Fun, simple and exciting, blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games. Its easy-to-learn nature has made it a hit among those who are new to the gambling world because they get to experience success early on. For this reason, beginners are often exploited in moments when strategy is the key to success. In addition, the introduction of live dealer casino games, including blackjack and poker, has been welcomed by the gambling community.
A common drawback when playing a regular blackjack game is that you’re limited to small-sized wins and are rarely exposed to jackpot sweeps. Because of this, many have gravitated towards tournaments where the possibility to win looms large. For beginners, it’s vital to understand that strategy differs between cash games and tournaments. Read on for some game-winning tips and techniques for online tournaments.
How Do Online Blackjack Tournaments Work?
When it comes to online blackjack tournaments, you have two options: either the aim is to end with the most chips (accumulation tournament) or outlast your opposition by avoiding elimination — the last man standing (elimination tournament.) Unlike a regular game where it’s player vs. dealer, tournaments are all about peer-to-peer competition, meaning one’s strategy should be adapted to concentrate on knocking out players and avoiding running out of chips.
For novices, it’s worth noting that free tournaments are available and provide an excellent opportunity to perfect your skills, become familiar with the game speed and avoid the risk of losing big. Alternatively, you can also practice blackjack by yourself. Either option should be taken advantage of before entering medium-to-high-stakes games, as experienced opponents exploit newbies to maximize their profits. As with all casino games online, entering the table (or machine) prepared and equipped with strategies makes you less of a target and significantly increases your chances of winning.
Why Preparation Is Key
Preparation and strategy are essential for winning casino table games that require outperforming (or outlasting) opposition, especially in blackjack and particularly when you play online blackjack with a live dealer.
With blackjack tournaments, your mindset and strategy must shift from beating the dealer to outdoing other players. In other words, rather than reading the dealer’s upcard, players must analyze the probability of their competition reaching a higher value or the coveted 21. Collecting external information on your competitors, including their cards and betting patterns, is a great way to ensure you make the best decision possible. For instance, if a conservative player is holding a value of 16, there’s a good chance that he’ll stick rather than take the chance of landing a five or under. So, to win, rather than going for the jugular (21,) make sure that your cards accumulate to higher than 16. Taking calculated risks is what separates the good from the great.
Familiarize Yourself With the Tournament Format
Suppose you want to play casino online effectively and experience success early on. In that case, you must familiarize yourself with the format and rules — especially since the guidelines pertaining to an online casino can differ.
As previously mentioned, there are two options for blackjack tournaments: accumulation and elimination.
Accumulation Tournament
Usually played in rounds, players compete to advance to the next round, with the winner being the one who has the most chips at the end. An eventual champion is crowned in the final, which usually entails about five rounds.
Elimination Tournament
Rather than worrying about having the highest bankroll, an elimination tournament is all about being the last player alive by avoiding running out of chips.
Tips and Strategies
Unlike playing against a dealer who doesn’t mind the outcome, it’s important to realize that playing against gamblers means everyone wants to win. Playing for money can cause players to overthink, meaning applying pressure through aggressive calls, like asking for another card when holding a value of 14. This is a great way to force mistakes and get them to exceed the limit of 21, eliminating them from the round.
In some instances, sticking with a medium-valued hand, like 17, is a great way to play safe and put the pressure back on your opponents, with the aim of them exceeding the limit to let you win the round.
Make sure you mix up your bets with various conservative and aggressive actions to make your game unpredictable and keep opponents guessing. Maintaining variety in your betting goes hand-in-hand with the importance of understanding your positioning. For example, suppose you’re in a late position. In that case, the players betting before you may be hesitant to stick on hands valued between 14 and 18, as they become unsure whether you’ll hit for a higher number, meaning they’re exposing themselves to the risk of going higher than 21 and being eliminated from the round.
Then there’s bet sizing. It’s used extensively by professional players to strategically adapt their bet sizes to solidify their position in the tournament and maximize their stack. For example, when in the lead, most experienced players will opt for smaller bets to remain in front, whereas when they’re falling behind, they’ll make big bets in a bid to shoot up the leaderboard quickly and avoid elimination.
Test Your Blackjack Skills at Borgata Online
Want to play blackjack online? With the option of free practice and low stake games, Borgata Online is the perfect place to start your gambling journey. Register today and enjoy the selection of themed tables, bonuses and live dealers.
And if you want to freshen things up, scroll through the almost endless range of other online casino games. From online slots and bingo to poker and roulette, play from anywhere and anytime.