In this article, I write about what I call, “Blackjack Decision Overload” (BDO) and present my blackjack strategy tips so players can think about ways to adjust their gameplay so the stressful effects of BDO are reduced.
Blackjack is often portrayed as a straightforward card game, but there’s a complex interweave of decisions and psychological tension going on that can lead to high levels of player stress.
This is a multi-layered topic where much could be said about why blackjack is stressful i.e. decisions that need to be made and how a number of factors play a role in this. Because this is a short blog post, I’ve had to decide what information you should find the most helpful which includes:
- Understanding why BDO manifests and recognizing the effects of it;
- I present my strategy tips for reducing the stressful effects of decision making when playing blackjack hands; and;
- I invite you to think about ways you might amend my blackjack strategy or form one of your own to offset the effects of BDO.
The importance of each decision you or other players make in trying to better your blackjack hands to win money or protect your bankroll is at the heart of the game.
ACKNOWLEDGING BLACKJACK DECISION OVERLOAD
Every blackjack hand involves a number of decisions, but with all the decisions being considered by players in multiple hands, blackjack can be a stressful game. Situations of hands, on the table are in a constant state of flux and uncertainty lingers in the air.
Being required to make rapid decisions in blackjack casino games lays the groundwork for mental overload. Analysis paralysis due to possible options and outcomes and the fear of making wrong decisions are key triggers. Understanding the decisions that cause stressors is crucial for players who wish to design personalized strategies that enhance performance but at no cost to mental well-being.
BLACKJACK DECISION OVERLOAD AND ITS EFFECTS ON PLAYERS
Blackjack decision overload is the feeling of being overwhelmed by the many choices and possibilities players face within blackjack games. BDO can occur due to factors such as:
- Trying to remember how to play a complex blackjack strategy.
- Considering card counting or overall random order of cards being dealt.
- Perceived risk of losing higher stakes.
- The pressure of making quick decisions in blackjack games.
- How the decisions of other players at the table could impact outcomes.
The pressures of one or more of the above factors can cause players to experience indecision. Moreover, in the chart below, I’ve included other stress factors that can impact your bankroll.
LIST OF BLACKJACK DECISIONS
Unless you’re dealt a 21 blackjack you’re faced with decisions to do or not to do one or more of the following to improve your hands or protect your wagers:
- To stand or hit;
- Take insurance or surrender or not
- Double down or not
- Split (including resplits) or not
BLACKJACK ROUTE TO SUCCESS
But determining what decisions you’re going to make is largely based on the hand your dealt vs. the dealer’s upcard. This is the key to understanding how to win at blackjack.
All decisions should be based on, optimal pure blackjack basic strategy which gives you a mathematical advantage, because the house edge is narrowed in your favor. Yet depending on the blackjack table rules and number of decks in the game, the rules of your gameplay should alter so basic strategy can be fully effective.
CORRECT DECISION MAKING GAMEPLAY IN BLACKJACK
The following examples demonstrate the correct blackjack gameplay:
Your first two cards:
- When your hand has been dealt 17 or higher the correct play is to “stand”.
- When your hand has been dealt 16 or lower, the correct play is to “hit”.
And with three cards or more in one hand your choices are reduced to only hitting or standing.
A hard 17 or 16-value hand limits your decision making and basic strategy is the default gameplay. But a soft 17 hand (where you hold an Ace [value 1 or 11] counted as = 1 plus the 6 card) generally means that the correct basic strategy gameplay is for you to hit when:
- In a single-deck shoe, hit on soft 17 when the dealer’s upcard is 7 through to an ace.
- In blackjack games using multi-decks, hit on soft 17 when the dealer’s upcard is 2 or 7 through to an ace.
DECISIONS-DECISIONS: BLACKJACK CARD VALUE STRESS INFLICTOR
Hard and soft 17:
Sticking to the default basic strategy gameplay, is going to test your nerves vs. risking deviating away from a seemingly safe 17. Because you could end up standing with a lower total or more likely busting trying to improve by gaining from 1 to 4 card values higher.
Furthermore, with a soft 17, you’ve got to make another decision whether to limit your hand to only one more card, by taking the double down option. If you double, (where you can) you’re risking more money and limiting your otherwise ability to improve your hand.
Hard and soft 12 to 16:
With hard 12 to 16 the default is hit if the dealer's up-card is 7 through to an Ace and stand if the dealer’s upcard is 2 through 6.
With a soft 12 to 16 the effect of the stressor is the risk of not improving or coming off worse by hitting, seems to be a lower level than soft 17 hand situations.
But you’re still subject to pressure when having to decide how many cards to take without busting or whether you double down if allowed to.
STRESSFUL STATE OF THINKING ABOUT BLACKJACK POSSIBILITIES
If you want to advance on the flow state wave of minus 1% house edge in blackjack (down to lows of around 0.5%) you’ve got to ignore your instincts and trust using perfect strategy as your default game plan.
Problem is, even if you do, you’re probably going to stress yourself out just thinking about the what if and kicking yourself when — had you gone against basic strategy, the result would’ve been winning hands.
*** If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like craps strategy, roulette strategy, and blackjack side bets. ***
BLACKJACK ORDER OF CARDS IS KEY TO WINNING OR LOSING
Blackjack has similar characteristics to poker, in that, after players lose hands, they overanalyze the scenarios that resulted in those negative outcomes.
But with blackjack, the narrative of each lost hand isn’t as emotional, since hands are based on the order of the cards — without the additional element of player vs. player bluffing and aggressive raising to consider.
MY BLACKJACK CARD COUNTING STRATEGY TIPS
Card counting can work in certain circumstances i.e. with a limited number of decks and when constant shuffle machines are not in use. But when it does succeed, card counting only has a slight effect on the house edge. With all the other decisions blackjack players need to decide on, card counting adds another level of stress to games.
I’ve noticed that cards tend to cluster in matching groups or classes. You can evaluate this for yourself with one or more decks of cards. Try to shuffle cards so they are randomly mixed. Then deal them out face up. It’s almost impossible that they don’t cluster in classes here and there.
So, my card counting blackjack strategy tip is to rank the likelihood of what the next card—if only one card is needed or allowed— (or cards) might be based on cards already out. If the majority of cards are:
- 1st Class Favorable: 10s = (10, J, Q, K) and Ace (counting as 1 or 11)
- 2nd Class Favorable: 2 through to 5 (less likely to lead to busting)
- 3rd Class Favorable: 6 through to 9
Rather than counting cards, with just a glimpse of most dealt cards in a round (including any bust hands before the dealer removes the cards) you can narrow likelihood based on two indicators:
- Of the three classes, the dominant class could continue for a few more cards.
- Of the last few cards that were dealt, that one or more of the next few cards could be within that class.
If the two indicators just mentioned connect then you could try this as your signal to decide the list of decisions, you need to consider as I outline earlier in this article.
MY BLACKJACK GAMEPLAY STRATEGY TIPS
Each player’s hand is in an independent battle against the dealer’s final total. But any player may bust; or by taking or not taking one or more cards, could cause your hand to bust (after you hit) even though your hand is also in an independent battle against what ultimately will be the dealer’s hand.
In this respect, the one or more players before or after your seat have an impact on your hand. Unless a player allows you to decide what happens in their hand you have no control. To mitigate I would:
Take the last seat. This will give you the advantage of:
- There not being any players after your decisions to take cards or not.
- The ability to analyze the cards already drawn, moreover if up to six additional players are at the table.
Play on a table where it’s only you against the dealer. Although there are pros and cons:
- The good thing is you reduce the stress of not having to worry about what other players might do.
- The downside is that you don’t get to see a large enough data selection of cards (except what you can remember from the previous round) to assess what card (or cards) you think might be drawn next.
Consider opening two boxes with the first box having a lower stake. This will give you the following advantage:
- The ability to use your first box as a sacrifice hand to potentially save your key hand if you’re not so certain of what the next card/s might be.
MY BLACKJACK FLOW STATE STRATEGY TIPS
The blackjack strategy tips in this article are aimed at creating a flow state approach to the game. I designed them to counter the indecisive effects of blackjack decision overload and reduce stress — so players are in a mindset to continue making sensible decisions.
As I mentioned earlier, my blackjack strategy tips are open to reflective criticism where you may structure your own to offset the effects of BDO. But remember, whether because of your decisions and or the decisions of other player’s, ultimately the outcome of blackjack hands are in the fate of the order of the cards.
