No respectable Australian saw it fit to venture into live blackjack without first watching and being impressed with the movie ‘21’. The film is based on real life events revolving around a group of card counting mavericks being trained by their professor to reap huge winnings from big time casinos in Vegas. The M.I.T students ultimately square off against a casino security officer bent on destroying them, and emerge true winners while the “real baddie” gets punished for his actions. Most will know who the real crooks in the movie are but I won’t spoil it for the rest. That said, this movie is one of the most thrilling blackjack-related films of all time and it has certainly inspired many Australian live blackjack aficionados to take their game to the next level through live blackjack.

Most Australians want to know how to emerge the top dog in the live blackjack scene but really, there are no secrets at all. There are basic strategies outlined below that you can follow but you need to ultimately rely on yourself to improve your live blackjack gameplay:

● Know that this is one of the rare table games where your actions and decisions have averse effects on the game’s outcome. You will mostly control how the game ends but you should always bear in mind that the House always has the edge in the game no matter how good your hand is. Don’t go overboard thinking you can control your destiny -- you only play a part in it, so play the part well!

● Live live blackjack is not without rules and its own brand of strategies, but sometimes it pays to be adventurous and try new risks, provided you can afford to lose what you have...

● Bankroll management is also an important aspect in live blackjack. You must not lose more than what you can afford, and if losing “future money” may mean that your family has to go for a week without groceries, then by all means don’t do it.

● Most, if not all, casinos offering live blackjack allow players to play with virtual money in practice rooms first if they are uncomfortable about gambling with real currency. Don’t want to use up your Australian dollars so soon into the game? Learn useful tips and tricks and don’t forget to practice until you gain more confidence!