How much should I bet at blackjack tables?
Lesson description
How much should you bet in blackjack to have fun and leave with some winnings? Mr Blackjack is here to discuss adjusting bet sizes for long sessions and hot/cold streaks.
When you enter a casino, there are a lot of factors that can make it tricky for new players to know how much to bet. Blackjack tables will have different betting limits, and you may be sitting next to other players that wager high and fast or are tight throughout the game.
Distractions aside, players must consider their bet sizes if they want to play blackjack longer than five minutes. In this video, we'll tell you a basic rule of thumb for deciding on your bet sizes and how to adapt them when you have the advantage in the game.
Your bets should always be related to your overall bankroll on the table at any given time. Should you start with $200, your bet sizing should be somewhere between 5-10%.
Regular players should always adjust their bet sizes according to when they have the advantage in the game. Bet more when you are on a roll, rather than increasing your bet when you are on a downswing.
So, if I have $200 in my bankroll, my initial bet should be $10-20 when you have $200.
When your stack of chips is at $400, you should bet more. Keeping in mind the 5-10% rule, this would increase to $20-40 bets.
This will allow you to manage to lose 3-4 hands in a row without going broke. Remember that blackjack is a marathon and not a sprint.
If you are on a hot streak and you are winning 3-4 hands in a row, it’s a good idea to press your bets when you are in a favorable position to do so.
This means doubling, tripling, and even quintupling your bet size when the shoe is favorable. We cover this in detail in our card counting videos, which discuss Ace tracking and Hi-Lo counts.
You can only bet well at the blackjack tables if you know how much money you have to work with. Our next video covers everything you need to know about calculating a realistic bankroll and how you can make it grow.
What this lesson covers
- Rules for determining bet size
- How to lose a streak of hands without going broke
- Adjusting bet size to grow your bankroll
Meet Mr Blackjack
With a career spanning two decades, Mathieu Blake knows his way around a blackjack table. He's taught and entertained over 100,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel . In this series he'll take you through basic strategy, card counting, and bankroll management. Take a seat with Mr Blackjack and become a winning player.
Bankroll Management
How much should I bring to the casino?
How much should I bet at blackjack tables?
How can I calculate my bankroll?
What is EV & how does it affect your bankroll?
Maintain emotional control while betting
How to cope with big losses in blackjack & avoid tilting
How to grow a bankroll in blackjack
Top tips for managing your bankroll in blackjack
Want to learn more about Blackjack?
You may also be interested in...
Top 10 most watched videos
Top 10 most searched videos
FAQs
- How much money should I bet in blackjack?
-
Mr Blackjack recommends betting 5-10% of the bankroll you’ve brought with you for the session on a session.
- What if my bankroll doesn’t cover the table minimum?
-
Walk away and find a blackjack table with smaller bet limits. There are real money blackjack games available for all bankroll sizes, so you should never force yourself to play at a table you can’t afford.
- Is $100 enough to play blackjack?
-
If you play blackjack games with low bet limits, then it should be enough. This doesn’t take your ability or the length of time you want to play for though, so consider these factors when choosing blackjack games.
- How can I manage my bankroll when casinos keep changing their table minimums?
-
Casinos will generally increase the table minimums when they’re busier in the evening, and decrease them when they’re quieter in the morning or afternoon. Players should keep this in mind, and search for table limits that match their bankroll.
- Can you change your betting amount in blackjack?
-
As long as you adhere to the table’s limits, you can change your betting amount in blackjack. Table minimums are one of several blackjack betting rules players should know about when entering the casino.
- Should you always bet the same amount in blackjack?
-
You should adjust your bet sizes to your advantage in blackjack. If you find yourself winning multiple hands in a row, you should increase your bets to maximize your winnings, and do the opposite when the odds are against you.
- How much should I increase or decrease my bets in blackjack?
-
Many blackjack players convert their bankroll into units to make bet sizes manageable. Mr Blackjack covers this in more detail during season five on progressive betting strategies in Blackjack Academy.