Online Casino Blackjack Risk Examined
As with any casino game of chance, there is always risk. In casino blackjack, there are several types of risk. Understanding each type of risk will assist you in playing optimally without having to memorize charts or count cards.
Risk of Busting When Taking a Hit
The first type of risk in blackjack online is the risk of busting while taking an additional card. We know that if we hold cards totaling less than twelve, we have zero “bust risk” when drawing another card. However, when we have twelve or higher; the next card could very well cause us to bust – or get an additional card that adds up to a number greater than twenty-one.
Risk of the Dealer Having a Hand Greater Than Our Hand
The second risk is that the dealer has, or will draw to an amount greater than our own hand. Unlike the player, the dealer is bound to a set of rules – whereas they must automatically hit until they hold a hand valued seventeen or higher. As a result, if the dealer holds sixteen, they must take a card. On the other hand, should the player hold sixteen, we may choose to stand. When we choose to stand, regardless of our card total – we risk the dealer either outranking us presently, or that the dealer may draw cards by taking hits which amounts to a greater hand.
Risk of Missing Opportunity
The final risk in online casino blackjack is one of lost opportunity. If the optimal strategy suggests we double down every time we have eleven and we fail to do so; we have lost opportunity. The lost opportunity risk does not show up in terms of real dollars and cents, however, this is money where we were statistically likely to win had we acted optimally.
Is it Possible to Reduce Risk?
While it is not possible to eliminate risk completely, it is possible to adjust your black jack strategy to readjust risk. For example, a conservative blackjack player could decide to eliminate the risk of busting from his game. We could decide we will never take a hit that could result in a bust – which means never hitting when holding anything greater than eleven.
The problem, however, is that while the risk of bust is eliminated, the risk of being outdrawn by the blackjack dealer is increased slightly. On the other hand, there are times where we take a hit, which results in a bust – yet the dealer goes bust as well. We still lose in these situations when we go broke. Therefore, while the risk of bust is eliminated for us, the burden of not busting rests solely on the dealer’s shoulders. The result should be that a conservative blackjack player can reduce risk slightly by refusing to hit over twelve, though risk of missed opportunity and the risk of the dealer outdrawing you will slightly increase.