Understanding Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack
Ever since its invention, Blackjack has grown in popularity, with so many players coming up with a specific Blackjack strategy. In fact, Blackjack has grown to become one of the most loved online casino games all over the world. Hundreds of thousands of players play Blackjack online every day, earning and losing thousands of dollars.
For the first-time online Blackjack player, the game might seem a bit intimidating. In actual fact, they may find Blackjack rules a bit tricky. However, as soon as you learn the game, you will realize that the online table game is so easy to play and understand. Also, it’s one of the most loved games because it’s easy to win, with one of the highest winning odds.
Here, on this page, you will find all the information that you need to know about online blackjack. This information includes how to play Blackjack, rules of Blackjack and basic Blackjack strategies. In fact, this guide is dedicated to helping you understand how the game is played, teach you how to make bets, as well as how to hit, stand and double down.
First thing is first, you must know that the aim of the game remains the same whether you are playing online or at a land-based casino. That said, you need to know that in order to win a hand, you must get more points than the dealer. However, you must never get a number that’s above 21. By the way, 21 is another name for the game. Getting a number that exceeds 21 is called ‘Busting’ and this makes you lose.
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Online Blackjack Basic Gameplay
Let us explain a few things that you must know before playing a game of blackjack online. In order to be able to count your points, you must know the card values first. The card values are so easy to remember. This is because all the cards count their face values.
Blackjack Gameplay
This is with the exception of the cards with pictures. All the pictures cards (J, Q, and K) count 10. The Ace, depending on what’s more profitable to you, can count either 1 or 11.
To illustrate what we have just explained above, here’s an example: if you are playing a game of Blackjack and you get 5+7+Q, that makes your total 22 and that means you are busted. In other words, you lose. On the other hand, if you get 4+8+8, your total will be 18 and as long as the dealer’s total is below 18, you win.
What Kind Of Blackjack Hand Is That?
Online casino Blackjack rules state that there are only 2 types of hands in online Blackjack, these are hard hand and soft hand. The hard hand doesn’t have an Ace in it or if it does, the Ace counts as 1. On the other hand, the soft hand has an Ace that counts as 11.
It is very important that you know this information beforehand. This is because you are going to use this very information in Blackjack strategies. In fact, if ever you are going to win at blackjack, you will need to know which hand is important as the two hands are treated differently.
How the Blackjack Cards Are Dealt
Now that we have talked about the aim of Blackjack as well as the 2 types of Blackjack hands, we can move on and talk about the betting process as well as gameplay. Blackjack is played with 4, 6 or 8 decks of cards. These decks are mixed together.
However, you should know that some online casinos use just 2 decks of cards. Because each online casino has its own rules, it’s important that you carefully check this information and read the Blackjack rules that apply at that particular casino.
Moving on to bets, it’s important that you know that all bets are made before the cards are dealt. The bets are stated in the table rules, from the minimum bet to the maximum bet. Here, at Top 10 Canada Casinos, we suggest that when you are still new to the game of Blackjack, choose a table with minimum bets and only raise your bet when your skills level up.
As soon as all the players have made their bets, the dealer will go ahead and deal the cards. Each player will be dealt 2 cards each, face down. Only your cards are dealt face up. After all of the cards have been dealt and their values have been counted, you have several possible ways that you can choose to continue the game.
We strongly suggest that you learn all the Blackjack rules and gameplay so that at this point, you can make a well-informed decision quickly. Read below to find out all the available options to you at this point in the game.
Blackjack Strategy Options
You can choose to hit. This simply means that you ask the dealer to give you one more card. You do this only when you think that the 2 cards which you were dealt with earlier are not enough for you to win.
You can decide to stand. In simpler terms, this means that you consider the total of your previously dealt cards enough to win and so, don’t wish to get another card.
You can choose to split your cards. This decision is only applicable when your hand has a pair of 2 equal cards e.g. two Qs or 2 Ks. In this case, you can split your cards and make another bet. When you have done that, each card will then become a separate hand, meaning you can draw extra cards for the 2 separate hands.
You can also choose to double down. When you choose this option, you double your bet and will then get an additional card from the dealer.
Finally, you can choose to surrender. Before doing so, you must understand that this is optional. In fact, it’s not all online casinos that will allow you to surrender. However, if your casino offers this option, then you can stop the game. As a result, you will only lose just half of your bet. Also, surrendering is allowed only before the third card is dealt to the player.
Additional Useful Information about Blackjack Strategy
It’s important that you know where you’ve won or lost. Let us explain both situations so that you understand better before you begin to play Blackjack for free or for real money.
If you have a hand that exceeds the dealer’s total while at the same time it doesn’t exceed 21, then you have a winning hand. On the other hand, if you have a hand that exceeds 21, then you have a losing hand. Also, you will lose if your cards total is below that of the dealer. If it so happens that you and the dealer have the same total, it means that it’s a tie. In that case, you will get your bet amount back.
There is also something very important that you need to understand if you should win. In Blackjack, there is what’s called an Insurance Wager. This wager can be made if the dealer gets an Ace as the face card. In this case, you will have the option of making an additional bet.
In the case that the dealer gets a 21, this bet will be returned. However, if it happens that the dealer gets an Ace and you have a 21, the dealer can offer to play for real money. This means that he will pay 1:1 to you before he checks the second card.
So, above we have listed what we consider the Blackjack rules for dummies. Read the above information carefully so that you learn and understand all you have to know before deciding to play online Blackjack real money. Now, we would like to move on to the most popular blackjack strategies, as well as useful Blackjack tips and tricks that you can actually make use of in order to increase your winning odds.
Online Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack strategy should always be implemented right after you are dealt your first two cards. There are different Blackjack strategies that you can implement. Below, we will look closely at each of the most popular Blackjack strategies so that we help you make the best decision every time.
Yes, we know that for first-timers, these strategies will be difficult to remember. For that reason, we suggest that you come up with a Blackjack cheat sheet that you can use as you play Blackjack for real money.
Splitting Blackjack Strategy
This is one of the most used strategies all over the world because it works, leaving you with some extra money in your account. Below we list the Blackjack tips concerning cards splitting.
- Don’t split 4s or 5s
- Split 2s and 3s only when the dealer has from 4 to 7
- Always make sure that you Split 8s and Aces
- Split 6s when the dealer has from 3 to 6
- Always split two 9s except for the cases when the dealer has 7
- Split 7s when the dealer has from 2 to 7
Insurance Strategy
We have already mentioned what happens with the insurance wager. However, the insurance strategy can only be used when playing at a land-based casino. This is because only at a land-based casino are you able to count cards. Obviously, you cannot count cards when you play Blackjack online.
This is why we recommend that you don’t use this strategy at all when playing at an online casino. Because you are not able to count cards online, it means that you can’t possibly predict if the dealer will get blackjack or not. Inevitably, you will lose a lot of money on insurance, especially if you’ve been playing for a long time.
Surrender Strategy
We seriously think that this strategy is for cowards although we recommend that you use it now and again as it can actually save you half of your bet. Why don’t we like this strategy? Well, in the long run, it will take a lot of money from you and you will also lose a chance to get a winning hand.
Before you implement this strategy, we need to remind you that the situation can turn in your favor within seconds even if it looks like there’s no chance of success. Remember, Blackjack is a game of skill and not chance, which means a game can turn to your favor if you know the rules and strategies.
Doubling Down Strategy
In the doubling down strategy, you will double your bet in exchange for one more extra card. Below, we share a few tips that you can consider when making use of this strategy.
Remember, we told you earlier that you must know about both soft hands and hard hands. If you know these, you will implement this strategy successfully.
- When you have hard 9, 10 or 11, you must always double down
- If you happen to have 11, always double down unless if the dealer has an Ace
- When you have 10, also always double down. However, you shouldn’t double down when the dealer has an Ace or 10
- As mentioned earlier, always double down when you have 9. However, always make sure that the dealer has from 3 to 6 first before doing so
Card Counting Strategy
Remember what we said when we talked about the Surrender Strategy? This strategy can only be used at a brick and mortar casino in order to increase your chances of winning. This strategy is completely useless when playing online Blackjack.
Using the card counting strategy, you can determine whether the next hand will be a winning one or a losing one. You do this by using mathematics, as well as a good memory to remember the cards that have already been played and which ones are still to come. Most casinos worldwide prohibit card counting because it gives the player a higher edge against the house.
The information that is contained on this page is enough to get you started on your first game of Blackjack. We always suggest that you play casino games for free first before you play for real money. This gives you the chance to familiarise yourself with the game first before wagering real money.
Not only that, but it allows you to improve your skills, as well as come up with a strategy that works for you.
Labouchere Strategy
Labouchere betting system is in the negative progression category of betting systems. It was created by Henry Labourchere which is where the name of the system originated from. It has other names, some call it the martingale, the cancellation system, and many other names.
The whole idea is to be able to regain all the losses from losing bets. The Labouchere does not attempt to recover any losses with one win.