Considering becoming a serious professional card player? Then blackjack and poker are the only two casino games you should be taking a look at. So which is the better choice, card counting in blackjack or grinding it out at the poker tables? You might have guessed my opinion would be that blackjack is the far superior game, and here’s my argument to back it up…

Professional Blackjack Players Always Have an Edge

When playing blackjack at a professional level you always know you have an advantage over the dealer. If you know what you’re doing (though few people do), you’ll maintain a clear cut edge over any dealer you go up against on any given night. The skill level of the opposition (the dealer) won’t change your favorable odds. The same can’t be said for poker. In poker you’re not playing against the dealer, you’re playing against other players. This means that you’ll never really be certain about your odds or know for sure if you’re a more skilled player than the other people at your table. You could be playing against an average tourist, or you might be facing off with a seasoned pro and not even know it.

Professional Blackjack Pays the Bills, Even the Big Ones

Talking with guys that play poker for a living, I’ve gained some insight into what kind of earnings are typical. A good friend of mine says he makes roughly $100 an hour playing poker. That’s after totaling all wins and all losses over the long haul. I know as a Professional Blackjack Player that $100 an hour would be a pretty rough year at the blackjack tables. Personally, that’s just not enough money for me. If you’re just playing as a hobby, then $100 an hour is great. If you’re trying to support a family and make some serious cash, then I believe you have to go with blackjack unless you intend to win the World Series of Poker. If you win a big tournament, then that’s great. Unfortunately very few people do.

Decision Making is Easy in Blackjack

Professional Blackjack Players always know exactly what to do in every given situation. There’s really no need to stress because every move is clear cut. You know what to do, and then you do it. Professional Poker Players face a huge stress in the fact that the game is so largely psychological. Sure there’s the calculations on when to match the blinds, but once you get deeper into the hand you’re trying to read other players’ thoughts. Sometimes you’ll be right and sometimes you’ll be wrong. Tormenting! I prefer to relax with blackjack knowing that I never make the wrong call and never have to play psychological games with other players.

More Action! Poker is Simply Too Boring

In my opinion, poker is unbearably slow. A good poker player folds more hands than they actually play. Even when you’re in the hand, you often end up sitting there bored out of your mind waiting for the other players to make their decision. When it comes to blackjack, there’s non-stop action. You’re using your card counting skills at all times and there’s always money in play. This creates a lot more excitement in a typical day of hitting the tables and leaves a lot less need for coffee. Maybe it’s just me, but blackjack is just a lot more fun and enjoyable as people come and go from the tables. Poker on the other hands seems to always be a drag with the same people sitting at the same table all night long.

Casino Comps – Ham Sandwich or Steak & Lobster

If you play poker, I’m sure you’ve noticed that the casino doesn’t respect your action much. Play all night and you might get a free sandwich or even a pass to the buffet. Ouch! One of the awesome things about blackjack is that the casinos usually comp blackjack players very well. Vegas and other gaming areas will have you eating at some of the finest restaurants in the world, staying in plush suites, going to concerts, fights and shows, and laughing all the way to the bank as you kick their a** at the tables. Nothing feels better than being treated like a king (queen for my female players) while beating the house at their own game.

And the Winner is… Professional Blackjack!

To me the choice is obvious. Blackjack pays better, is more entertaining, pulls in far more comps, and is less likely to have you second guessing yourself. If you want to learn how you can play professional blackjack, take a look around here at BlackjackClassroom.com and maybe consider joining one of my live card counting classes. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re ready to go make money just because you know basic strategy and can count +1 and -1. There’s a lot more to it and you don’t want to learn that lesson the hard way. If you have any questions, feel free to post below or contact me here.