How to Win at Blackjack – Best 3 Strategies

Published: 26/01/2022

Blackjack is a fun game for many individuals who have mastered the art of winning. Unlike slots, blackjack requires some skills to make the most out of it. The goal of a blackjack game is for players to get to 21 without busting.

Veteran blackjack players all know things such as probabilities, card counting, charts, and tables that give them an edge over the house. This article introduces three of the best strategies players use to win blackjack games.

Basic Blackjack Strategy

The basic blackjack strategy involves memorising a set of rules that identify the best move for you to make based on the dealer’s hand and your hand. There are several actions you can take, and they include:

Hit

This is a basic move in blackjack. It is a request for the dealer to give you an extra card. There are different instances when the hit move is the best, such as when your hand totals eight or less.

Stand

This is a move to hold the cards you have and end your turn.

Split

This is a move that lets you create two new hands in a blackjack game. Making a split move on the right cards will boost your winnings on the table. You should split cards like Aces and 8s often.

Surrender

You surrender by giving your cards back to the dealer to get half of your initial bet from the casino. This move gives you a chance to minimise your losses when you determine your very low odds of winning.

Double down

This is a move for players who are confident that they have a winning hand. You get one additional card from the dealer with the double down on a second bet you make. If you have a better hand, then you win the bet.

In addition to understanding the moves of the basic blackjack strategy, you should also read up on the basic strategy charts. These let you know the actions you must take for every card combination.

Card Counting

This is a blackjack strategy that many players use to gain an advantage at the table. There are several ways of counting cards, so you have to decide what option to use on your own. In card counting, players maintain a mental record of the high and low cards that have been dealt.

By identifying the cards left in the deck, a player can decide to lower or raise their bet depending on the quality of cards in the deck. There are several ways of counting cards, such as:

Knock Out Card Counting
Hi-Lo
Keep It Short and Simple (KISS)
Omega II
Hi-Opt I & Hi-Opt II

Hi-Lo card counting technique

The Hi-Lo card counting technique is the most common option, and learning it shouldn’t be an issue. To use this technique, you can follow this simple guide:

Give every card a value

When playing Blackjack using the Hi-Lo technique, you must place a value on every card in the deck. To simplify things, players represent all 2 – 6 cards with the value +1, 7-9 cards with 0, and 10-Ace with -1. This means you will need to subtract, add, or do nothing as the cards are dealt.

Maintain a running count

You need to update the running count after each card is dealt by adding or subtracting. An increase in the running count gives you an advantage, while a decrease indicates an advantage for the casino.

Determine the Count per Deck or True Count

The True Count is a result of players trying to counter the multiple decks used by casinos. The true count is the running count divided by the decks remaining.

Adjust your bet based on true count

The only way to take advantage of the information you obtain is by adjusting your bet. If the advantage shifts in your favour, increase your bet. If it shifts in the casino’s favour, then lower your bet.

Soft And Hard Hands

In the Soft and Hard Hands strategy, the presence of an Ace is the card that determines what action to take. A soft hand is a hand that includes an Ace. A hard hand doesn’t have an Ace.

Soft Hands

When you get a soft hand, it means you have an Ace in hand. In most cases, you should hit when you have a soft 13, 14, 15, and 16. However, if the dealer has up cards of 4, 5, or 6, you should double down.

When you land a soft 18, you have three options. You can choose to stand when the dealer’s card is 2, 7, or 8 and double down when the dealer has 3, 4, 5, or 6. Any other instance, you should hit.

For instances where you have a soft 19 or soft 20, you always stand.

Hard Hands

A hand without an Ace is a hard hand, and there are different moves you can make in this situation. The first is to double down when you have a 9 hand total, with the dealer having the up card of 3, 4, 5, or 6.

When your total is 17 or more, always stand. For a hard 13, 14, 15, and 16 with the dealer showing 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should stand.

What to Avoid?

When playing a blackjack game, there are some common mistakes players make. Learning some of these mistakes can help you avoid losing moves during a game. Some common mistakes include:

Splitting a hand of 20 into 10s: This turns a possible winner into two possible losing bets.
Taking a wrong stand: A stand can help you avoid losses, but there are instances when you shouldn’t take a stand. Learning as much as you can about the stand move in blackjack will help you better understand how and when to use this move.
Taking Insurance: Depending on how you use the insurance, you may end up accumulating losses over a long period. This can occur when you take insurance on a blackjack hand.

Conclusion

To become great at blackjack, you need to practice various strategies as much as possible. This involves memorising multiple charts and tables, learning to count effectively, and so on. By perfecting a blackjack strategy, you can significantly improve your chances of winning when you sit at a blackjack table.

Author: Vicky Avila

Vicky Avila is a senior online casino analyst. She is the one checking the bonus terms and conditions, testing withdrawals and scanning the customer terms for unfair practices. In her free time Vicky loves to play tennis and explore the nature.