Finding the right blackjack strategy is not as easy as it might seem. This is because there are so many different strategies out there, and some simply do not fit with your playing style. That’s where this guide comes in.
I’ll be looking at some of the better known strategies, so you can make an informed choice. You’ll also learn that strategy is also part mental so there are also some tips to help you stick to your plan. No guide would be complete without a look at strategy charts, so you’ll get the inside track there too.
Blackjack strategy pros and cons
Advantages
- Improve your blackjack technique
- Avoid rookie errors
- Develop blackjack strategies
Disadvantages
- Too much misleading information
Finding the right blackjack strategy
If anything, there’s just too much information out there, so the purpose of this guide is to distill as much as possible into manageable chunks so you can easily decide what is and isn’t for you. I’ll also take you through the basics of
how to play blackjack online
to ensure you haven’t got any gaps in your knowledge and look at the different types of games you are likely to come across. After reading, you should have the basic tools you need to make an informed decision about how and where you want to start using your preferred blackjack betting strategy.
How to play blackjack online
There is a full guide for beginners elsewhere on this platform, so I’ll just cover the basics here. Blackjack is a popular table game where players aim to get closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over. Cards are face value, except picture cards and Aces:
| Card | Value |
| 2-10 | Face value |
| J, Q, K | 10 |
| Ace | 1 or 11 |
Players are dealt dealt two cards and then have a choice:
- Hit
– receive an additional card, then more if required
- Stand
– keep the hand as it is and don’t add to it.
The dealer also receives two cards, but typically only one is visible to players. If the player’s hand exceeds 21 then they bust and they lose. If the dealer busts, all players win. If nobody busts, the cards are turned over. If the player has closest to 21 they win, and if the dealer has closest to 21 the player loses. This is a very simple principle but there are enough variables in there to provide plenty of options for strategies and even the chance to develop your own.
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What is blackjack basic strategy?
These could also be termed golden rules and almost any strategy or blackjack strategy chart you find will have this mentioned somewhere. I’ll go through them next, but first I’ll quickly go through a couple of terms:
- Doubling down
– this involves doubling your original bet after receiving your initial two cards, in exchange for receiving only one more card. This is not advised when you have a high hand already as it increases the chance of going bust. Just note that not all online blackjack variants will allow you to double down.
- Split
– if you have a pair of identical cards, you can split them into two separate hands, each with its own bet. This strategy is said to work better with some cards than others and it can turn a weak hand into two better ones.
Always assume the card you can’t see is worth 10
While 10 is the most common value for a card in blackjack, it’s not a certainty. It is a starting point though for most strategies, and once you know this some other ‘basic’ strategies for beginners can also make more sense – for example:
When your hand value is between 12 and 16, hit if the dealer’s card is 7 or higher. Here you are assuming the dealer has 17 – your hand is not going to win, so you hit to try and get over 17 before you stand. Of course, this increases your chance of ‘busting’ as many strategies also assume the next card out will also be a 10.
Doubling down and splitting strategies
Another part of many online blackjack strategies is to double down on 10 or 11 when the dealer’s face-up card is 9 or lower. Here you are assuming the dealer has 19, and by doubling down and receiving an extra card, you are aiming for 20 or 21, again assuming the next card you see will be a 10.
When it comes to splitting, you’re likely to see three different rules bandied about, the first of which is about not splitting 10s. This is simply because 20 is a strong enough hand, and one situation where assuming the next card is a 10 doesn’t apply.
On the other hand, there is plenty of talk about always splitting Aces and 8s. The Aces plan looks self explanatory, with an ‘assumed’ 10 getting you blackjack instead of sitting there with 12. With two 8s you’ve got 16 which might not be good enough, but each of those two 8s, plus an assumed 10, gives you two hands of 18 and an increased chance of holding a better hand than the dealer.
Using a blackjack basic strategy chart
Blackjack strategy charts are quite popular and the basic ones will explain what to do regardless of what your hand, or the dealer’s hand, turns out to be. They are sometimes color coded for easy reference, but can still take a while to get to grips with. The bottom line is that some players find them useful, and others don’t, for reasons that include the amount of time every hand takes if you are constantly referring to a chart.
This guide does not endorse using a strategy chart, or in fact any of the strategies I’ve discussed. What I’ve done is explained the logic behind the strategies you may encounter, so you can make a decision about whether to use them or not.
More advanced strategies
One topic that often comes up is
blackjack card counting, but I will only discuss it briefly here as it is largely ineffective when playing online, as the outcome of most games is determined by a random number generator. In a nutshell, the player tries to keep track of the low and high cards dealt in previous games. High cards are thought to benefit the player, whereas low cards are seen as better for the dealer. This is done using a point system rather than incredible feats of memory, and players try to determine who will have the advantage in the next hand.
Sticking to your chosen strategy
It’s often the case that the weakest link in a strategy is the person using it. Problems usually occur when the player doesn’t stick with the strategy, so here are a few tips to help stop that from happening:
it might not seem key but playing responsibly should be at the heart of everything you do when playing blackjack online. There’s the regular line about not playing with more than you can afford to lose, but you should also think about playing with amounts that you are completely comfortable with, especially if you are still working out the right strategy for you.
even the most well honed strategies have bad days, and if these occur you should know when to walk away. Making wagers that don’t match your chosen plan just because you are trying to make up for earlier losses never works well. The same goes for going ‘off-plan’ because you’re on a winning streak and you are convinced you won’t lose no matter what you do.
😴 Never play when you are tired
the same goes for being under the influence of alcohol or anything else that may affect your judgement. Take regular breaks so you don’t get tired, and know your limits when it comes to everything else.
Where can you use your new blackjack strategy?
Before I close off this short guide, a quick word about selecting a casino to play blackjack online. First off, you will see a selection of our recommended casinos displayed on the banners of this page. All of the brands you see there have been thoroughly tried and tested by our team of expert reviewers, and they are all available in your location, thanks to geo-location software.
All of these featured casinos will offer a good selection of video blackjack games to play. Here the turn of the card is decided by a random number generator, so they may not have the same appeal as playing live. Luckily, all of our recommended casinos also have live games, where you play with a real dealer over a video feed. Here the deal is real and as close to a genuine casino experience as you’ll find. Regardless of which brand you choose, start slowly by playing a demo version (if available) or pick a brand with a
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to test out your strategy.
Your one stop guide to finding the right blackjack strategy
After reading this guide you should have everything you need to start defining your own blackjack strategy. From simple principles like assuming unseen cards are worth 10, to the deeper strategies like card counting, you’ll have a better idea of what might work best for you. You’ll also know what your options are for finding a reliable online casino to play at, as you’ll see them listed around this page. I wish you all the best finding a strategy that works for you, and I hope what you have discovered here will help with that.
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Blackjack strategy FAQs
🎲 Are blackjack strategy charts legit?
The purpose of a strategy chart is to explain what to do next in relation to the cards you are dealt. However, they are not always easy to follow, and may spoil your enjoyment of the game. The bottom line is that some players find using a blackjack perfect strategy chart useful, others find it does not fit in with their style at all, it is a matter of choice.
🃏 Can you play blackjack with live dealers online?
Yes, many casinos have a selection of live games, and there are typically several different versions of blackjack among them.
💻 Can you play blackjack online for free?
Sometimes. Some casinos allow you to play their video blackjack games in demo mode first. These allow you to play for free with virtual coins and offer several different types of blackjack to try. Just note that you cannot usually try out any live blackjack games for free.
