Is blackjack a game of luck or skill? The answer is: it’s both. That’s why it’s one of the most popular card games in land-based and online casinos. You need to be lucky, but you also need to apply the appropriate strategy to maximize your success. However, even if you have the best possible approach, there’s one thing that many players overlook when playing blackjack — their emotions.

So, how can emotions affect your gameplay? Imagine being on a losing streak and getting frustrated by all of this. Your bankroll still has funds for several more rounds, but being so angry, you decide to bet all your funds and try to recoup your losses. Then, you lose once again, and you’re suddenly out of money which could have been put to better use.

This is a typical emotional reaction that’s common not only in blackjack but also in many other casino games. Professional poker players use inexperienced ones who cannot control their emotions and profit from them.

Therefore, whenever we review blackjack games, we make sure to mention that one needs to be very careful, and that means not letting emotions meddle with their actions.

Don’t get it wrong — feeling emotions when playing is a completely natural thing. Even the best blackjack players will feel exhilarated when they win or depressed when they lose. What makes them stand out from the crowd is that they can remain cool-headed even when they’re burning inside.

There are several ways that they manage to do that. However, it all starts by recognizing and addressing your emotional reaction. Many players who make impulsive moves find out too little too late that they didn’t make the best choice. Therefore, it’s important to recognize an emotion right away and not let it affect your gameplay. Think of it this way: you’ll win if you play by blackjack rules and not tilt at any moment.

Sure, this is easier said than done, but you can start with that — thinking about your emotional responses when playing games. Once you start exploring emotional intelligence, you’ll be able to improve your blackjack games.

Some players will go as far as to tell you to meditate on a daily basis if you want to be calm when playing the game and keep your emotions in check. This is a great approach if you’re a professional player and want to make a living out of this game. However, if you’re a casual player, understanding your emotions and how they affect your gameplay is enough for starters.