Blackjack Strategy – How to Win at Blackjack

If you want to get good at blackjack, you need a strategy. In contrast to other casino games, strategies at blackjack can actually work, and increase your chances of beating the dealer a lot. There are probably thousands of books written on the subject, and new methods are constantly developed by mathematicians and avid players. You don’t need to be familiar with every single strategy out there – you just need to start with something, and develop your own playstyle from there.

In this article, we will present you a basic blackjack strategy that works in almost all variations of the game. We will also give you some helpful tips on things like bankroll management and card counting.

Blackjack Basic Strategy & Cheat Sheet

Blackjack is a game of skill and quick thinking. Choosing the right action in the right moment is everything, and you need to be fully aware of the situation in order to make the right call. After you receive your opening hand, the first thing you need to do is decide whether to hit, stand, or double. It all depends on your point total, and the dealer’s face up card. We have created a little cheat sheet for you – it contains the most viable actions for any given situation.

Insurance

If the dealer’s face up card is an Ace, players have the option to take insurance. Most casinos will offer you a 3:2 payout if the dealer has a blackjack – which seems pretty enticing at first. The truth, however, is that overusing the insurance option will inevitably cause you to lose money in the long run. If you are good at counting cards, you might be able to change that – if not, we do not recommend taking insurance every time you see an Ace.

Surrender

If you choose to surrender, you stop playing for the round, return your hand to the dealer, and receive half of your bet back. The casino gets to keep the other half. Even though it might seem like a reasonable action sometimes, surrendering is by far the worst thing you can do. You are in fact simply giving your money away, even though you probably have a fighting chance. Once again, card counters might be able to utilise this mechanic to their advantage.

Split

If you are dealt two cards of the same value, you have the option of splitting them into two separate hands. Of course, you will double your bet, and the dealer will hit both new hands once. Splitting is always a recommended option, especially if your hand consists of two 8’s or two Aces. Allow us to elaborate.

• 16 is probably the worst opening hand you can possibly get. You are still below 17, and dangerously close to going bust if you hit. That is why it’s wise to split the 8’s into two new hands – your odds are likely to become much better.
• If you have two Aces, it is highly advisable that you split them – this will increase your chances for blackjacks and other good hands.

Overall, if you have the option of splitting your hand in two – do it. Chances are you will end up with better odds than you did before.

Double Down

Doubling your bet and taking one more card from the dealer is a viable action in several situations. One of them is when your starting hand equals 11 – in this case, nearly 33% of all possible cards will get you a total of 21, and more than half of them will bring you to 17 or more. For similar reasons, many players recommend doubling down on 9 or 10 as well – but that depends on the dealer’s face up card.

Card Counting – The Best Blackjack System

We already mentioned card counting several times in this article. It’s probably the most complex blackjack strategy, and requires the ability to do quick math in your head, and exceptional memory skills. No one says it is easy, but everyone knows that it works. Knowing what cards remain in the deck will allow you to assess the situation better and make the right choice in a variety of situations. For more information on counting cards, feel free to check out our dedicated article.

Bankroll Management

Even though playing blackjack is fun, we must not forget to gamble responsibly. Even if you are utilising a brilliant strategy, you must be careful and manage your bankroll. Make sure you know exactly how long you will play, and more importantly, how much money are you willing to lose at the game. Set your limits and stick by them – this way you will not end up losing more than you can afford to.

The best way to approach your bankroll is to enter the game with a sum of money that you are comfortable losing to the casino. It will not happen, but preparing for the worst case scenario is always a wise move.

You Can Win Big with the Right Blackjack Strategy!

The only way to perfect your blackjack strategies is through repetition and experience. Luckily, online casinos are the best place to do that. After sufficient training, you will be ready to face the dealer in a real money game – and win. Make sure you check out our article on odds and probabilities, in order to get an even better scope of the game.

Pick one of our recommended blackjack casinos and start practicing today!

Written by: Alexander Birch