Winning or losing at casino games is always a matter of luck, no matter which one you play. However, some of them offer a chance to significantly decrease house edge by using correct strategy, while making wrong moves can cost you more than a few bucks. All that is true for Blackjack, which is why we’ve listed top 5 most common mistakes one should avoid in order to benefit both short and long term. 

Mistake No. 1: Not Hitting Soft 18 When Dealer Shows 9 or 10

Ace-7 combination has made more than one player reluctant to hit. If you ever read any tips on how to play Blackjack, chances are you were told to assume dealer’s hole card is worth 10, in which case your Ace-7 hand will lose whenever they’re showing a 9 or a 10. Even if you find hitting on soft 18 nerve crushing, do it; numbers have proven you’ll lose more often by standing against those cards. 

Mistake No. 2: Not Doubling on 11

Experts will tell you one should always double on 11, with one exception – if the dealer is showing an Ace. So even if you’re up against their 10 or a face card, seize the opportunity to make more money. You’ll get burned occasionally, sure, but doubling 11 will pay more frequently than not. 

Mistake No. 3: Not Splitting Pairs Often Enough

Reading up on the basic Blackjack strategy will have taught you to always split Aces and 8’s. But these are not the only pairs worth splitting, though you won’t see it done as often. For example, one should split 9s each time the dealer is not showing 7, 10 or an Ace, and it’s recommended that you do the same with 7s when faced with any card except 8, 9, 10 or an Ace. 

Mistake No. 4: Not Hitting Ace-6 vs Dealer’s 7

Assuming the dealer is hiding a 10 or a face card, you’ll basically be going for a push. But why not turn this into a winning hand by hitting it? In terms of lost profit, this is the second most costly mistake on this list. And on top of enjoying the game for its entertainment value, you do want to make as much money as possible – right? 

Mistake No. 5: Not Splitting Aces vs Dealer’s Ten

This may not be the most frequent mistake Blackjack players make, but it’s certainly one of the most expensive ones. Those who don’t do it probably have an issue with being able to subsequently draw only one card. But you shouldn’t let that bother you; after all, what do you expect to achieve with a starting hand of 2 or 12? Don’t overthink it, split those buggers up every single time.