Introduction

Top Ten Ways to Excel in Blackjack

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Blackjack is one of the world’s most popular card games to play. It is easy and fast to get to grips with, allowing even beginners the ability to take up this game relatively quickly. In addition unlike poker, where rules and strategy form a highly complex game which can take years to fully understand, blackjack is simpler to understand and develop personal strategies. If you’re looking to make your blackjack game more profitable, then there are a few considerations that you should take under advisement, regardless of whether you want to maximize bets or develop a new strategy.

1. Do Your Research

Like all other games, it is very important when you’re playing blackjack to have done your research first. You should fully understand the game and applicable rules to ensure that you don’t make costly mistakes. Blackjack is a major revenue winner for online casinos, and this is largely due to player error. And, by understanding the game, you’ll ensure that you can have an error free game to maximize your success.

2. Select the Appropriate Gaming Spot

When you’re playing online blackjack it is essential that you find the right place to play. For beginners this is especially important, as you don’t want to be playing at tables where everyone else has far more experience. Avoid games which cost over 5% of your bankroll to enter, so if you have under $20, do not play in games which cost $1 to enter.

3. Remember 17’s Value

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of blackjack, but it’s important that you remember that you can’t win with less than 17. If the dealer holds 16 in their hand they legally have to draw another card. This could be an ace, offering them the chance to make a winning hand of 17 if you’ve stayed with a smaller total.

4. Remember Blackjack’s Card Values

If you regularly play table games, then it’s important to ensure that you don’t get card values muddled. In blackjack, cards between two and nine hold their face value. The picture cards of Jack, Queen, King are all valued at 10, whilst the Ace can be used as both a one or an 11.

5. The All Important Ace

The Ace can be a crucial card in your blackjack game, and it is an important piece of your arsenal. Worth both one and 11, it is vital that you remember its versatility so that you can play it accordingly. It can make poor hands suddenly become winners with the simple alteration of a value, and forgetting to utilize your Ace as best you can is a major error.

6. Develop a Blackjack Card Value Strategy

click here to see most Popular Pages

Strategy is a key principle in blackjack as whilst it is chance which cards you get, it is your decisions which determine the final win. It is important to hold good knowledge of a few hand circumstances, offering yourself some obvious choices to play if you’re not willing to take risks. Picture cards and a seven are an obvious stick point, providing you with 17 and offering a win if the dealer hits at 16 and goes bust as a result. However, if 11 is held, you should take another hit. This is essential as, with more tens in the pack than other cards, the odds are in your favor to get a picture card and make blackjack with 21

7. Assess Your Hand

When the cards are first dealt, it’s important to assess your hand and not make rash decisions before accurately calculating a number of possibilities. As mentioned, having some obvious choices to make is crucial so that you don’t have to worry about risks on specific hand values. However, if you have Aces or picture cards, it’s the ideal time to deliberate making a risky move and possibly seeing a blackjack win.

8. Maximize Your Winning Chances

Never forget that your ultimate aim should be to reach 21. Whilst you can often win without reaching this figure, a lapse in concentration could see you thinking you have the upper hand with 19 only to find that the dealer has outstripped you. Play to gain 21, whilst also being conservative in your hand hits to ensure that you don’t go bust too quickly. If you have a low scoring hand, be ready to continue taking hits. But, bear in mind the maximum 10 value which could easily see your winning hand lose.

9. When to ‘Hit’

Blackjack only has two options, that to ‘stand’, or that to ‘hit’. When being dealt, the chances of gaining each card value are undetermined, but your strategy is key once your cards are known. Choosing the ‘stand’ option will see you dealt no more cards, with you having to rely that those in your hand are enough to win the game, or at very least, stop you from going bust. Alternatively, you can take a ‘hit’ as many times as you wish. However, the closer your hand value edges towards 21, the more risky your gameplay becomes. Dealers must ‘hit’ if they’re under 16 and ‘stand’ at 17, so it makes sense that you also follow these rules in a bid to win.

10. Use Betting Returns

The rules of winning in blackjack are fairly simple, as are the rules of the game. You can use betting returns to your advantage, utilizing the knowledge that they provide to guide you on which hands to take risks on, and which not too. For hands where you and the dealer have the same card value, your bet is returned and you lose nothing. If you win against the dealer for any value under 21, normal betting returns offer a like for like win. This means that if you placed $10, you’d win your bet and an additional $10 back. Meanwhile, if you’re lucky enough to hit blackjack, average payouts are 3:2, giving you $15 in winnings if you placed $10, along with your original bet being returned.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Gamble Online

Friday, January 6th, 2012

Gambling is a very popular pastime, and whether you’re a high roller frequenting many casinos, or prefer just to play a few bucks now and then, it can be an enjoyable way for some thrilling entertainment. There is nothing quite like the adrenalin filled buzz of playing a slot machine or waiting as your table game cards are dealt. With the rise of the internet, the digital age has allowed gaming to take an online presence too, and you can now access the majority of popular gambling games online. And, whether you’re a real world casino devotee, or have never dabbled your luck before, here are 10 great reasons why gambling online is a great pastime.

1. Have Your Home Comforts

One of the most enjoyable aspects about online gaming is that you can access gambling from your own home. You don’t have to worry about getting dressed and going to the casino, and you can sit at your computer in your pajamas and slippers if you really wish. You can make a cup of coffee whenever you feel like it, pop in and out of gameplay to fit it around other daily necessities and play a few bucks on the slot machine at night if you can’t sleep. It’s a great way to have a fun and fulfilling gambling career without setting foot outside your front door.

2. 24 Hour Access

Whilst many real life casinos are open around the clock, often the transport needed to get to them closes down, especially in the early morning. The internet allows you to have 24/7 gambling at the touch of the button, meaning that when the mood takes you, you can simply log on and start gaming.

3. Throw Out the Rule Book

If you’re playing at casinos, especially if you’re playing table games, it’s absolutely paramount to have all the rules and casino regulations known by heart. However, if you’re gaming at home you’ll never have to remember a rule again, as you can peruse rules at your leisure. Whether you keep game rules on screen whilst you play so that you can refer to them, or prefer to look up aspects in a book as you go, being at home means that you won’t have to rely on your prior knowledge to help your success.

4. Less Pressure

Though the thrill of winning might be the same, gambling online will certainly take some of the pressure off. Playing slots in a casino environment can be a fun way to spend time, but approach those poker, roulette or black jack tables and you may find a lot of pressure on your shoulders. Games move swiftly in the casino environment, and you can easily get caught up in the process without really knowing what you’re doing. However, if you play in the online environment you’ll be able to play at your pace, at your gaming level and at your leisure. You can set the terms by which you play, allowing for pressure to drop away so that you can enjoy the actual gaming experience itself.

5. Vast Casino Choice

Whilst there are many casinos in the real world to explore, you’ll often be limited to how far away they are. There are not many opportunities for competitiveness between venues, so they can set their house edges, their drink prices and other services at a standard rate which you might be able to do little to avoid. However, the online marketplace is absolutely filled with casinos vying for your attention, and you’ll find that many have attractive offers to lure you in. You’ll be able to sign up for several places, play at your discretion, and choose the casinos that most suit your needs.

6. Sign-Up Bonuses

click here to see most Popular Pages

One of the ways that online casinos draw you in is by offering sign-up bonuses. These offer you extra money or freeplay on deposits that you make, effectively offering you the chance to win big without having to spend a dime. Each casino is different, and you’ll have to read the requirements for each venue. Some will give you a 100% bonus, meaning that if you deposit $10, they’ll match it with another $10. In some cases you’ll have to gamble your original $10 to access the bonus money, but this still means that you get to play with money given to you by the casino.

7. Gaming Networks

Many online casinos are linked into gaming networks, allowing individuals at different casinos to meet in one place and play. This is vital if you want to play online games such as poker and bingo. You may find at real world casinos that tables are either full, with no room for you to play, or rather empty, making it rather unattractive to play. To avoid this possible situation, many casinos using the same online software have grouped together to create networks. This means that whenever you log on, whether it’s midday or 3am in the morning, you’ll be able to find somewhere to play.

8. Sociability

One of the best aspects of online gambling is the social side. You can log into networks and meet people, playing and making friends as you go. For games of luck there is an atmosphere of comradeship from other players, making games even more fun to play.

9. Bankroll

Bankroll is important whether you’re in an online or a real casino, but it is often easier to keep a level head in the online world. Whilst the atmosphere of a real casino can quickly draw you in to spend more money, a clear bankroll in online venues allows you to control your money and ensure that you don’t gamble more than you can afford.

10. Fun

The most important aspect of online gambling is that it’s fun. Whether you’re playing to win, or simply want half an hour out from daily life, the ability to meet with friends, play some games and have a little fun is invaluable. And, you never know, you might get the next progressive jackpot and come away a winner.

How to Maximize Your Bonus Slot Payout Chances

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

If you’re a fan of slot machines, then the internet has opened a vast world of online slots that you can play. These can be fantastic as you can access them from the comfort of your own home and, if you win a jackpot, can make a huge amount of money. But can you really maximize your chances of winning?

Choosing the Correct Slot

The world of online slot machines is huge and offers a large variety of titles to play. However, it’s important that you don’t allow yourself to be swayed by bright lights and fun themes, and instead look to each slots bonus schemes to decide which to play. Not all bonuses on slots are equal, with a huge variety noted in the percentage of your deposit that you could win.

Play-Through Requirements

Many online casinos have play-through requirements which you must consider before signing up. Whilst you can win big by playing online slots, casinos don’t want to lose money and often contract you into playing a number of times. This can mean that you sometimes have to wager your bonus a specific number of times before you’re actually allowed to draw your winnings from the online casino.

Slots Bonus Tips

click here to see most Popular Pages

There are a number of tips that you can utilize to try and ensure that your winnings are maximized to their potential. Read each slots terms to ensure that plays count towards the number of plays you have to make before cashing out, whilst also remember that progressive slots play is not always included in slots clearing figures. Meanwhile, also check whether slots bonuses are automatically assigned or whether you have to ask for them, and always read terms and conditions before you deposit any money.

Playing with Bonus Slots

Using slots bonuses are a great way to maximize your wins in an attempt to make some real online cash. Choose your casino carefully as you can often gain signup bonuses of $20 or note percentage deposit bonuses up to 200per cent. And by paying attention to slots terms and carefully choosing which titles to use even before playing, you can keep losses to a minimum.

Tips for Playing Baccarat Online

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Playing baccarat online isn’t largely different from playing at real world casinos. In both cases you should be armed with a few tips and tricks to ensure that your losses are as small as possible whilst your winnings soar. Understanding the basic of baccarat bonuses and wagers is vital, and by choosing the correct online establishment to play at, you’ll ensure that your baccarat game gets off to a successful start.

Baccarat Game Basics

Before you even consider starting to play online you must ensure that you know the fundamentals of baccarat. Having full insight into the game means that you won’t be trying to get used to both software and game rules at the same time. A good way of establishing your game without having to pay out lots of money is by utilizing the free games that are often provided by online casinos.

Baccarat Wager Recommendations

There are few recommendations for baccarat players, especially newcomers, in relation to wagers. Many experts suggest that betting on the bankers hand is one of the best ways to win, even though there is often a betting commission on this wager. Meanwhile, a wager which is best to avoid unless you’re a real expert is the tie bet. It is believed that this bet has a huge house advantage, in addition to you having to pay a casino commission upon winning, hence making the wager not a lucrative option.

Choosing Your Online Casino

click here to see most Popular Pages

Choice of casino is very important both online and in the real world, but when playing on the internet it is vital that you read the terms and conditions of an establishment in addition to ensuring that they are widely regarded and popular gambling operation. Using baccarat bonuses to increase how far your deposit goes is a huge online advantage. Meanwhile, managing your casino bankroll is very important in online gambling, allowing you to focus on your game rather than worry about the extent of losses or wins.

A Game of Chance

Whilst baccarat may be a game of chance, it is important to fully understand the game inside and out. And by taking the time to practice, play and manage your online strategy, you can make the most of this popular table game.

Using Online Slots to Win Big Jackpots

Friday, December 16th, 2011

The world of online slots gambling is vast, and there are so many titles to play that you may initially be confused just where you should start. Ultimately, whilst playing slots is entertaining, you should be looking to maximize your winnings and even win a few jackpots or two. Whilst gaining winning combinations is more down to luck than skill, there are some ways to increase your winning chances. And by taking these tips to your gaming, you can get the best chance at getting top payouts.

Learning to Win at Slots

You may initially think that there is no way that you can increase the chance to win at slots, but you’d be wrong. Whilst you can’t affect the actual spin of the reels, you can take steps to ensure that you maximize every avenue for gaining payouts. A few tiny changes here and there are all it takes to increase your chances of gaining top jackpots.

Choosing Your Slot Title

One of the most important factors when you want to maximize winning chance is actually in your choice of slot. There are many variations of slot titles available with different wheel numbers, bonus games and complex progressive slots, and it’s vital that you understand just which title you’re playing and all the rules involved. Your bankroll should be a major factor in your slot machine choice because it will decide how many games you can play. If you have hundreds of dollars to play with, then a dollar machine is ideal and you’ll get plenty of spins. However, if your bankroll is $50 or less then opting for quarter wager titles will allow you more games than a dollar one, increasing the possibility for you to win.

click here to see most Popular Pages

Wager Amount

Once you’ve chosen the slot that you want to play the next important decision is your wager amount. This bet can have a huge impact on any eventual jackpot win, and if you’re playing any of the Progressive Jackpot games it’s important to use maximum wagers as you can’t win the top payouts otherwise. Meanwhile, if your bankroll is limited, remember that the lower you bet, the less payout you’ll get. And, whilst playing for enjoyment, keep in mind that if you want to win big, you’ll need to play big at the right establishments.

Breaking the Gamblers Fallacy Myth

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Within the gambling world there remains a myth, known as the ‘Gamblers Fallacy’, which implies that previous results in a game can influence the outcome of games to come. Especially when in games of chance, such as roulette, many believe that if something has occurred several times in a row, the upcoming result is almost guaranteed. However, this is far from true and should be discounted from any wager decisions that you make, as believing this fallacy could see you falling into some costly traps.

Probability Explained

Though the Gamblers Fallacy may be widely believed it goes against all the laws of probability which state that anything can occur at any time. Whilst some results or sequences are more likely to occur than others there is no set rule. For example, the probability of flipping a coin to heads four times in a row is just 6.25%, compared to a 93.75% of it not occurring. It can still happen however unlikely it may be, and you should never let your belief that it couldn’t possibly occur to sway your wagers.

The Fallacy’s Faulty Thinking

Before a coin is ever thrown the odds of throwing four heads in a row is 1/16, leading many people to believe that if three heads are thrown the odds of throwing a tail on the fourth toss is 15/16. However, the probability of a fourth head being thrown remains at 50/50, with previous tosses having absolutely no relevance or weight on the upcoming result.

click here to see most Popular Pages

Avoiding the Gamblers Fallacy Trap

It is vital if you’re indulging in online casino games, especially ones of chance, that you avoid falling into to the trap of believing something will happen given on previous outcomes. Just because three spins of the roulette wheel have landed on red does not mean that the next spin will land on black. This thinking can be very dangerous to your strategy, making you take unfounded risks in your game. But by remaining calm and remembering that the Gamblers Fallacy is nothing but a myth, you can ensure that your wagers are based on fact and not fiction.


Helping others

Goodwill

Here at OCS we support the Goodwill® organization that inspires hope and self-confidence, helping people from all backgrounds and walks of life to feel successful, valuable and dignified. Together, we are happy to help people who are looking for work or better jobs so they can better provide for their families. For more info visit www.goodwill.org

Stay Connected!

RSS Subscribe to our RSS   Twitter Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe by Email
Enter your email address:

Gambling Guide Categories