Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games that gathers the most attention in a casino due to the low house edge. Another great thing about blackjack is that it is a skill-based game, which means that you can increase your winning chances if you get good at the game.
On top of that, blackjack rules are fairly simple. The goal of the game is to reach a total of 21 and beat the dealer’s hand.
The first thing you need to learn when you start playing blackjack is how to calculate the cards and their value. Cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value, while all face cards have a value of 10, and the ace is worth either 11 or 1.
Due to the nature of the game, many professional players have spent years developing their own complex strategies, which most of the time involve card counting. However, learning such strategies requires a lot of skills, good memory, and time spent playing blackjack.
Fortunately, there are many simple strategies and tools that can help you win more money.
In today’s article, we will highlight some of the most basic ways you can increase your winning chances playing blackjack, and hopefully, you will make more money on your next blackjack session, according to Bovada.
Basic Strategies for Winning at Blackjack
Many different strategies can help you increase your winning chances, but none of them have been proven effective over a long period of time. In other words, the house will always win in the long run, so the goal is to know when to quit and cash out your winnings.
The basic blackjack strategy involves a simple set of rules that tell you how to react based on the information available on the table (your hand and the dealer’s hand).
The Basic blackjack strategy is a sheet of actions that every player can memorize and increase their chances of winning. This strategy has mathematically proven to maximize your winning chances and minimizes the amount you lose.
However, in order to play the basic blackjack strategy, you need to get familiar with the terminology used in blackjack.
Here are all the terms used in blackjack you should know about.
Hit – The action of asking for another card until you decide to stand or bust
Stand – The action of taking no additional cards.
Double Down – Double down the amount you wagered, get an extra card, and stand.
Split – If you receive two cards of the same value, you can split them into separate hands. Since both hands have the same bet, you are basically doubling your bet.
Surrender – Some blackjack tables allow you to surrender and take half of your bet back
Insurance – If the dealer gets Ace, you can take insurance, which is a half bet from your original bet. This means that you’ll be betting on the dealer getting a blackjack.
Nos, since you know all the actions in Blackjack, it is time to dig deeper into the basic Blackjack strategy. This strategy is a sheet of actions that dictate your next move based on every card combination on the table.
There is nothing to explain here. As a beginner, you need to learn all the actions from this chart and apply them in your next blackjack game.
At first glance, it might look very difficult to memorize all the combinations, but once you start to implement this strategy in your next blackjack game, you’ll get better at it.
Here is the basic blackjack strategy chart:
Best Ways to Win at Blackjack
If this strategy looks too complicated for you and you don’t want to remember all the actions, we decided to highlight some of the moves that have proven to be beneficial while playing blackjack.
Blackjack is essentially a game where you are fighting against the house edge. Depending on your strategy and action, you can increase or decrease the house edge. Unless you are an expert, you might end up losing your gambling budget in the long run.
However, there are a couple of ways you can secure the best chances of winning and maximizing your profits.
Here are some of the ways you can increase your winning chances while playing blackjack.
Choose tables where the stakes suit your bankroll needs
Gambling as an action encourages people to stretch their bankroll in hopes of winning more money. However, games with higher stakes come with higher risks, and they are not recommended for people with smaller bankrolls.
Stand when you have a hand that could bust against a dealer’s card
If you notice that the dealer has a face-up card of four, five, or six, the best thing to do is to stand, especially if you have a weak hand.
The dealer chooses to stand on Soft 17
Before choosing a blackjack game, you can dig a bit further and choose a game where the dealer decided to stand on Soft 17 just because this can have a significant impact on your house’s edge.
Split Eights and Aces
Splitting eights might look like a bad move, but it is proven to be the most likely way for you to win and make a profit.
Double down when you have an Ace against the Dealer’s Six
In order to walk away with some profits, you need to take advantage of every situation while you play blackjack. The best hand that statistically has been proven to bring the most wins is when the dealer has a six, and you receive an ace. This is time for you to double down.
Set strict limits and stick to them no matter what
Even though we are talking about strategies, your bankroll management is crucial in order to walk away with some profits from a blackjack session. That is why it is really important to set bet limits, profit limits, and loss limits and stick to them throughout the game.
You should never bet more money than your limit (or what you are comfortable losing), and you should know when to stand up once you’ve reached the highest profits in your session.