The Best Blackjack Strategies

Getting the best hand possible isn’t the objective when playing blackjack. The goal is to have a hand value of 21 or as close to that as possible. While there are countless blackjack strategies, when choosing one, you should aim at cutting your losses as much as possible while maximizing your winning chances. A good blackjack strategy improves your winning odds despite the element of chance.

This guide will delve into the best blackjack strategies that you can use to lower the house edge and enhance your chances of being more profitable. You will learn what you need to know before playing the game, useful tips and tricks to win more rounds, the rules of the game, and more.

What to Know Before Playing Blackjack

Despite its apparent simplicity, blackjack requires various tactics and strategies if you want to play it successfully. If you are new to blackjack, you may find it hard to enjoy the game, especially if you have yet to study basic strategies and card combinations. This article contains some crucial pointers you should be aware of before playing the traditional blackjack casino game if you’re a beginner who wants to enjoy playing the game.

Blackjack Strategy Rules

Before you sit down to play blackjack, you must know the fundamentals of winning the game. The following are seven fundamental strategy rules that you can apply right away:

House Edge Percentages

The house edge is a casino’s long-term win percentage in a game. The house edge over a novice or inexperienced player in blackjack is potentially close to 2%. This means you can expect to lose $2 for every $100 you wager when playing blackjack. On the other hand, there are wild fluctuations in the short term. You could finish a session several hundred dollars ahead or experience a losing streak and lose $50 in a matter of hands.

However, if you’re skilled at blackjack, you can cut the house’s edge to as little as 0.5 percent. You can increase your odds of winning by learning when to split, double down, and stand.

The Basic Card Patterns and Blackjack Cheat Sheets

Not all card combinations can win a game. Therefore, you must study the card patterns with the best odds for beating the dealer’s hand. A blackjack cheat sheet is a valuable tool that helps players improve their games, increase their chances of winning, and lower the house’s advantage. Before playing blackjack, you must become familiar with the fundamental card patterns and cheat sheets.

For starters, you need to understand what “soft hand” and “hard hand” mean. When a player has an ace in hand and cannot go bust after a particular draw, he is said to have a “soft hand.” This is because an ace can be counted as either 11 or 1, and the total value of your cards cannot exceed 21. The combination of an ace and a six is referred to as a “soft 17.” When you have this, you can quickly draw without worrying.

In contrast, a “hard hand” consists of any pair of cards other than an ace. With a hard hand, you’re likely to go bust after drawing another set of cards. Hard totals include 9-7 (hard hand 16), 8-6 (hard hand 14), and 10-7 (hard hand 17).

Here is a short cheat sheet that you can use to memorize winning card patterns:

Blackjack Payouts

As a beginner in blackjack, the payouts available to you may be unfamiliar. Therefore, you should know the game’s payouts before playing. Here is a breakdown of the game’s payout:

The 1:1 Payout: You get this payout when you win a hand against the dealer. If you place a one-unit wager on each hand and beat the dealer, you will receive your original wager plus a one-unit payout. A 1:1 payout still applies when you double down and win a hand against the dealer. When you double down, you simply raise your bet to two units.

3:2 or 6:5 Payouts: If you’re lucky enough to get a blackjack, that is, an ace and a face card, you get either of the two blackjack payouts, depending on the table at which you’re sitting. Many blackjack tables in casinos offer either 6:5 odds or 3:2 odds. The 3:2 payout is better, but casinos already offer the 6:5 payout. This is because the 6:5 payout significantly increases the casino’s edge in the game.

The Common Blackjack Strategies Explained

Finding a blackjack strategy that meets your needs may be challenging as a player. However, tried-and-true methods will serve you well when playing blackjack. If you want better outcomes, you should also consider these strategies. This guide suggests some strategies you can apply depending on the cards you have in your hands.

Blackjack Strategy 1: Always double down on 10 when the dealer’s upcard is nine or less

You’re at an advantage when you have a two-card hand of 10 against the dealer’s upcard, which is nine or less. This is why doubling down is your best strategy in this case. If the dealer’s upcard is a 6, and you’re dealt 5 and 4, adding up to 9, you have a better chance of beating the dealer and getting as close to 21 as possible. You can now double your initial bet and take a calculated risk to increase your winnings.

If the dealer’s second card is a 10, then their first two cards total 16, which is greater than yours, which is 9. When you request a new card, the dealer receives an additional card, the value of which determines the dealer’s final score. Since the likelihood of both of you receiving a 10-value card is greater, the dealer’s final value will be 26 and yours will be 19. Because the dealer has exceeded 21, you win.

Blackjack Strategy 2: Always stand with a pair of 9s when the dealer’s upcard is a 7

In contrast to the common belief that you should split a pair of 9s when the dealer’s upcard is 9 or less, the optimal strategy is to stand because you’ll have a greater chance of winning by not splitting. Since there are four times as many cards with a value of ten as cards with other values, it is likely that the dealer has a ten in the hole. So, if the dealer’s upcard is a 7, the dealer usually has a total of 17 points. Your hand of 9s, which adds up to 18, would beat the dealer’s hand of 17, so standing is the right move here.

Blackjack Strategy 3: Always split a pair of 8s and aces

Regardless of the dealer’s upcard, you should always split a pair of 8s and aces. On the other hand, many players think they should stay the underdog and not have to bet more by splitting. But if you split your hands and start each one with an 8, you have a better chance of winning than if you just played one hand of 16 (and hit). Your best move is to split aces and 8s since aces give you more chances to win, and 8s lets you cut your losses based on the dealer’s upcard.

Blackjack Strategy 4: Split when you’re dealt a pair of 2s or 3s against the dealer’s 2 or 3 up card

When doubling down after pair splitting is allowed, splitting is the best strategy because splitting a pair of 2s and drawing a 9 can give you 11. By doubling down, you could wager more when the odds are favorable. In a single-deck game, however, you should always split a pair of 2s or 3s when the dealer reveals a 3 upcard, even if doubling down after pair splitting is not permitted.

Blackjack Strategy 5: Always hit Ace-7 (soft 18) when the dealer’s upcard is 9, 10, or Ace

Many players wrongly believe that a hand that equals 18 is a sure win, so they stand on soft 18 (Ace-7), particularly when the dealer has a strong upcard like 9, 10, or Ace. But here’s the fact! When you have an Ace-7 against the dealer’s 9, 10, or ace, you’re the underdog whether you hit or stand. But you’re less of an underdog if you hit Ace-7. Here, drawing a small card like Ace, 2, or 3 will result in a hand exceeding 18, improving your chances of hitting blackjack.

The bottom line is that your best strategy is always to hit A-7 when the dealer shows a 9, 10, or Ace to get to either a soft 19–21 or a hard 17–21.

Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Blackjack

Although playing blackjack is a lot of fun, the game is more challenging than other casino staples like slots. It requires skill and at least some level of strategy. There are, however, both simple and advanced tips and tricks you can use to lower the house edge and increase your chances of winning. Some of the tips are as follows:

Conclusion

Blackjack strategies are essential for players to improve their chances of winning at the game. Aside from having fun, you can make a lot of money if you know a few basic tips and tricks. With the right strategy and a little luck, it is possible to earn enormous profits from the game. You can begin by going over the blackjack strategies and tips provided in this article. With learning and consistent practices, you should be hitting blackjack consistently.