Blackjack Strategy Guide
We now stray into the realm of professional blackjack as we peek into the world of blackjack strategy. Blackjack is a game that comes with a degree of skill because it is a card game that allows you to control how you play. In this guide, we will help to improve you as a blackjack player.
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Watch: Essential Blackjack Strategies for Beginners
Watch our video on essential Blackjack strategies to improve your game.
Blackjack Basic Strategy (4 to 8 Deck)
Mastering basic blackjack strategy isn’t about bending the rules—it’s about playing them perfectly. Basic strategy is the single most important tool you can arm yourself with before you even sit at the table.
Basic strategy was born from computer simulations in the 1950s, spearheaded by Julian Braun while working at IBM. By running millions of virtual hands and tracking every possible outcome, those simulations uncovered the mathematically optimal decision - hit, stand, double down or split - for every combination of player hand versus dealer up-card.
When you follow basic strategy precisely, you immediately shrink the house edge to its lowest possible level. In a typical four - to eight-deck game, you can reduce the casino’s advantage to around 0.5% - a dramatic improvement compared with guessing or relying on so-called “systems.”
When to Stand, Split, Double Down or Quit in Blackjack
In this section of the strategy guide, we look at how elements of the game can affect certain strategical techniques. Like knowing when to make moves like splitting pairs and when to hit. We look at the hands players can be dealt and what steps should be taken to gain an advantage with them. Either option, the strategies are in keeping with casino rules and are used by professional blackjack players.
Hard Hand (Neither of the Cards is an ACE)
Here’s how the strategy looks when it comes to the rules of playing hard hand cards.
| Cards | Action |
|---|---|
| With a total of 8 or less | Always Hit |
| With a total of 9 | Double if the Dealer has 3, 4, 5, or 6. If not Hit |
| With a total of 10 | Double if the Dealer has 2, 3, 4 , 5, 6 , 7, 8, or 9. If not Hit |
| With a total of 11 | Double if the Dealer has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. Hit if the Dealer holds an Ace |
| With a total of 12 | Hit if the Dealer has 2 or 3. Stand if they hold 4, 5, or 6. If not, then hit |
| With a total of 13 to 16 | Stand if the Dealer holds 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 in total, if not, Hit |
| With a total of 17 to 21 | Always Stand |
If you hold a hard hand, you should double down if you hold totals of 8, 9, 10, or 11. Doubling down requires you to double your bet 100% and you are given an additional card to add to your hand. This is only allowed once to help you win.
Soft Hand (One of the Cards is an ACE)
Here are the rules of strategy when it comes to the soft hand.
| Cards | Action |
|---|---|
| With Ace and 2 or ace 3 | Double if the dealer has 5 or 6, if not, Hit |
| With Ace and 4 or ace and5 | Double if the dealer has 4, 5, or 6, if not, Hit |
| With Ace and 6 | Double if the Dealer has 3, 4, 5, or 6, if not, Hit |
| With Ace and 7 | Stand if the Dealer has 2, 7 or 8. Double if the Dealer has 3 through 6, if not, Hit |
| With ace-8 or ace-9 | Always Stand |
Pairs (Two Cards of the Same Value)
Player rules when it comes to Pairs strategy in blackjack.
| Cards | Action |
|---|---|
| With a pair of aces or 8s | Always Split |
| With a pair of 2s or 3s | Split if the Dealer has 2 , 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, if not, Hit |
| With a pair of 4s | Split if the Dealer has 5, or 6, if not, Hit |
| With a pair of 5s | Split if the Dealer has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, if not, Hit |
| With a pair of 6s | Split if the Dealer has 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, if not, Hit |
| With a pair of 7s | Split if the Dealer has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, if not, Hit |
| With a pair of 9s | Split if the Dealer has 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, and 8 or 9.Stand if the Dealer has a 7, 10 or an Ace |
| With a pair of 10s | Always Stand |
Advanced Strategies Don’t Work
Reliable sources will make it abundantly clear that advanced strategies do not work. The idea that increasing your bet following a win is known by players as positive betting. This progression strategy is something many do practice, thinking it will give players an edge or some form of insurance against their original bankroll is false. The odds of winning when it comes to blackjack are in the hands of the cards, there is no correlation between the previous game and the next round. It simply doesn’t work and logically makes no sense to put money into an assumption. The same goes for those that use this principle after a loss, raising the stakes bit by bit after a loss is not a winning strategy.
The only advanced strategy to work and mathematically proven is card counting, but to count cards online is seriously flawed. At online casino sites, you don’t know if a live table plays with a single deck or multiple decks. All shoes are frequently changed so there is no way to beat the system even though no one can see you trying to card count regardless of the number of decks even used. Moreoever, if you're caught using card counting at a landbased casino you are likely to be banned for life.
When it comes to virtual blackjack games, these machines are built with RNG algorithms, so based on 30 billion numbered sequences, these determine the outcome, no card counting can work on these games.
The best tips are the easiest, playing lower deck games are better, only surrender when you absolutely must, and use casino bonus offers to boost your bankroll.
Blackjack Strategy FAQs
What is Blackjack Basic Strategy?
Basic Strategy in Blackjack was created by Julian Braun who used computer simulations to work out mathematical advantages in the card game. What the computer reproduced through its simulations showed that there was indeed a mathematical probability that can and would improve the blackjack hand to beat the dealer. This simulation would inform the player to take upon an action to either Hit, Split, or to Double Down, for each combination dealt by the dealer.
Do Advanced Blackjack Strategies Work?
No. A popular idea is positive betting (raising stakes after a win). This progression strategy is something many do practice, thinking it will give players an edge or some form of insurance against their original bankroll is false. The odds of winning when it comes to blackjack are in the hands of the cards, there is no correlation between the previous game and the next round. It simply doesn’t work and logically makes no sense to put money into an assumption. The same goes for those that use this principle after a loss, raising the stakes bit by bit after a loss is not a winning strategy.
How does playing blackjack online differ from land-based casinos?
The blackjack game online differs in the options that are available. This covers the gaming format and the variants of blackjack you can play. Online you have lots more choice, whereas land-based casinos only provide traditional blackjack. In terms of rules, the game is no different. Players used to land-based blackjack can easily pick up online gaming.
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