Image Source: Pixabay
By learning and implementing these strategies, you could manage to reach a position where you are a lot more confident at the blackjack table. Let’s take a look at some of the most common blackjack strategies, and how you can make use of them as a player.
How Does a Basic Blackjack Strategy Work?
When you learn how to play blackjack, you will no doubt be looking at each of the moves that you could make and how they might turn out if you were to choose them. Do you hit, or do you stand? Is this a turn where a split might be wise or should you press forward with the pair? Congratulations, as soon as you start to think in terms of these moves, you are on your way to learning about basic blackjack strategy.
Though there are some out there which are far more complicated, knowing how and when to make basic plays is the very start of it all. If you are able to know when you should make a play, you will quickly gain confidence at the table.
Most blackjack tables will allow you to have a basic strategy card if you sit down to play – but check with your dealer first. The casino might even have one to provide you with to ensure that there is no tampering going on, or other suspicious behaviours – since they know every trick in the book. Playing online gives you no such limitations. You could comfortably be playing a game at 32Red Casino or one of our other favoured brands with a black strategy open in the window next to you. Playing online can be a great way for you to learn more about how these strategies work in practice. It is also a great way for you to gain confidence in playing them before you try one out at a land-based casino.
When you feel a little more comfortable with a basic blackjack strategy, you can move on and start trying some more advanced tactics. Here are some of our favourite strategies for the game of blackjack.
The Ace/Five Count
The Ace/Five Count is a popular blackjack basic strategy that uses the basics of card counting to help you make successful plays. If you are caught trying to play with card counting techniques then you will likely be expelled from the casino. However, this is not quite a true card counting technique so you should be able to fly under the radar.
This particular blackjack strategy is best used in games with six to eight decks in play. It can be used at land-based casinos as you might find on the Las Vegas Strip, but can also be used online at casinos such as Dr. Bet.
To start off with, you need to decide what your minimum and maximum bets will be. If you are newer to the game, it might be wise to keep your minimum bet to the same as the table’s. The maximum bet will ideally be 8, 16, or 32 times the minimum bet, but this is to your discretion.
Start with your minimum bet when a new shoe of cards is used, and start a count at zero. You then make the following calculations while using a basic play strategy for the outcome of the cards:
- For each five observed in play, add one to your count.
- For each ace observed in play, subtract one from your count.
- When your count is greater than or equal to two, double your bet up to your maximum.
- If your count is less than or equal to one, make your minimum bet.
This is a fantastic place to start as it allows you to still practice your basic blackjack strategy but also bring in a little further finesse with the maths and counting. If you want to take your first step into the world of blackjack strategies, this is where you should start.
Image Source: Pixabay
Never Split 5s or 10s
Being dealt a pair can feel fantastic! This is a chance for you to split and have two bets in front of you, potentially giving you two chances to beat the dealer and claim a prize! However, if that pair happens to be 5s or 10s, you are better keeping them together.
After all, two 5s in front of you is a hard 10. You are better off hitting that and adding to the pile as you are more likely to get closer to blackjack this way. Likewise, you should hold onto that pair of 10s. That is a 20 right in front of you, a hand that is very difficult to beat! This is one trick that you should always try to remember, whether you are a beginner or a veteran at the blackjack table.
Split Your 8s and Aces
On the other hand, anytime that you are dealt a pair of 8s or Aces, you should always hit! Many players can be hesitant to split their 8s, especially if they are sitting across from a 9, 10, or Ace in the hands of a dealer. It might seem like a waste of money to split the hand and bet more – but by doing so you give yourself more of a chance.
Likewise, you should always split Aces. These are some of the most powerful cards in blackjack since they can be used as two values. By splitting your hand, you give yourself twice the power! Just as you should try to remember never to split 5s and 10s, you should always remember to split your 9s and Aces!
Hit a Hard 12 If the Dealer’s Upcard is 2 or 3
This might be a strategy that more timid players do not want to try. If you are a beginner, you might be tempted to just stand on a 12. The risk of going bust is simply too great compared to being able to draw something that could help you… right?
In truth, you should try to hit here where you can. Sitting across from a 2 or a 3 with a dealer’s upcard means that you are most likely going to lose money regardless of whether you stand or hit. More often than not, you will lose less money if you choose to hit. Though there is a risk that you could go bust here, you should think about hitting that 12.
Double Down on a Hard 11
When a hard 11 heads your way across the table, there is one move you should make – double down. This is always going to be the best move to make regardless of the hand that the dealer has.
However, there is one exception to this, so it is important that you recognise the type of blackjack that you sit down to play. Some multideck games specify that dealers must stand on a soft 17. If you are playing with these rules, you are going to be better off choosing to hit against an Ace from the dealer rather than try to double down.
This is one of the trickier strategies to try to remember, so you need to make sure that you understand the rules of the table if you do want to play it. Other than that, just remember that you should double down when you get that hard 11!
Image Source: Pixabay
Don’t Bother with Insurance
Some games offer you the chance to make a special bet called insurance. This only appears when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. Since there is a chance that this will be a difficult hand to beat, the house will often offer an insurance bet. Whether you are a novice or an old hand, you only have to remember one thing – don’t take the insurance bet.
The payoff for insurance is usually around 2 to 1. Even if you sit there with a 19 or 20 in front of you, the odds will be better on the dealer having a blackjack compared to if you were to get an insurance payout. It simply isn’t worth it. Just remember – don’t take insurance!
Watch the Odds
You will always find a wide variety of odds on offer with blackjack tables. Historically, whether you are headed to a land-based casino or one of PlayRight’s favourite online destinations like Party Casino, you will find that the odds sit at around 3 to 2. However, many casinos have also started offering odds at 6 to 5.
Now, to many this might seem like it is very much the same, but the discerning eye might notice something a little different. With a 6 to 5 game, the house’s edge increases ever so slightly – and that is just with a single deck. If you sit down to play a multi-deck game, the house edge can increase by 2%. This might not seem like much to you, but it will make all the difference in when you see those payouts! They might be few and far between, but try to stick to games with a 3 to 2 payoff instead!
Which Strategies Should I Focus On?
How do you decide which strategies to focus on? In our opinion, it all depends on your skills as a player, and your familiarity with the game. If you are a little more advanced, you could try a technique based on card counting such as the Ace/Five Count. This is a bit more advanced, and it could lead to some great wins.
Those who are a little newer to the game should just try to stick to the basic blackjack strategies. Learn when to split and when not to, and never take insurance. Bearing tips like this in mind could see you improving your skills and getting to grips with some of the nuances of blackjack. Every player should have a few strategies they can pick up, so find the ones that suit your playstyle the most!
