Proven Blackjack Strategies That You Should Learn

In playing this live blackjack game, there are many different blackjack strategies to apply, learn, and try to win the game. Learning the right way to make smart decisions can help you earn this game. Here, we will provide you with playing tips in this basic guide to blackjack. Continue reading to learn all about the best ways to play 21 in online casinos at trusted gaming sites.

Highlights: Blackjack Strategies Key Points

These are basic blackjack strategies to help you play the game effectively at online casinos.

If you have a total of 13, 14, 15, or 16, and the dealer has a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, keep your hand. If the dealer has a higher card, take another card to try to improve your hand. If you have a 16 and the dealer has a 9, 10, or ace, consider surrendering if that’s an option.

Choose a blackjack variation that you know better

One of the more accessible blackjack variations for potentially earning profits is “Single Deck Blackjack.” This variant is advantageous for players due to its simplified deck composition, making card counting easier and more effective. With fewer cards in play, it’s simpler to track the ratio of high to low-value cards, a key factor in successful play. 

Additionally, casinos often offer more favorable rules for single-deck games, providing better odds for players. However, it’s crucial to note that finding single-deck games may require some scouting, as they have become less common in many casinos.

Lotus365 is currently offering several blackjack tables where only one player hand is dealt and multiple players share this hand. Playing this variation can make it easier to count cards and to keep players from worrying too much about whether another player will screw them over by getting a good card and result in them losing. Some of these tables are Unlimited Blackjack and Infinite Blackjack.

The second step is to learn the strategy chart

The second step on blackjack strategies is to learn how to beat blackjack involves becoming familiar with a basic strategy chart. It provides an optimal way to play the game, with the correct move for every situation that arises at the table. This is based on the cards you have and, on the dealer’s, upturned card.

We recommend printing the basic blackjack strategies chart below and keeping it in front of you or simply opening this chart on your computer screen when you play. If you happen to be in a casino and have not memorized all the plays, you can consult a basic blackjack strategy chart as you play.

How to Read the Blackjack Chart?

H= Hit

S= Stand

Dh= Double down if allowed; if not, hit

Ds= Double down if allowed; if not, stand

Rh= Surrender if allowed; if not, hit

Rs= Surrender if allowed; if not, stand

Rp= Surrender if allowed; if not, split

P= Split

Ph= Split if double after hit is allowed; if not hit

Pd= Split if double after hit is allowed; if not double

Ps= Split if double after hit is allowed; if not, stand

The blackjack chart can seem a bit confusing at first, but you can quickly understand how it works by consulting solutions for each situation as you play blackjack.

In the leftmost column, you will find your hand, which can be a total value or a particular starting combo of two cards. After you identify this based on the hand you have been dealt, you need to check the dealer’s upcard. Move to the corresponding position on the right, and the box will show you the best possible move for that situation.

You can stand, split, double down, or surrender. If doubling down or surrendering isn’t supported in the version of blackjack you are playing, you can simply hit or stand instead. It’s best to play games that permit doubling down and surrendering.

Hit on 12 against 2 or 3 dealers upcard

If the dealer reveals a 2 or 3, it’s a good idea to take another card when you have a total of 12. This gives you a better chance of winning because having any number higher than the dealer is really important. When you have a pair value of 12, it’s not very likely that you’ll go over 21 and bust. So, adding one more card can help you beat the dealer, especially when they start with a low card. This way, you increase your chances of either making the dealer go over 21 or ending up with a higher total in the end.

Split a pair of 8s and Aces

It’s best to split a pair of 8s or a pair of Aces. Even though having a 16 is okay, hitting can easily lead to going over 21. Keeping it as 16 is risky because the dealer might beat it with any card higher than 16. This is regardless of what the dealer is showing, even though it requires an extra bet. With nines, the situation is almost the same, but it is best to stand if the dealer has 7, 10, or Ace.

Employing card counting approach

One of the best ways to play is to count your cards. There isn’t a basic blackjack strategies that will teach you how to count cards because you need to know how to mark cards, figure out odds, and match what the player shows each round. 

In the long term, it will give you a 1 to 2 percent edge. This method can only be used in real-life gambling, though. In most web games, the cards are shuffled after each hand, which means that you can’t count them. The same is true for games in real-life casinos that use computers that shuffle the cards all the time to stop people from betting tactics.

People who play blackjack keep track of the cards that are dealt from the shoe to figure out what cards are most likely to come up next. High cards help you more in 21. If the deck has more red cards, 10s, and Aces, you’re ahead, so it makes sense to raise your bet. It also lets you double down again in the future.

To keep track of the cards that have been given from a shoe, players start a count and add one for every 2♥, 3♥, 4♥, 5♥, or 6♥ that is dealt. The count stays the same for cards 7♥, 8♥, and 9♥. The count drops by one if a 10♥, J♥, Q♥, K♥, or A♥ shows up.

Once you learn how to count cards in blackjack, you raise your bet as the count goes up.

How Card Counting Works?

Using card counting in games with multiple decks is possible but a bit trickier. Start by figuring out your running count, just like in a single-deck game. Then, adjust it for the number of decks by dividing the running count by the total number of unplayed decks. This gives you the “true count,” which helps you see with blackjack strategies if you have an advantage or not, much like the running count does.

Blackjack Betting Systems

There are different betting systems in blackjack strategies that bettors use to try and improve their chances against the dealer. Here are some common ones:

1. Martingale: Players double their bets after losing, aiming to recover losses with one big win. It’s risky!

2. D’Alembert: Players increase their bets by one unit after a loss and decrease after a win. It’s considered a safer system.

3. Fibonacci: Based on a math sequence, players follow a pattern of increasing bets after losses. It’s like Martingale but less aggressive.

4. 1-3-2-6: This strategy involves betting 1, 3, 2, and 6 units consecutively. Bets only increase after a win.

5. Parlay: It’s a positive progression system where winnings and the original bet are combined for the next bet after a win. If the player loses, they go back to the original bet.

These systems are used to manage bets in a series of plays, but they’re different from playing strategies. Keep in mind that all betting strategies come with risks.

FAQs

Conclusion

There are a lot more blackjack strategies that you can use, but the ones above are proven with our Lotus365 website among the most commonly used in other blackjack playing styles. But every bettor should remember that blackjack is a game of chance, and you’re losing and winning streaks are still up to Luck.