7 Do's and Don'ts When Recovering from Major Blackjack Losses
CasinoWhether you're new to online blackjack or a seasoned pro with years of experience at the table, major losses can happen to anyone. However, the most important thing here is how you handle major losses in gambling games. If even a small setback causes you to make a rash move, it's a serious problem you need to deal with. This means that before you sit down at the virtual blackjack table, you need to prepare for a possible loss mentally. And it's not just about the fact that you might lose money. You have to know exactly what you're going to do if you lose a lot of money during the playing session.
When losing big, you have to remember that even though blackjack is a strategic card game, the element of luck is still an element of it. For example, it's possible that the dealer's starting hand includes 10 and A, resulting in a total of 21 points, meaning the dealer wins automatically. In that case, neither a perfect knowledge of basic strategy nor a perfected card-counting technique will help you. Even if you get it right, something can still go wrong if Lady Luck turns her back on you. Whatever happens, try to get rid of the pressure of losing a large sum and move on. So, keep reading to learn about the do's and don'ts of recovering from a big loss at blackjack or any other skill-focused online casino game.
Don't Return to the Casino Immediately to Win Back
Even if you don't consider yourself an adventurer, it is perfectly natural to feel the urge to win back a big loss. Many players stay at the table when they lose - or choose another one - in the hope that they can win big and thereby make up for their losses. Learn to resist the temptation to win back instantly at all costs, as this can lead to even bigger losses. Just stop, take a breather, and reflect on your game to find out what possible mistakes you have made. Alternatively, you can look for other online casino entertainment options such as online slots or live roulette. However, don't take online gambling as a way to make money or as a way to cover up a major blackjack loss. In fact, there is no reason for you to rush into a moment that could be an even bigger financial blowout. You should definitely stick to sensible bankroll management rules, which means you should be able to get out of the game on time. In other words, even if you hit a losing streak and lose a lot of money, you should stop instead of trying again in a bad mood.
Don't Be Mimicked by Other Players
This is another important "don't" you should learn once and for all. When you see others having better luck than you, you feel a natural sense of envy. However, jealousy is always a bad thing because it can push you to act recklessly. Thinking you are about to get as lucky as another player, you will want to up your ante and risk losing even more money. Whether you lose a few dollars or a few thousand dollars, you don't need to compete with other players. The competitive element is what adds excitement to a game where thinking strategically is important. Competing with others runs the risk of getting carried away and falling into the trap of letting your ambition drive you into reckless action. When you see others winning big, you feel strong emotions. And you have to learn to confront these emotions. So, you have to approach the game with a cold mind, without looking at other players' results.
Don't Get Discouraged and Keep Moving On
After losing a big sum of money at blackjack, you have two choices: to sit back and be dejected or to dust yourself off and move on with your head held high. When you lose, remember the important things:
- Blackjack is a game of luck and skill. This means that sometimes the element of chance will play a part. However, with a good understanding of basic strategy - and the ability to apply it in practice - you can avoid big losses. The fact is that when you play a basic strategy, blackjack turns into a game with a very high RTP of 99% which basically means you have a house advantage of 1% or even lower. In simple terms, if you play 100 rounds at $1, you'll get back $99. That is, you will only lose $1 out of 100, and that hardly qualifies as a major loss.
- If you are unlucky now, luck may be on your side next time. However, that doesn't mean that you should immediately try to win back your lost money. Pause, and distract yourself with some good things to clear your mind and get rid of unnecessary worries.
- Take your crushing failures as an invaluable experience. This means that you need to analyze your game, identify possible mistakes and try not to make them in the future.
So, with the right attitude to failure and the ability to think analytically, you can take some positives from your losses.
Improve Your Gambling Skills Constantly
Although we've only written above about what you shouldn't do to quickly deal with serious blackjack losses, now it's time to talk about what you should do. If you often have bad luck with blackjack, it's probably due to your poor blackjack skills. Here's what you need to do to improve your skills and thereby improve your winning chances:
- Start with a risk-free version of the game or an online blackjack trainer. Choosing the right online casino will give you access to demo versions of video blackjack, which can be played without registration and without risking your hard-earned cash. While demo online slots are great for trying out new online games, demo blackjack is also a great way to practice your blackjack skills. The VipArabClub website also has plenty of video blackjack variants that you can play for free and no deposit is required. In addition, you can join VipArabClub and get a no-deposit welcome bonus to enjoy some gambling with the chance to keep what you win.
- Learn basic strategy. Without knowing basic strategy, you turn online blackjack into an extremely risky game with a high house advantage. A basic strategy is a mathematically-based set of guidelines for your best play moves. You can improve upon your basic strategy by playing blackjack video in a risk-free demo mode.
- Learn your card-counting technique. You've probably heard of the history of the MIT team who managed to bankrupt several land-based casinos in Las Vegas, using an effective card-counting technique, and you can duplicate their success. Start by learning a simple card-counting technique to get a feel for how many high and low-ranked cards you have in your deck. Keep in mind that it only makes sense to use the card-counting technique when you are playing live dealer blackjack.
Keep in mind that the card-counting technique only works in the long run. By harnessing it, you can turn the advantage in your favour. However, we're only talking about a tiny advantage of around 1%. This means that you'll need to play a lot of rounds to feel the effects of using the card-counting technique in blackjack.
Reduce Your Stake Amount
As with other online casino games, your payout is determined by the odds. For example, if your hand is worth more than the dealer's - but not 21 - you'll get a payout of 1:1. That means you'll get a payout equal to double the value of your bet. If you manage to score 21 points (a game situation called a blackjack), your payout will be 3:2. That is, there are fixed odds by which the payout is calculated. And the higher your bet, the higher the potential payout. It's no wonder, then, that many blackjack players opt to play higher stakes in order to maximize their profits. On the other hand, if your luck runs out, you're doomed to lose big money too. To avoid losing big money, the most obvious thing you can do is to cut your bet size. What's more, beginners are not advised to play online blackjack at higher-than-average stakes to avoid a disappointing experience.
Use the Power of the Internet to Learn
Decades ago, we had to learn blackjack from paper books and tutorials, but times have changed. Thanks to the spread of the internet, anyone can find all the information they need about blackjack with just a few clicks of the mouse. Find online resources that teach the basics of blackjack for free. There are a lot of blackjack resources available today. Since it's a very popular casino game, you'll quickly find information on basic strategy, card-counting techniques and other things. Investing time into your own blackjack education can also help prevent you from busting big blackjack losses later on.
Follow the Game of the Best
There are a handful of notable blackjack players to watch. You can pick your favourites or simply watch others playing at the live blackjack table. Apart from watching the top players make their moves, you also have to pay attention to how they react when they lose. The truth is that even the most advanced blackjack players can make mistakes. In addition, even true professionals can have a hard time bouncing back after a big loss. Not under any circumstances should your reaction to losing be to try to win back. As soon as you feel yourself losing control, stop, catch your breath, pull yourself together and only then return to the blackjack table.