Can Anyone Make a Living Playing Blackjack?

As many blackjack players will play the game for recreational purposes, there is quite an opportunity to play blackjack for real money and to earn a living. The difference between recreational play and playing for profits is in the style and the blackjack strategy you use.
Before you run to any table and decide you want to make thousands of dollars playing blackjack, you must first have a solid game plan that will help you reach your goal. Just like in any business venture, you want to ensure your success and protect your profits.
Blackjack can be a fickle game in which you could easily lose hundreds of dollars in one session or make thousands, sticking to your blackjack game plan and disciplining yourself will make a world of difference in whether you make a living playing blackjack or go broke.
The first thing you need is to set a specific buy in amount and determine the minimum bet you are most comfortable. Many players will just sit down at a $5 or $10 table and hope to do well with minimal risk, however, this could prove dangerous as the most inexperienced blackjack players usually migrate towards these low buy in tables.
If you are willing to bet $25 a hand, then you should sit at that table, after all, you could realize a faster profit if you play a solid blackjack strategy. Many higher limit tables have fewer players and mostly those players have a good grasp of the game. On the other hand, if you sit at a low buy in blackjack table where there are 3 or 4 players, you could do as well.
Be cautious, as some recreational and inexperienced players may think it is 'fun' to split 10's when the dealer has a 6 showing, or to hit their 14 when a dealer has a 5. You want to stray away from this type of table as it will brutalize your blackjack bankroll.
A wise decision is to watch a table and the players for 10 or 15 minutes until you sit in. You could sit down, buy your chips and just tell the dealer you are waiting for the new shoe. This will give you an opportunity to see how these players are playing. If you find anything that sends up an alarm, you should just make an excuse to leave the table.
Another good point, once you have found a suitable table, is to use basic blackjack strategy and avoid making a move because you have a 'gut' feeling. Although sometimes intuition is correct, it can also cost you if you venture too far away from basic strategy.
Again the best way to make a living at playing blackjack is to find a table that does not have too many players (3 or 4 is ideal), make sure those players are playing good basic strategy, look for opportunities to maximize your betting, by increase your bet and doubling or splitting when it is appropriate. Utilizing these tips will help you realize the goal of becoming a profitable blackjack player.