If there’s a game that everyone knows how to play – both casual and expert casino enthusiasts – its blackjack. The game is simple enough: get to 21, don’t bust and beat the dealer. And while those are the basics, there is still one very critical element that winners don’t overlook: bankroll management.
If you’re an online blackjack player, there are a few rules you should abide by when you are playing the game in order to keep your bank account afloat. Follow these steps and you should have a good idea on how to stretch the bankroll even more.
Set a budget
The first rule of thumb you should use when looking at money management at the blackjack table is to figure out how much you can spend and then stick to that number as closely as possible. To be honest, you should do this whether you are playing blackjack at online casino or any other game, but especially with blackjack because you are not physically holding your chips, so you can lose track of how much you are spending. Stick to the limit and stay within it.
Bet the streaks
A tip that many players will use is to wager smaller amounts after a few wins and raise your bets when you’re on a losing streak. While it might sound counterintuitive, the truth is that all streaks come to an end and you don’t want to get busted. If you keep raising your bets during a winning streak, you’re first loss will cost you quite a bit. That’s why you start lowering your bet amounts after a couple of wins so when you do hit that loss, it doesn’t hit you so hard.
Meanwhile, the opposite is true for losing streaks. After a couple of losses, consider raising the stakes so that when you get the win, you manage to recover a bit more and get back on track.
How to handle doubling down and splitting
Online blackjack players have to beware when they are doubling down or splitting their hands. You have to assess the odds of these plays and figure out if the risk is worth the reward because a lot of players will see their eyes get huge when they have the option to split or double down. Some players will call it a sucker bet while others will see a golden opportunity. Which side do you fall on? There are strategic intricacies to follow in both cases depending on the cards you and the dealer are holding.
Money management is the most important aspect you need to learn at online casinos because your money can disappear fast but will keep you in the game of blackjack longer and produce bigger winnings in the long run.