two 5s make a 10, which is a great hand to double down on.
- Double Down on 11: An 11 is the strongest possible starting hand for doubling down.
- Stand on Hard 17 or casino (click here!) Higher: If you have a "hard" total (a hand without an Ace) of 17 or more, you should always stand, as the risk of busting is too high.
You can find basic strategy charts online. Printing one out and referring to it while you play (especially online) is a fantastic way to learn and dramatically reduce the house edge to less than 1%.
Roulette: Smart Betting Strategies
Unlike Blackjack, Roulette is all about luck; no strategy can influence where the ball will land. However, you can use betting strategies to manage your bankroll and influence your volatility.
The Safest Wagers:
For the best odds of winning on any single spin, stick to the even-money outside bets.
- Red or Black
- Odd or Even
- High (19-36) or Low (1-18)
They are low-risk, low-reward bets perfect for extending your playtime.
Choose the Right Wheel: Always choose European (or French) Roulette over American Roulette if you have the choice. European Roulette has only one zero (0), giving it a house edge of 2.7%. American Roulette has two zeros (0 and 00), which nearly doubles the house edge to 5.26%.
