Blackjack is one of the world’s most popular casino games. It is easy to play and has a low house edge, making it one of the most profitable casino games. Some gambling enthusiasts argue that it’s more of a game of skill, while others say it’s a game of luck. Nonetheless, it’s one of the few games that allows players to apply strategy to increase their chances of winning.
By employing a tested and reliable strategy, you can boost your winning chances. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that it’s still gambling, and therefore, luck still plays a part in your winnings. You’ll actually need some luck for most of your strategies to work. If you want to employ a Blackjack strategy and tips to improve your probability of winning, this post is for you.
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Blackjack Card Counting
Blackjack card counting is one of the best strategies you can use. The strategy aims to establish who has an advantage in the game by counting the number of low and high-value cards. The card-counting strategy helps players know when to increase and lower their bets.Â
The Hi-Lo system is the simplest and most popular card-counting strategy. The players, also known as card counters, use strategy to keep track of the high and low cards left in the dealer’s hand. The strategy places cards into three main categories:
- 10, J, Q, K, and A are high cards and have a value of -1.
- 7, 8, and 9 are neutrals and have a value of 0.
- 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are low cards and have a value of +1.
The high cards are in favor of the player, while the low cards favor the dealer. High cards increase the chances of a player hitting a blackjack.
Players assign a positive (+), neutral (0), or negative (-) value to cards. They will then add or subtract each card when they are dealt to keep a running count. For example, if a 5 is dealt, add +1 to the running count. If a 9 is dealt, leave it that way. If a 10 is dealt, subtract -1.
If you’re playing blackjack on multiple decks, you will need to adjust the running count. To do this, divide the running count by the number of remaining decks. So, if the running count is +6 and the remaining decks are 2, the true count is 3.
The true count is considered a more accurate way to determine player advantage than the running count. When the true count is negative, it indicates a high number of low cards, which means it’s in favor of the dealer, and the player may place minimal bets. Conversely, when it’s positive, it’s advantageous to the player, and they can increase their bets.
The Most Popular Card Counting Strategies
By employing strategy, you can lower the house edge of blackjack, hence increasing your winning chances. Here are some of the most popular methods you should consider using.
Surrender
Surrender is a simple and straightforward rule. It involves giving up half your bet. If your hand doesn’t have a chance to win against the dealer, you should consider surrendering. There are two rules to surrender. The first rule is early surrender. This rule reduces the house edge by 0.62%. The second rule is the late surrender. With this rule, you can only surrender and lose 50% of your bet after the dealer checks for blackjack. This rule reduces the house edge by 0.05% – 1%.
For example:
Surrender hard 17 against an Ace.
Surrender 16 against the dealer’s hand is 9 through Ace.
Surrender 15 against the dealer’s hand is 10 or Ace.
Don’t surrender if the 16 is a pair of 8s.
Split
The split strategy is used when a player receives two identical cards. They can split the cards into two hands, after which they will be dealt an additional card each other. However, in order to split, you’ll be required to place an additional bet on the new hand. The bet should be equal to the initial bet you placed. While splitting is a great strategy, it’s only advantageous when done at the right time and with the right pair.
For example:
Split 6s if the dealer holds 6 or less.
Split 7s if the dealer holds 7 or less.
Don’t split 5s if the dealer holds 9 or less; instead, double down.
Don’t split 4s.
Split 3s if the dealer holds 4 or 7.
Split 2s if the dealer holds 3 to 7.
Double
This strategy involves doubling your bet in the middle of a hand to get an extra card when you’re in an advantageous position. Doubling allows you to increase your initial bet by up to 100 percent in exchange for agreeing to stand. It may be a risky strategy, but it can increase your payout.
For example:
Double soft 16 – 18 against a dealer’s low cards.
Double 10 – 11 against lower dealer card.
Double a hard 9 when the dealer’s up card shows 2 – 6. A hard 9 means there’s no Ace.
Hit and stand
This strategy involves knowing when to hit and when to stand. You can continue taking a card (hitting) until you bust or stand. To win in a blackjack game, you should know when to do either. Generally, you should hit if you have a value of 8. You should also hit if the dealer has a high card. Here are more examples.Â
Hit if the dealer is holding an ace, and you have 11.
Hit if the dealer holds a 10 or ace and you have a 10.Â
Hit with a 9 if the dealer is holding a 2 or 7 to ace.
Hit if the value of your hand is a 5, 6, 7, or 8.
Stand with 12 if the dealer holds a 4, 5, or 6.
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Single Deck Blackjack Strategy
Single-deck blackjack is a great starting point for beginners. It’s a great option for applying strategy. However, it’s become less and less popular because of card counting. Single-deck blackjack is easier to play because they have fewer cards. Most blackjack tips and strategies work perfectly well on single-deck blackjack.
One of the main advantages of this game is that it’s easy to know when to hit, split, stand, or double down. If the face-up card in the dealer’s hand is 2, 4, 5, or 6 (weaker), you have higher chances in the next round. If the value of your starting hand is poor (13 – 16), you can stand. Moreover, if you have two with the same value, you can split with a larger number to increase your stake and winnings.
Four and Eight Deck Blackjack Strategy
One of the main advantages of blackjack is that it’s easier to create a strategy that covers the different variations of the game. The most important thing to consider is the number of decks and knowing when to hit or stand on soft 17. The six-deck blackjack is the most popular variant. You can try a few basic strategies when playing four- and eight-deck blackjack games. You should always split Aces and 8s. Always hit hard 11 or less. Double down soft 17 or 18 against the dealer’s 3 through to 6. Don’t split 5s and 10s. Split 2s and 3s only when the deal has 4 through to 7. Double 13 or 14 against the dealer’s 5 and 6.
Easy Tips for Improving Your Blackjack Strategies
Here are a few tips to make your blackjack strategies more effective:
Play free games – The main advantage of playing free games is that they give you the opportunity to hone your skills and test out different strategies before trying the real money version of the game.
Stick to your favorite version of blackjack – Applying a strategy to your favorite version of blackjack is easier. This will also increase your chances of winning.
Practice responsible gambling – Like other casino games, you must know when to leave the table. Have a bankroll and quit playing when you reach your daily, weekly, or monthly budget.
Conclusion
Blackjack is one of the most popular games in Malaysia. Being a game of skill, you can apply strategy to boost your winning chances. Card counting is one of the most effective blackjack strategies. It involves keeping track of the number of cards remaining in the dealer’s hand. You can also use other strategies like surrender, split, double, and hit and stand. Besides using strategy, it’s important to choose a reputable online casino. Your preferred casino should also hold a license from a recognized body.
FAQ
Card counting is not illegal but most land-based casinos don't allow it. If they notice you're counting cards, they might throw you out. But you can count cards online without any problem.
Unfortunately, there’s no full-proof method or strategy for winning blackjack. Most strategies are designed to increase your chances of winning.
Blackjack has a house edge of 0.6% to 1%. It’s one of the lowest house edges you can find in a casino game.
Hit on 8 or less and stand on 12 or higher.
The blackjack strategy may vary from one variant to another. The main difference is in whether it’s single or multiple-deck blackjack.
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