Beginners make several common mistakes when playing blackjack, which can negatively impact their chances of winning. Here are some of the most frequent errors and tips on how to avoid them:

• Not Knowing Basic Strategy: Many players lack knowledge of basic blackjack strategies, leading to poor decisions. It’s important to memorize the correct actions for hitting, standing, splitting, and doubling down based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard. Use a strategy chart to guide your moves.
• Ignoring Table Rules: Failing to read the table rules can lead to unknowingly playing at a table with unfavorable conditions or minimum bet limits that exceed your bankroll. Always check the rules of blackjack variants before playing.
• Copying other Players: Mimicking others can lead to mistakes, as you should focus on your hand and the dealer’s card rather than being influenced by other players’ decisions.
• Taking the Insurance Bet: Insurance bets have a high casino house edge, making them a poor choice unless you are counting cards.
• Misjudging the Dealer’s Bust Potential: Assuming the dealer will bust can lead to bad decisions; adjust your approach based on the dealer’s upcard.
• Not Understanding the Value of an Ace: Misusing the Ace can cause busts or missed opportunities1. Use Aces as 11 when beneficial; otherwise, use them as 1.
• Not Utilizing Surrender: Surrendering can minimize losses on poor hands. Surrender a hard 15 or 16 against a dealer’s 10.
• Failing to set win/loss limits: Not establishing win and loss limits can lead to wild swings in your session outcomes. Decide on a target profit (win limit) and a maximum loss (stop-loss) before you start playing to keep your emotions in check.
• Chasing Losses: Increasing your bet size to win back losses can be risky and may require a huge bankroll. It’s easy to fall into the delusion that you are “due” a win.
• Playing for too long: Fatigue can impair your decisions. Set time limits and take breaks.
• Playing Side Games with lower RTP: Side bets often have a lower return-to-player rate, so stick to standard games and avoid these bets.
• Not Bringing Enough Bankroll: Winning at blackjack is not a sprint, so you need to be able to cover the peaks and valleys that come with the wins and losses in a given blackjack round.
• Settling for Bad Table Rules: Different combinations of blackjack rules are used at tables across the real and virtual worlds, and the range of house edges is surprising. Most players ignore the price they pay to play and simply want the nearest and quickest game.