Complete Blackjack Strategy Guide
The strategy that you apply to play blackjack online literally determines 2 things:
- How will the game progress
- If you play smart earning money or just risk your money
On this page you will learn how to:
- Use the best blackjack strategy
- Start card counting
- When to double down
- When to hit or stand
Now, let’s take a look at each of these starting with the basic blackjack strategy which is also widely considered the optimal strategy.
The Best Blackjack Strategy
As blackjack is a game of skill a blackjack strategy is crucial.
Unlike other casino games, the decision that you make while playing blackjack has a result if you win or a loss at the table.
Due to this, there’s a mathematically proven trick known as “basic strategy,” which gives you an ideal advantage while playing.
And if you want the best odds, in the long run, this is something you should use.
The Blackjack Chart
Dealers Up Card | |||||||||||
Y o u r H a n d |
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
8 or less | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | |
9 | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H | |
10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | |
11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | |
12 | H | H | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H | |
13 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H | |
14 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H | |
15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H/SU | H | |
16 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | H/SU | H/SU | H/SU | |
17+ | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | |
A8-10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | |
A7 | S | D | D | D | D | S | S | H | H | H | |
A6 | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H | |
A5 | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H | |
A4 | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H | |
A3 | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H | |
A2 | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H | |
A-A, 8-8 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | |
10-10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | |
9-9 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | S | SP | SP | S | S | |
7-7 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H | |
6-6 | H | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H | H | |
5-5 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | |
4-4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | |
3-3, 2-2 | H | H | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H | |
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | ||
Dealers Up Card | |||||||||||
H = Hit
D = Double Down SP = Split S = Stand H/SU = Surrender if you’re able to. Hit if you can’t surrender |
From the image shown above, you’ll see that the top blackjack strategy is based on a chart. This Blackjack chart outlines how you should play optimally while considering what you’ve been dealt with with respect to the dealer’s hand.
Most new players will make the mistake of going with their gut feeling but statistically, this is a bad idea.
Using the best Blackjack strategy is the perfect way to have the odds in your favour.
How Blackjack Strategies Affect House Edge
Blackjack online has one of the lowest house edges, which is why it is a brilliant game for you to learn and play.
Something that is interesting though is that you can actually affect the house edge by applying a blackjack strategy.
When you use the basic Blackjack strategy above the game will have a house edge of about 0.50%. This means for each ₹100 that you bet, the online casino anticipates winning ₹0.50 from you for an infinite number of hands.
Take the same example of ₹100 bets and assume an unskilled player goes with his gut. The house advantage will go as high as 2.5% or even more, and the house can anticipate winning ₹2.50 or more over time.
The Strategy of Card Counting in Blackjack
If you’ve got good experience in playing casino games, I’m sure you must have heard about Card Counting.
Blackjack Card Counting is a system, which lets you have a positive expectation while playing blackjack and puts the house edge in your favour.
In a nutshell, card counting is more like a tracking system where you use your memory power to track what cards have been dealt in the blackjack game.
Since there are only a few cards dealt in every round, it’s possible for you to have an idea of what could be remaining in the deck and manage your strategy according to it.
The Double Down Strategy
- Double down is a blackjack strategy that has gained lots of fame over the years.
- Doubling down is a situation where you decide to double your bet in return for one card after you are dealt with two original cards, with the option to stay eliminated or hit.
- With the hope that you will get a hand that beats the dealer’s or that the dealer’s hand is busted. It can be risky, but if you want to win it’s a chance you might have to take.
The Hit, Stand, Surrender or Split Strategy
- Choosing when to hit, stand, surrender or split is one of the most used blackjack strategies.
- It is quite simple. It reminds me a lot of the best strategy for blackjack but is more about memorising when to do so rather than using a blackjack chart.
Things to Keep in Mind to be a Successful Blackjack Player
You can increase your chances of winning and make the odds more favourable with the most effective blackjack strategies but there are certain things to remember if you want to be a successful player.
I’ve highlighted them below.
1. Remember the rules of blackjack every time you play
A game like blackjack has thousands of variations, each featuring its own set of guidelines and oddities.
Even though these rules vary slightly, there still exists a difference and that’s why they are variants. Therefore, it is very important to check the rules of the game variant before placing your bet and applying the correct blackjack strategy for it.
2. Never ignore the house edge
You cannot win at blackjack every time you sit down to play. And that’s because, like any other casino game, this has a house edge that makes sure that there’s always an advantage to the casino. And this isn’t something that a casino sets.
One of the best ways to avoid the house edge is to stop playing if you win a decent amount of money. Be smart and not greedy!
3. Never use insurance
You must have heard of blackjack insurance for sure and stories of how ignorant punters drain down all their money on it. If you’re thinking of it, then drop the idea right away because it’s probably one of the worst things to do.
It’s money-draining, pointless, and useless. Don’t use it!
4. Pick a 3:2 pay-out than 6:5
A few casinos choose to tilt the odds in their favour with the Blackjack pay-outs 6 to 5 rather than the typical 3 to 2. And playing at such casinos means won’t make you win as you’d have expected.
Check the payouts before you start playing a certain blackjack game.
Try out a Blackjack Strategy
Now that you’ve learned the best blackjack strategy, it’s time to put your knowledge into action by playing at one of the best online casino sites in India.
Good luck at the tables!