Reducing the House Edge
While most casino games are based on luck, some table games involve an element of skill or strategy that can improve your chances of winning. By making mathematically optimal decisions, you can lower the casino's built-in advantage, known as the "house edge." Let's look at some simple ways to play smarter at these two classic casino games.

How to Play Blackjack Optimally
Blackjack is one of the few casino games where player decisions directly impact the outcome. To play optimally, you need to learn basic strategy. It's a complete guide to decision-making that has been perfected by computer simulations.

Simple Rules to Remember:

Always Split Aces and 8s: This is the most universal rule in basic strategy. When Not to Split: A total of 20 is a winning hand casino - goldfish.it, most of the time. A pair of 5s should be treated as a 10. Double Down on 11: An 11 is the strongest possible starting hand for doubling down. Stand on Hard 17 or Higher: The odds of improving a hand of 17 without going over 21 are very low, casino so standing is the correct play.

You can find basic strategy charts online. Printing one out and referring to it while you play (especially online) is a fantastic way to learn and dramatically reduce the house edge to less than 1%.

Roulette: Smart Betting Strategies
It's important to understand that you cannot beat the math of Roulette in the long run. But, you can use certain betting patterns to control your risk and structure your play.

Focus on Outside, Even-Money Bets: The smartest bets for beginners and conservative players are the "outside" bets that pay 1:1.

Red or Black Odd or Even High (19-36) or casino Low (1-18)

While the payouts are small, these bets have the lowest volatility and are best for bankroll preservation.

Pro Tip: Play European Roulette: Whenever possible, opt for the European version of the game. European Roulette has only one zero (0), giving it a house edge of 2.7%. American Roulette has two zeros (0 and 00), casino which nearly doubles the house edge to 5.26%.