Recovering From Big Blackjack Losses: Essential Dos and Don’ts

It’s impossible to win every single casino game you play, especially if you frequent gambling platforms or establishments. Blackjack is among the most popular games that people play at casinos. Even though it has the lowest house edge of all casino table games (approximated 1%,) that still doesn’t guarantee a win every single time. This is why it’s important to prepare yourself for the worst, not to dwell on losses, but rather to gather mental strength and control your emotions to avoid possibly making detrimental decisions.

If you play blackjack a lot, chances are you’ve already experienced your fair share of losses. Now, the important thing is how you bounce back from them. Regardless of whether you’re playing at a live or online casino, these blackjack tips may help you gain the upper hand and possibly even increase your success rate when you eventually do return to the blackjack table after one or more significant losses. Explore this in more detail below.

Blackjack Dos and Don’ts

No matter how much blackjack theory or strategy you familiarize yourself with, the odds won’t always be in your favor. When things aren’t going your way, here are some suggestions on which actions to take and which to avoid.

Dos

Do: Use Your Loss as a Learning Experience

Dealing with a major blackjack loss is never easy because it affects not only your confidence and self-esteem, but also your bankroll. By preparing yourself in advance for this eventuality, you’ll lessen the blow and better equip yourself to face the next round. Shake it off, accept the outcome and simply accept it as a learning experience. 

Do: Go Back to the Drawing Board

There’s no better time to regroup and refocus than after a major setback. It can help you approach blackjack with renewed vigor – which may mean one of many things, from going back to basics to make sure you’ve got the fundamentals right, to reconsidering your strategy, going over key blackjack terms and studying how some of the greats play. 

Do: Decrease the Size of Your Bet

After losing at anything, it’s always best to proceed with caution. When it comes to blackjack, this means decreasing the size of your bet. When you eventually return to the casino table, try starting off by betting the minimum so that you can build your confidence up over time. Once you’ve recovered from your loss and are beginning to feel like you have the hang of things again, you can start playing around a bit with your bankroll.

Don’ts

Don’t: Immediately Make Your Way Back to a Casino

Chances are that immediately after suffering a big loss, you won’t be in the right state of mind to continue. This means you could end up making hasty and unjustified decisions, especially at blackjack. This is why you should avoid returning to the casino shortly after a loss — you risk playing haphazardly in an attempt to make up for the loss. If you don’t take a break, you may well end up shooting yourself in the foot. 

Don’t: Play the Blame Game

It’s easy to shift the blame and try to attribute your loss to somebody else’s actions, but the truth is, that won’t change anything. After all, every form of gambling is, to some extent, dependent on chance, which simply means that it makes very little, if any sense, to claim that you could’ve won if somebody hadn’t played a certain card. Playing the blame game is a sign of being emotional about the game, suggesting that you’re still struggling to accept your loss. 

Don’t: Get Too Competitive and Overinvest

The mistake many people make when they try to compensate for a loss is to play aggressively, which often does more harm than good. While it may initially seem like a good idea, it can easily see you ending up in a far worse position than when you started playing aggressively. 

Don’t: Chase Losses

Don’t try to recoup your losses in a short space of time. If you keep playing strategically and effectively, it’s possible to recover the money you lost over time. As with many other casino games, blackjack requires tact and vision. Small, steady wins can lead to a great win in the future, whereas pursuing one major win to recoup a loss could only set you on a losing streak, ultimately hurting you both financially and emotionally.

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Blackjack losses are common; they happen to both novice and experienced players. It’s simply part of the thrill. That being said, the only way to get better at any casino game is to practice. If you want to know where you can find online blackjack live dealer games at your fingertips, you may well have reached your destination. Access a wide variety of online casino games when you register at BetMGM.