Your state of mind is extremely important in blackjack. You’re going to be the one calling the shots and making all of the decisions, so the psychological factor could make all the difference between a winner and a complete bankroll wipeout.

Get Over Your Apprehensions
There are many players who seem to get very apprehensive when it comes to blackjack. Some of these fears are related to going bust when they have a high number like 17. Even thought calculations would tell you to hit, it’s very likely that these reservations still exist. If this is how you may experience the game, there is nothing that a little practice to help you get over it. Aside from blackjack sessions practice your card counting or other probability-based strategies as well. This will help turn your fears and emotions into calls based more on facts and numbers.

Don’t Lose Your Focus
My guess is that every blackjack handbook will say this and for good reason because it simply cannot be over stated. When you’re at a blackjack table you cannot be troubled, distracted, and fidgety or have an impeded sense of judgment. You must be focused on the card being delt out, on the dealer’s cards, on the cards of other players at the table and of course your own cards. Doing that is practically impossible if your mind is clearly not in the same place as your cards.

The only successful blackjack technique I would ‘count on’ would be card counting. It’s not the most popular technique, but it’s the only way to beat the game. Most players never learn to count because the casinos consider it cheating and will stop you from playing there if they feel you’re doing it.

The technique is to simply attach a value to every card in order to maintain a count on small cards versus big cards left in the deck. Cards 2 through 6 are assigned +1, while cards 7 through 9 are zero, and 10’s, face cards and aces are -1. When the count is at a plus number the deck has more big cards than small ones. When the count gets big, you can raise the size of your bet because you have a better chance of winning with a deck that has more big cards in it.

The only way to win at blackjack on a consistent basis is to count cards. And if you’re not a savant or mathematics wizard, counting cards is a tough skill to master against four or more decks. They use a system of plus / minus to record the “count” of big cards that are left in the deck. Counts with lots of big cards means it’s time to increase the size of the bet they’re making.

For most of us, playing blackjack is about playing optimally within a structured strategy. Optimum blackjack is about making the right decision based on your hand and the dealer’s up-card. There are charts available that indicate what your decision should be. Find a chart and take it to the casino. Most will allow you to use it, but some casinos may have an issue. Ask your pit boss if charts are allowed at the table.

Check out this video from Darren Brown where he describes and shows some of his memory tricks- tricks that have him banned from playing in the U.K.. Enjoy.