Blackjack is among the most engaging casino games in the world. It seems simple enough because all you need to do is get to 21. However, that’s so far away from the truth. Blackjack is an American variant of a table game based on the well-known game Twenty-One. It requires for a player and dealer to draw cards against each other, and whoever get a total closest to (but not above) 21 will be the winner. It is a game which is learned in minutes, but takes years to master. To be able to play blackjack like a pro, the first thing that’s required is a blackjack strategy. For more information, check our Table Games section.
Every player that wants to earn a few dollars while playing this table game needs to be prepared to master, at least the basic blackjack strategy. It consists of several tricks that will help you reduce the house edge to 0.5, if handled perfectly. That’s pretty much the bets odds you will get at any online blackjack table. Below, we will share everything you need to know about being able to play Blackjack like a pro. Check our News section for more articles on blackjack and other table games.
Basic Blackjack Strategies
Double Down
This is the most important part of the basic blackjack strategy. Doubling down means that you get to double the bet and receive another card. It can be used in many situations, not only when you have a 9, 10, or 11. For instance, it’s a smart move to double down on a soft 17 (Ace + 6) against a dealers 4, 5, or a 6. Betting on the initial bet might not get you a huge advantage at the start; however, it will pay off at the end of the night. Using this blackjack strategy might make the difference between having a good or a bad gambling night.
Splitting Aces
There are two main rules that any blackjack professional will tell you before you start playing. You never split 10’s but you always split Aces. This blackjack betting strategy tip has proved to be the best out there and if you don’t split your aces, you are guaranteed to lose.
When you split, you’ll ante up another wager for the second hand, and then receive a card for the first, with options to stand or hit. The same happens for the second hand as well. Certain casinos even allow to split again if the same card appears when you do the initial split. Keep in mind how many cards have the value of 10 which means that the chances for a blackjack are really high. With the splitting aces blackjack strategy, the player gets a chance to win two hands instead of one. In the long run using this strategy can mean extra profit for the player.
How to play Blackjack like a pro? – Advanced Blackjack Strategies
Single Deck Game
This blackjack strategy involves playing a single deck game. If you play such a game, your winning chances increase in certain situations. For example, if you get a hand of 12 (10 +2) while the dealer has a 4 as an open card, you should always hit. On the other hand, if you have any other combination of 12, you should stand.
Blackjack Strategy: Card Counting
As a blackjack betting strategy, card counting is proven to be the most effective. It can cut the houses edge by a lot in any kind of blackjack game. This will give you much bigger odds of winning. Because of this, game providers don’t like this strategy. However, card counting is very hard, compared to the other methods we have mentioned in the article. There are several techniques, and for some people, neither of those techniques could work. Nevertheless, if you do manage to master this blackjack strategy, pick a table and stick with it. The reason for this is because at the end of a shoe, you can reap the highest rewards, since most of the cards have already been drawn.
Simple card counting techniques (High/Low)
For each card revealed, count +1 point for any 2 to 6, 0 points for 7 to 9 and -1 point for each 10 valued card. This point system will help you to a stake strategy. You should restart you count, when cards are shuffled. The point will be referenced as “True count”.
Card counting becomes most rewarding at the end of a shoe, since most cards have been revealed by this time. The higher the true count is, the better situation for the player. You can find much information about how to alter from the basic strategy based on the true score.
Card counting is not considered illegal.
