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Basic Strategy to Play Blackjack

Basic Strategy and How to Play Blackjack for Beginners

Dolphins e-Gaming Staff 3 years ago 19

With a few good rules of thumb you can greatly increase your chances of winning at blackjack. In 5 minutes you will learn a simple blackjack strategy with which you already play better than 90 percent of the players. This article will cover all the basic strategy and how to play Blackjack for beginners.

If you want to master the rules of the game first, read the detailed explanation of the blackjack rules .

Blackjack can be intimidating, especially for a beginner. But there is a simple blackjack strategy that consists of just 5 rules of thumb. You have memorized these so that you are well prepared at the blackjack table.

Source: How To – Fun and Games

Some of these rules may seem counterintuitive. Nevertheless, these have been extensively calculated mathematically. Would you play millions of games of blackjack in this way, the house edge of the casino would be only 0.7 percent.

In comparison, the average blackjack player loses about 3 to 4 percent of their total bet on average . So this blackjack strategy is going to make you money.

The basics: does the bank have a low or high card?

Very important in a good blackjack strategy is the first card drawn by the bank, the ‘dealer card’.

Per dealer card you can calculate exactly how much chance the bank has of buying itself to death:

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If the bank has an Ace or a ten (or face), it is unfavorable for the players. The chance that the bank will buy itself to death is then small. Much more likely, the bank will end up with a high number of points or even a blackjack.

If the bank has a low card (2 to 6), that is favorable for the players. In that case, the bank has a relatively high chance of buying itself to death.

The five simple rules of thumb are based on this principle.

1. When do you hit?

  • Bank 2 to 6: you pass 12 points or higher
  • Bank 7 to A: you pass 17 points or higher

Note: if you have an Ace in your cards that you can count for both 1 and 11 points, look at rule of thumb 2.

When do you hit - blackjack
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You have 16 points and the bank 10: you buy a card.

2. When do you pass with an Ace?

If you have an Ace in your cards that you can count for 1 or 11 points (a ‘soft’ hand), you pass a little less quickly:

  • Bank 2 through 6: Pass 18 points or higher
  • Bank 7 through A: pass 19 or higher points

Why this strategy is the right one? An example:

You have an Ace and a 7, so 8 or 18 points. Normally you would always pass with 18 points. But with Ace-7 you can buy a card without the risk of dying.

If you get an additional 10, you are again at 18 and you pass. If you get a small card (Ace, 2, 3) then you have gotten a better hand and thus more chance of winning. The chance that you will get a 10 or a small card is quite high: 54 percent together.

If you get a middle card (4-9), there is not much going on yet. You then continue to play according to the first rule of thumb.

When do you pass with an Ace
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You have a soft hand with 18 points, the bank has a 10. You buy a card.

3. When do you double?

  • With 9 points: if the bank has a 2 to 6
  • With 10 or 11 points: if the bank has 2 to 9

You use this strategy with blackjack in Holland Casino and most other European casinos.

When do you double
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Nine points and the bank has a 6. In this case, doubling is sensible and promising.

In online casinos (and in casinos in the US and Macau) you are usually allowed to double up regardless of how many points you have. In that case, you also double in the following cases:

  • Ace-5, Ace-6 or Ace-7: Double down if the bank has a 2-6

Learnmore: When Should You Double Down in Blackjack?

4. When do you split?

  • 4-4, 5-5, 10-10: Never split
  • 8-8, Ace-Ace: always split
  • 2-2, 3-3, 6-6, 7-7, 9-9: Split only if the bank has 2 through 6
When do you split
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You have two sevens, but because the bank has a 10, splitting is not wise.

5. Never insure or choose even money

This is the easiest rule of thumb.

Insurance is never a good choice. Even if you have 19 or 20 points yourself – your own hand doesn’t matter.

You also never choose even money when you have a blackjack and the bank an Ace.

Why this is important?

Of the 13 possible cards that the bank gets to the Ace, four are worth 10 points: King, Queen, Jack and 10. The chance is therefore 4/13 that the bank will get blackjack. That is 30.8 percent.

Suppose you originally wagered $ 10. The insurance then costs 5 euros. If the bank has blackjack, the insurance pays 15 euros (2 to 1).

The expected value of the insurance is then:

€15,00 x 0,308 = €4,62.

So, on average, every time you take out insurance, you lose:

€5,00 – €4,62 = €0,38.

Not a good strategy.

Strategy for Blackjack

When entering the exciting world of Blackjack for the first time, usually novice players are surprised by the many theories related to the strategy that seem so complicated and confusing. Knowing card counting, game schemes, betting systems and more makes them feel intimidated and ultimately choose to ignore them all. This is a big mistake! Strategy is the most powerful tool for fighting in this game. On this site, we provide comprehensive information about blackjack strategies for you Indonesian black jack players with different types of games. Make the best of what we have shared here so that you can master blackjack and of course make abundant profits from this game.

Possible Game End Results

Win, lose, or push is the final result of a blackjack game where there are 3 possible scenarios for the results obtained.Players win when:

  • Get blackjack while the city does not
  • The final set approaches the value of 21 and is higher than the city value
  • The city busts while the players don’t

Players lose when:

  • The city gets blackjack while the players don’t
  • The final set of city cards approaches a value of 21 and is higher than the player’s value
  • Bust player

Players and cities push when:

  • The total score is the same
  • Both of them get blackjack

Basic Blackjack Strategy

When you have your initial set, what choices will you make? Picking a hit or a stand? Choose a surrender, double, or take insurance? The choice of this step can be very confusing for you novice players. However, there must be a way to play blackjack to win that you can apply when you are fighting at the casino blackjack table.

Here is a blackjack strategy for you to apply when playing:

TermDescription
StandThis option is taken when the player does not want additional cards because he wants to maintain the value in the hand.
HitThis option is taken when the player requests an additional card. Additions can continue until the player is bust because the card value exceeds the value of 21.
DoubleThis option is taken when you want to double your initial bet.
Split PairThis option is taken when your first two cards are worth the same (pair). Separate the two and play with two different sets of cards and two bets.
Soft TotalsSoft totals occur when the set of two cards has an Ace. The aces will be counted as 11.
Hard TotalsHard totals occur when the set of two cards has no Ace or if any, the Ace is considered to be 1 instead of 11.
Early SurrenderThis option is taken when you want to withdraw from the game as soon as the cards are dealt and before the dealer checks his cards to see if he gets blackjack. Taking this step costs the player half of the original bet.
Late SurrenderThis option is taken when you want to withdraw from the game to save half your bet after the cards have been dealt and after the dealer has checked his cards to see if he gets blackjack. If he gets blackjack, you are not allowed to surrender and lose all bets.

When to Hit

Don’t hit if you have:

  • hard 17 or above.
  • a total value of 12 to 16 while the dealer has one face-up card worth 4, 5, or 6.

Hit if you have:

  • a total value of 12 to 16 while the dealer has one face-up card worth 7 or higher.
  • soft 17 or below.
  • soft 18 while the dealer has one face-up card worth 9, 10, or Ace.

Don’t stand if you have:

  • a total value of 11 or below.

Do a stand if you have:

  • the total value is above 14 while the dealer has one face-up card worth 4, 5, or 6.
  • a total value of 16 while the city has one open card worth 10, if the player holds 3 or more cards.
  • soft 18 while the dealer has one face-up card worth 2, 7, 8 or holds 3 or more cards.
  • soft 19 or above. The possibility of experiencing a bust is very large.

Don’t do the splits if you have:

  • Pair cards are worth 5 or 10 (King, Queen, Jack, and 10).

Do the splits if you have:

  • A pair of aces or a value of 8, it doesn’t matter what the value of the bookie card is.
  • Pair cards are worth 2 or 3 while the dealer has one card worth 4, 5, or 6.

Double if you have:

  • One card has a value of 9 while the dealer has one face-up card worth 3, 4, 5, or 6.
  • One card is worth 10, it doesn’t matter what the value of the dealer card is, unless one card is worth 10 or Ace.
  • One card is worth 11, it doesn’t matter what the value of the dealer card is, except for one aces.
  • Soft 18 or below while the dealer has one face-up card worth 5 or 6.

Take a look at this blackjack strategy:

  • Soft 20 (As + 9): selalu stand
  • Soft 19 (As + 8): double against 6 – owned, or stand.
  • Soft 18 (As + 7): double against 2 – 6 belonging to the city and hit against 9 – As, or stand.
  • Soft 17 (As + 6): double against 3 – 6 belonging to the city, or hit.
  • Soft 16 (As + 5): double against 4 – 6 city -owned, or hit.
  • Soft 15 (As + 4): double against 4 – 6 city -owned, or hit.
  • Soft 14 (As + 3): double against 5 – 6 city -owned, or hit.
  • Soft 13 (As + 2): double against 5 – 6 city -owned, or hit.

What to do when dealt with these cards? 

Take a look at this blackjack strategy:

  • 17 and above: always stand.
  • 16: stand against 2 – 6 city -owned, or hit.
  • 15: stand against 2 – 6 city -owned, or hit.
  • 14: stand against 2 – 6 city -owned, or hit.
  • 13: stand against 2 – 6 city -owned, or hit.
  • 12: stand against 4 – 6 city -owned, or hit.
  • 11: always double.
  • 10: double against 2 – 9 belongs to the city, or hit.
  • 9: double against 3 – 6 city property, or hit.
  • 8: always a hit.

Early Surrender

  • only do when there is:
  • or cards worth 10 against 4 and 10 or 5 and 9 belong to the city. Applies to single deck games.
  • one card worth 10 against 4 and 10 belongs to the city. Applies to 2 deck games.

Do this if the dealer has:

  • one Ace and you’ve got 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 hard drives
  • one Ace and you have pair 3, 6, 7 or 8
  • one card is worth 10 and you have hard 14, 15, 16 or pair of 7 or 8
  • soft 17 and you have a pair of 2. Applies to 2 deck games.

Late Surrender

Do not do when the city:

  • stand on soft 17 – have one 9, 10, or aces and you have a card with a total score of 15. Applies to single deck play.
  • have one 9 and you have a card with a total score of 16. Valid for single deck play.
  • stand on soft 17 – have 9 or 10 and you have cards totaling 17. Valid for single deck play.

Do this if the dealer has:

  • an ace or card worth 10 and you have a card with a total value of 15.
  • an ace or card is worth 10 and you have a card with a total value of 16, including pairs of 8.
  • an ace and you’ve got a card with a total value of 17.

Practice Strategy

“Practice makes perfect”. This adage is perfect to apply so that you can become a skilled blackjack player. Continue to practice the blackjack strategy you have learned consistently. The process will be arduous and tedious, but you have a satisfying success.

This site gives you the opportunity to try out the games for free and practice implementing basic strategies without having to register and make a deposit.

Practice Strategy - blackjack
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Card Strategy Scheme

This scheme will really help players in deciding what actions to take for various situations at the game table. When using schemes, pay attention to the patterns. The more often you use it, the easier it will be to understand the pattern. We will provide a variety of basic blackjack strategy charts from various blackjack game rules. Learn it carefully so that you don’t use it wrong.

  • H: Hit
  • S: Stand
  • DD: Double Down
  • SP: Split
  • H/SU: Surrender / Hit
  • S/SU: Surrender / Stand
  • D/S: Double / Stand
  • Double / Hit

One deck

The scheme above is made for a game using 52 cards. This blackjack strategy table is used so that you have a card set that is closer to 21 which is higher than the value of the dealer card set, without going over 21.

Two Decks

Two Decks
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Another case with games using 52 cards, Two Decks require a different strategy. For players using basic strategy, Two Deck offers little choice when compared to One Deck. Because of this, Two Decks provide more advantages for casinos.

Play blackjack at top rated online casinos

Play blackjack at top rated online casinos
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The blackjack strategy chart above is used when you play multidec and the city does a stand on soft 17.

4–8 Deck, City Hit on Soft 17

Like the previous 4-8 Deck scheme, this scheme is used when you play multidec, but occurs when the city does a hit on a soft 17.

Probability Combinations

The bookie card that is exposed can give the player an idea of ​​the probability / probability of the total value he has. We present them in a table for easy understanding.

Open Cards \ Total Score1718192021Go
213.9%13.5%13%12.4%11.8%35.4%
313.7%13%12.5%12%11.4%37.4%
413%12.6%12.1%11.7%11.1%39.5%
512.3%12.3%11.7%11.3%10.8%41.6%
616.6%10.6%10.6%10.2%9.7%42.3%
736.9%13.8%7.8%7.9%7.4%26.2%
813.1%35.9%12.9%6.9%6.9%24.3%
912.3%12%35.1%12%6.1%22.5%
10, J, Q, K11.3%11.1%11.1%34.2%11.1%21.2%
A13.1%13.1%13.1%13.1%36.1%11.5%

From the blackjack playing formula above, you can see that it is possible for bookies to:

  • the bust gets bigger when the initial card, which is open, has small values ​​such as 4, 5, and 6.
  • get a big enough blackjack if the initial card, which is open, is worth 10 (10, Jack, Queen, King) and is getting bigger with a card worth 11 (Ac).

The table above makes it easy for you to find out the opportunities you have when playing blackjack. Study it well!

Hard Hand vs Soft Hand dan Pair

What to do when you get hard and soft hands and pair hands.

Hard hand

This occurs when there are no aces on hand. If the total value of the card:

  • 8 down: hit
  • 9: hit or double if the dealer has 3 – 6
  • 10: hit or double if the dealer has 2 – 9
  • 11: hit if the dealer has Ace and double if the dealer has 2 – 9
  • 12: stand if the dealer has 4 – 6; or hit
  • 13 – 16: stand if the dealer has 2 – 6; or hit
  • 17 – 20: stand

Soft hand

This happens when you have one Ace in your hand that is worth 11. If the card combination is:

  • Ace + 2 / As + 3: hit or double if the dealer has 5 – 6
  • Ace + 4 / As + 5: hit or double if the dealer has 4 – 6
  • Ace + 6: hit or double if the dealer has 3 – 6
  • Ace + 7: double if the dealer has 3 – 6; stand if the dealer has 2, 7 or 8; and hits, in different situations
  • As + 8: stand

Pair

This happens when you have cards of the same value (pair). If you have a pair:

  • As: Split pair
  • 2/3: hit or split if the dealer has 2 – 7
  • 4: hit or split if the dealer has 5 – 6
  • 5: hit or double if the dealer has 2 – 9
  • 6: hit or split if the dealer has 2 – 6
  • 7: hit or split if the dealer has 2 – 7
  • 8: Split pair
  • 9: stand if the dealer has 7, 10 or Ace; or split pair
  • 10: stand

Betting System

Applying a betting system in your game will also affect your profit and loss as much as possible. Basically, there are two betting systems, namely Positive Progress and Negative Progress. What systems are included in it? Let’s see.

  • 1-3-2-6 One of these positive progression systems requires the player to increase his stake after each win and it takes four consecutive match wins to make a profit. Assuming 1 unit is $ 5, your first bet is 1 unit worth $ 5, the second bet 3 units is worth $ 15, the third bet is 2 units – $ 10, and the fourth bet is 6 units – $ 30. If you win the fourth bet, it means you won $ 60, but if you lose, what is left is your initial stake of $ 5.
  • Martingale strategy included in the negative system, requires players to double their bets every time they lose. Doubling continues until winning and the bet returns to the original value.
  • Parlay is also included in the positive development system. In this system, the player makes a bet and wins, then in the next game he uses the previous bet plus the profit made as a new bet.
  • D’Alembert system is a combination of positive and negative and is one of the safest systems. It requires players to increase the bet by one unit each time they lose and decrease the bet by one unit each time they win.
  • Fibonacci Sequence as the name implies, it is clear that this betting system uses the Fibonacci sequence, for example 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, etc. or 2, 2, 4, 6, 10, 16, 26, 42, 58, 100, 158, 258, 416, etc., if the sequence starts with 2. This system is similar to Martingale, but less aggressive.
  • Oscar Grind included in the positive system, the purpose of this betting system is to get back the original bet; if you win, the bet value is increased by 1 and if you lose, the bet value remains the same as before losing.

Card Counting

The best way to win the game of blackjack is to do card counting. It may sound complicated and mathematical, but the concept behind it is very simple – this blackjack card counting strategy is used to keep track of what cards have come out on the deck so that players can calculate their chances of getting the cards needed to beat the dealer.

There are several methods of counting blackjack cards that you can apply in the game. We will introduce them to you one by one.

Hi-Lo/High-Low

This method is one of the easiest ways to count blackjack cards. It is done based on a running count at a level where cards worth 2 – 6 count +1, 7 – 9 count as 0, and 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace count as -1. Hi-Lo is a balanced counting system, meaning that if all the cards in the deck are counted correctly, the final result is 0.

Hi-Opt 1 / High Optimal 1

It is commonly referred to as the Einstein Count because it was developed by Charles Einstein in 1968. The system is similar to Hi-Lo, but for cards worth 2 and aces count as 0.

Hi-Opt 2 / High Optimal 2

Basically, this method is an extension of Hi-Opt 1 with even more accurate results. The system changes with increasing levels of calculation so that it is more difficult to learn. This method of counting blackjack requires high math concentration and skills.

KO system

The knockout system (Knock Out) is a method of counting draw cards / unbalanced cards. In this blackjack card counting method, 2 – 7 is calculated as +1, 8 – 9 is counted as 0, and 10 – As is calculated as -1. Unlike Hi-Lo, the KO count should have a final result of +4 instead of 0.

Uston Advanced/ Advanced Level Uston

This blackjack card counting method is not for novice players as it requires high skill to memorize indexes and trace so many numbers. It is a level 3 system with an index ranging from -3 to +3 where 2 & 8 count +1, 3 – 4 & 6 – 7 count +2, 5 count +3, 9 count -1, 10 – Kings count – 3, and As counts as 0.

Tips for Playing Blackjack

It doesn’t matter if you have just learned everything about blackjack or want to continue to hone your playing skills. Here we provide various tips for winning playing blackjack, done by experienced players who have been in this game for a long time.

Keep in mind and apply the following tips:

  • There are two things that might happen when you get a set of cards worth 16, namely hard 16 or soft 16. In hard 16, stand when the dealer has one card of small value (2 – 6) and hit when the dealer has one card of large value (7 – 10, or US). How about soft 16? Never do a stand or surrender. Only double if the dealer has one card worth 4, 5, or 6. Otherwise, hit.
  • Apply Dr. rule. When Pepper has a set of cards with a total value of 12 while the dealer has one face-up card of 4. There are four card combinations with a total value of 12, namely 7 + 5, 8 + 4, 9 + 3, and 10 + 2.The rule is to hit when have a combination of 10 + 2 because there is little chance of getting one more card worth 10 and stand when you have 3 other combinations.
  • Another way to play blackjack to win is to choose the right seat at the game table. If there are other players in the game, try to sit in the third seat. That way, you have plenty of time to think about the best move or remember the strategy scheme when the player before you was making a decision on the game.
  • Use a variety of betting systems so that you know which one fits your pocket best and gives you the most returns. Start with the easiest system and don’t break the bag.
  • Doing card counting is an effective way to make a profit even though it is difficult to do it precisely. Use various methods of counting blackjack cards that we previously described. Master simple methods first, then start trying more complex methods.

Anything that goes against the blackjack strategy we have provided above is sure to jeopardize your chances of winning blackjack. Professional gamblers as well as players with high card counting skills may occasionally resort to deviant strategies in certain situations, but to stick to basic blackjack strategy is still the best way to play.

So, what are some of the misconceptions that most blackjack players believe in? Let’s see!

  • Refused to add cards. Players who don’t understand the basic blackjack strategy usually don’t dare to hit because they are worried about going bust. In fact, the chances of that happening are slim if you know when to add cards and when not.
  • Imitating the bookie style of play. Sounds like a compelling blackjack strategy, but the reality is that there’s no good reason to go for it. They just do some of the rules that the casino enforces. The dealer has a list of rules that have been printed on the table so that usually they will stand on the deck of cards worth 17 or higher and automatically hit when the deck is worth less than 17.
  • Continue to do insurance. Insurance is one of the playing options provided by casinos to players to make the game even more interesting. Players are trapped in the belief that they are protecting their bets against the bookie chances of getting blackjack. In fact, there is no relationship between insurance and your scratch card set. You are actually only betting on the bookie ‘s face down that you think is worth 10. The only thing insurance does is to give the casino a bigger profit.
  • The wrong assumption of a card with a value of 10. This is the worst way to play blackjack. Assuming that the bookie ‘s two hole cards are worth 10 would encourage you to take undue risky action so that you are trying to beat the “imaginary” total value you think he has.

How to Win a Blackjack Game

When gambling, the goddess fortuna only sided with some people. However, blackjack may be the only card game where all players have an equal chance of winning over the bookie. This is because a game of blackjack relies on probability strategies instead of sheer luck. To increase the chances of you winning at a game of blackjack, first you must learn all the basics strategy of playing cards wisely. Then proceed to master the card-counting system.

Part 1: Learn from Zero

  1. Memorize basic game terms. The game of blackjack is simple enough to understand. Every player knows the rule. They need to beat the dealer with the score of 21. However, a lot of players do not understand the game and terms used in this fascinating game. Other than a hit to get an extra card or hold it. Before playing, know about double down (doubling the bet), split (dividing) the cards in the hand, or surrendering (giving up) the cards in the hand so that you can include them in your playing strategy and give you the greatest chance to win.
    • When you double down on a bet, you are doubling your money but only receive one more card.
    • When you have two cards of the same kind, for example two aces, you can divide and play as separate hands with two distinct bets.
    • There aren’t many casinos that will permit you to ask for surrender. When you choose to surrender, for example because you are dealt with a bad hand, you can give up (surrender). This act will save half of the bet on the table.
  2. Reduce the bookie profit. The dealer gets an edge over the players. This is because the player must act first not knowing what is the next hole card being dealt, aka the card that is face down. In addition, if your hand scores past 21, or is a bust , you will still lose even though the dealer also busts. If you understand it, you will realize that winning blackjacks very much depends on your reaction to the cards, your opponent. The dealer only have to predict the dealer’s face down card.
  3. Learn basic strategy of blackjackSince blackjack is a game based on high probability just like other gambling games, you can become a pro player just by learning this game, also how to deal with certain hands. As an example, did you get 16 while the dealer had 10? Did you divide the 8 you have? Study our chart to make a wise decision on which choices to make depending with the cards you and the dealer have. 
  4. At first you will have a hard time remembering how to take action on different scenarios in the game, but with more games that you play, you can do it more instinctively.
  5. Know the table rules before starting to play. Different casinos that provide blackjack games usually have different kind of rules. Some blackjack games use multiple card decks to prevent players from card counting , and mess up your efforts to count your odds of winning. Usually, most blackjack games enforce the dealer to stop when they hit 17, even though the dealer loses. However, there is also a rule that allows the bookie to hit 17 “soft”, that is, 17 of aces (aces can be worth 1 or 11). 
    • Games that are more difficult to win in a long term, for example those that allow the dealer to keep hitting soft 17, should be avoided. 
    • Avoid the continuous beating machine when playing live. This machine makes tracking the cards the dealer can pick up impossible.
  6. Check the blackjack table rules . Before starting to play, it is advised to find some information about how much you will be compensated for winning. If you get natural blackjack, which is 21 on your freshly dealt 2 cards given, the table can pay 3:2, which is IDR 3 for every IDR 2 wagered. Other dealers may pay you less, for example 6:5. This kind of dealer you should avoid.
    • 6:5 is much worse than 3:2. Imagine if you win twice the first chance you need to bet 10 units only to get a winning of 12 units. This 12 units at second chance in turn will make four bets totaling 8 units to make a winning of 12 units.
  7. Formulate your strategy of betting. In an average game, you should be consistent, also at a minimum, increase the bet by one unit until you get a win. Remember this, “it’s time to win” or a “hot & cold” deck is bogus in this game. Any patterns you notice will disappear in time. This is because this game is based at odds and probability. You should try betting in a low bet after losing or shuffling the deck and increasing just a little bit when you see profitable odds.
  8. Increase the stakes when the odds is in your favor. A lot of the high cards are actually in your favor as they are always 10 and will get you more blackjack. If you play a lot, you will become good at getting a feel for how many good cards are left and how to move on with your hand. Once you’ve found your chances of winning, you can try to bet more aggressively.
  9. Resist the temptation to buy insurance. The dealer might offer you to buy protection option in case they have a blackjack. In essence, this means that you are making a side-bet that he will get a blackjack. If it is true that he has blackjack, you might win a side-bet but lose the main bet. This option can return your money for a short term, but in the long run the casino will always win. 
    • The beginner cannot tell the dealer has a good card. Because it is under the face down, it might worth 10 points or less. However, card counters will be aware of this and with relevant information he can place bets.

Part 2: Counting Cards

  1. Set a value on the card. Under the card counting method called Hi-Lo, each card has a specific value. For example, cards 2 through 6 are worth 1 point. Cards 7-9 are worth 0. Cards 10, face cards, also the aces have a value of -1.
    • The idea behind that is that you can keep the total value of the cards being shown, and you will know how many face cards are left on the deck. The chances of getting blackjack is significantly bigger and the dealer bust more often .
    • The Hi-Lo method is commonly used in many games, but there are other systems that assign other points to certain cards such as 5s and aces.
  2. Practice maintaining the running count (count continues). Use a fresh deck. Now turn the cards, adding up one by one as the values ​​for you to play. When you draw 2, 5, and ace, you have a point of 1. When you have reach the end, the total count must be zero. Keep practicing until you can calculate the totals quickly and also quietly.
  3. Take care of true countMost blackjack casinos are very responsive to many card counters so the game is played on multiple decks simultaneously. True count takes off and divides the running count by the number of decks played. This calculation will allow you to know how much profit you have when you need to bet.
    • A running count consists of 2 cards has a big chance of winning in one deck play, but it doesn’t matter much in multi-deck games. This is because there are a lot more cards to consider and reduces your chances to win.
    • For example, with a running count of 7 divided by 2 decks yields about 3.However, if the number of decks played is 6, there is only 1 true count.
  4. Practice maintaining a true countStart with multiple decks. Turn the cards over one at a time so that you get used to dividing by fractions. Initially, you can round the division to a regular true count, however as you play, this division can be done accurately by rote.
    • You can try practicing in online simulators. Some of these card counting simulators can also correct miscalculations and track your winnings.
  5. Practice counting as often as you could. As you are getting fluent in maintaining the true count, you should try imitating the casino atmosphere. Start small. Turn on some music or chat sound to make it interesting. As you get better at it, bring a friend, or partner to play along. Later you must practice in a noisy atmosphere, for example at a party. In the end, you can silently calculate a true count while chatting with other people.
  6. Adjust the stakes. As you practice card counting, increase the stake when your counting is in high or positive. Don’t forget to do it quietly. Stay natural, chat with other players instead of mumbling your calculations. Increase the stakes a little at a time when possible, and lower them when you lose. Don’t sit at one table for hours on end, walk away when your win starts to attract attention. 
    • Legal card counting is legal, but most casinos don’t like it, that is because the practice can hurt them.

How to play Blackjack

  • Start betting with the minimum amount at the table.
  • Choose the table carefully. A slow, distracted dealer makes it easy for you to count cards and strategize. You cannot count cards against online dealers and auto shufflers.
  • Play with a clear head. Try not to play when tired or under the influence of alcohol. Casinos profit from players who make bad decisions.
  • Don’t be superstitious while playing. Many players are tempted to believe their feelings when playing, which often costs them money.

Glossary

TermsDescription
Early SurrenderOne way of playing blackjack is that players choose to withdraw immediately after receiving the first two cards even before the dealer checks their own cards to see the odds they have. This choice will halve the player’s bet.
BustThe value of a player or city card exceeds 21 so it is considered a fall.
Hard handHave no Ace at all or have one AS, but is worth 1 instead of 11.
HitPlayers want additional cards.
InsuranceThe choice taken by the player to reduce his bet loss. This advanced blackjack strategy is carried out when players think that the dealer has a chance of getting blackjack. Players will get double the insurance amount if the dealer gets blackjack or lose the entire insurance amount if the dealer does not get blackjack.
Late SurrenderThe rewind option is taken by the player after receiving the first two cards and the city checks his own card. Players will lose the entire bet when the city gets blackjack.
Positive developmentsA betting strategy in blackjack that requires players to increase the bet after winning the game. This system maximizes profits on winning streaks and minimizes losses when losing.
Negative developmentsA betting strategy in blackjack that requires players to increase their bets after losing the game. This system aims to recover losses and gain a small amount of profit.
PushThe value of the card set owned by the player and the dealer is the same.
Soft handHave an Ace in a hand that is worth 11. A player will not “bust” if he has a “soft hand”.
SplitWhen there are two cards of the same rank, the split option can be made. The two are separated and the player places a different bet on the two.
StandPlayers don’t want additional cards.

FAQ

How to count the best blackjack cards?

Nothing is the best. The success or failure of card counting depends on the player’s ability. Even the most advanced blackjack card counting methods won’t work if the player doesn’t do it accurately.

What mistakes do beginners make when placing bets?

Place high stakes when winning consecutively. The winning streak is just a coincidence. It is important to remember that if you win a few times it doesn’t mean that the next game will be lucky again. Betting large amounts when you win does not increase your chances of continuing to win.

When should I do a split pair?

Anytime when you have two cards of the same rank which are 2, 3, 8, or 11 (Ace). However, do the splits on cards worth 2 and 3 only if the dealer has 4, 5, or 6 cards.

How do you win blackjack with a basic blackjack strategy?

In essence, the basic strategy helps the player to take action on the cards in the hand. Understand and remember the points we have given about when is the right time to hit, stand, split, double, etc.

Conclusion

Blackjack is a very popular card game in casinos today. To become a master gamer with experience in gambling on this type of card besides the risk factor, you must have a very strong mentality so that the dealer doesn’t understand your weakness.

Warning:

Counting card is legal. As long as you don’t play a part in something that changes the flow of the game, you are not cheating. If the casino asks you to leave, go with it, but don’t give up your chips.