If you are a fan of playing casino games such as blackjack and roulette you will probably have heard the phrase ‘the house always wins’.
While it is a term that can strike fear into casino players, it is also worth noting that the way it is interpreted is not strictly true.
All casino games have a built-in edge which favors the house, meaning that they are guaranteed to make a profit over a sustained period.
However, this is effectively an average. Sometimes the casino wins, sometimes it loses, but the bottom line always favors the operator.
Reducing the house edge is undoubtedly the key to success when playing casino games, so read on as we look at how skill can help tip the odds in your favor.
Using a Roulette System
The Martingale System is one of the most famous casino strategies and is mathematically proven to deliver a profit if followed to the letter.
Many players use it to wager on Even money bets in roulette, but a more skillful way to utilize it is to apply the system to column betting which pays out at 2/1.
This requires you to place a bet on one of three numbered columns on the table and then double your bet if your first wager is unsuccessful.
You must continue to do this until making a correct selection, at which point the maths behind the system will produce a guaranteed profit.
Basic Strategy in Blackjack
Basic strategy is a computer-derived system that can cut the house’s edge in blackjack to just 0.5% if implemented absolutely perfectly.
It provides players with the optimum way to play each hand in every gameplay situation, thus tipping the odds significantly in their favor.
Many players find it difficult to stick to basic strategy, particularly if they are the type of person who possesses impulsive characteristics.
However, casinos hate facing players who have the discipline to perfectly implement basic strategy, making it the ideal tool for anyone who wants to win consistently at blackjack.
A Winning Poker Formula
Unlike roulette and blackjack, there is no single strategy that guarantees you will win at poker, but there are several ways you can use skill to tip the odds in your favour.
Many players make the mistake of playing too many starting hands, which can quickly eat into your chip stack if you do this excessively.
Playing premium hands such as high-ranking pairs or suited connectors when you are ‘in position’ is the best way to succeed at poker.
Another skill to harness is being able to fold what appears to be a good hand but is probably beaten. If the flop, turn or river are unkind to you, do not be afraid to muck your cards.
