5 Blackjack Strategies That You Should Know
Blackjack is one of the oldest and most beloved casino games in the world. It can be beaten based on skill with no luck involved provided a player has some form of strategy in place.
Blackjack has a lower house edge than other casino games which means you can focus on having fun with strategizing moves and making an effective hand.
If you want to understand how to play blackjack effectively or learn new strategies to implement into your gameplay, this article will help you out.
If you’re ready, let’s jump straight in!
1. Double Down On A Hard 11
The main aim of playing blackjack is to achieve a win against the dealer. If you believe you have any sort of statistical advantage, this is your chance to take a shot!
Doubling down is one of the most well-known Blackjack strategic bets out there. It has the potential to eventually double your winnings and also puts you in a good position against the dealer’s hand.
This is because it’s impossible to bust on any hard 11. As a result, you can achieve an instant win by increasing your hand to 21.
Doubling down is so effective that it adds an extra 100% bet to any current stake. It also adds a final card before the results are calculated.
However, you should never double down when you show any value higher than an 11. If you do, you increase your overall chances of going bust and it becomes very risky.
2. Manage Your Bankroll
As with anything else, you must make sure you keep an eye on your Blackjack budget and spend only what you can realistically afford.
Not only will this keep you on track with your spending but it will also prevent you from chasing your losses.
Both winning and losing streaks are inevitable when you are playing Blackjack. Yet you’ll never claim victory if you manage to go bust only fifteen minutes into your session! Therefore, staying aware of your bankroll will keep you in the game and minimize all risks.
If you are often spending more than you intended and can’t control your actions, there are specific strategies that will prevent you from going overboard with spending.
This includes the 1-3-2-6 method which is an easy-to-follow progressive Blackjack betting system that can amplify wins or increase losses, depending on the situation.
3. Try Out Side Bets
The trick to success with Blackjack is not putting all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. This is the time when you may want to try out or introduce side bets to develop your overall strategy.
There are certain ways that your and the dealer’s hands may lead to winning bets. One of these is the Perfect Pair bet. This will pay out 5:1, requiring only the same suit, card, or value to pay up to 25:1 on the initial stake.
Another brilliant option is the 21+3 bet which uses the upcard of the dealer and both of your cards to win anywhere up to 100:1 for a three-of-a-kind. If you’re willing to diversify the bets that you make, you may discover that there are many more ways to find success than simply hitting 21.
4. Never Make An Insurance Bet
Though it’s okay to try side bets, we’d suggest staying as far away from an insurance bet as you can.
Insurance bets can be good if you are directly facing a solid upcard. They’ll also pay out 2:1 provided the dealer gets an overall Blackjack (an Ace and a face or 10 cards). They take half of your stake so, even if the dealer wins, you could leave with something in your pocket.
5. However, it’s not worth the mathematical risk.
To put it simply, insurance bets are where the dealer may try to get you. It’s a statistically poor bet that is used when a Blackjack is involved (the dealer has an Ace upcard).
The payoff for this type of bet (usually 2:1) is also far smaller than the odds that the dealer will achieve a Blackjack, making it an irrelevant bet.
6. Take Breaks
No Blackjack strategy is quite as effective as implementing multiple breaks in a single session! You wouldn’t stare at your phone screen for hours on end without putting it down for at least a couple of minutes, and playing multiple rounds of Blackjack (or any casino game) without a break is no different.
Your brain needs time to rest and calm down from the excitement of the game. If you struggle with taking breaks or simply can’t find it in you to set aside the time, feel free to set a reminder on your phone every 50 minutes or so.
Taking breaks will also be good for your wallet as you’ll be more likely to remain in control of your actions and how much you are spending.
Summary
Blackjack is a relatively straightforward game. By implementing these strategies, you’re far more likely to make your game successful. You’ll also be more in control of your actions which will prevent unnecessary spending.
