Canadian online casinos offer a wide range of games with options based on luck and those adding an element of strategy. Among the skill-based casino games, blackjack is the most popular. In 1994, when the first online casino saw the light of day, blackjack was the pioneer game to be brought into the virtual realm. While slots, thanks to their simple rules and high winning potential, dominate the online blackjack scene today, online blackjack is not about to leave it. In the gaming catalog of King Billy, the best online casino in Canada according to many gamblers, there are many variations of blackjack that provide a rewarding gaming experience. Before playing blackjack, you should take the time to learn the gaming rules, as this game has a reputation as one based on skill. But how important is a skill? Read on to find out if blackjack is all about luck or skill.
Combines Skill and Luck
Also known as the game of 21, blackjack is an exciting card game where you face off against the dealer. Unlike poker, you don’t battle other opponents, so there are no elements such as bluffing. The idea is to get a higher value hand than the dealer and not go over 21. You always have several options to choose from, such as hit or stand, and you pick them depending on the game situation. At the best casino online, when you play real money blackjack, you have the option to fold your cards and get half your bet if you feel your odds are low. Since you have plenty of options when it comes to making decisions, blackjack is a game of skill.
But cards are dealt from one or more carefully shuffled decks. You can’t guess which cards you’ll get in the next hand, and this adds an element of unpredictability. In some circumstances, you may win a hand immediately without making any decisions. Or if the dealer has been dealt a natural blackjack hand, you’ll lose immediately and have no way to change the game outcome. So, blackjack is a mix of strategy and luck. Let’s find out the proportions of these two elements in the game.
Element of Luck
No matter how well you understand basic strategy, you always run the risk of losing in blackjack. Let’s say, your initial hand and the dealer’s one are worth 8 and 10 respectively. Suppose you draw a 9 and that’s a good bet to win. But the dealer draws an Ace and wins instantly. And this is a case where Lady Luck has intervened in the gameplay without giving you a chance to make any strategic decisions. But luck is not always on the side of the casino. It will be with you many times when you play at King Billy, a safe online casino in Canada.
Element of Skill
It’s rare for luck to decide the outcome of a game in blackjack. Let’s say you have a hand of value 15 and the dealer’s open card is 6. In that case, you need to decide whether to hit or stand. Using your knowledge of basic strategy, you’ll choose the most promising option. By investing time in practicing your skills, you turn blackjack into a game where strategy plays an important role.
RTP at Online
If you play blackjack without using basic strategy and card-counting techniques, you’ll settle for a low RTP of 90%. For example, most of the online slots available in the King Billy casino game catalog have an RTP of 95-97%. This means that you will have a high chance of winning real money in Canada. If you learn the basic strategy, blackjack’s RTP will soar to an incredible 99% or even higher. With a perfect card-counting technique, you get the edge over the house (RTP over 100%).
Tips on How to Improve Your Winning Odds
By choosing a legal online casino in Canada, you will find a table where the casino advantage is less than 1%. The King Billy virtual lobby offers a wide variety of blackjack versions, including live dealer options that appeal to many gambling enthusiasts. If you are a complete beginner to blackjack, start by learning the rules. You can also try free online blackjack straight from the King Billy website. If you’re here for tips to help improve your game, check them out below:
- Learn basic strategy and hone your skills by playing free blackjack at a Canadian online casino. Basic strategy is all about making the best decisions for different game situations. Let’s say your initial hand has a value of 13. What should you do – stand or hit? The basic strategy is a chart showing the best decisions you can make based on your and the dealer’s hand values. Keep in mind that the level of difficulty increases when you add splits and double downs. And the basic strategy will tell you when to make a move.
- Play the best versions of blackjack. While the payout for a blackjack combination is 3:2, some casinos set the other option at 6:5. Such games are less lucrative in terms of payouts. At King Billy, the best online casino in Canada, most versions of blackjack pay 3:2.
- Start small. If you’re a beginner, don’t raise the bet too high, as you risk making a bad decision and losing big. We recommend that you only switch to high-stakes blackjack once you have mastered the basic strategy.
- Learn your card-counting technique. It’s not as difficult as it may seem at first sight, especially if you choose the Hi-Lo system. With this card-counting technique, you will be able to turn the advantage in your favor.
Also, don’t neglect the online casino bonuses. For example, King Billy can reward you with a welcome bonus that will be a good boost to your initial bankroll. With an increased playing budget, you will minimize the effect of luck on your gambling results. Finally, stick to smart bankroll management by limiting playing sessions in terms of time and how much you are willing to wager to avoid major losses.