Categories
Blog Sports Betting

Top Tips on How to Win at Blackjack

Blackjack is a game of skill where learning how to play blackjack is not enough to give players the confidence that they can win real money from the game. Having a blackjack strategy is necessary to give people a chance to have a chance of making a profit and not only making small wins.

Before learning about blackjack strategies, it’s first important to learn about the fundamental rules of blackjack to learn how the game works and act accordingly.

Learn the Fundamental Rules of Blackjack

In blackjack, the player competes against the dealer to get blackjack or a hand that’s closest to 21. The ultimate objective is to beat the dealer’s hand without busting. Some players might see other players as competition when it shouldn’t be the case.

When the player gets a 21 or a natural, they get paid 3:2 or 6:5 of their stake. When the player beats the dealer using any other hand, they get paid 1:1 of their stake. Should a draw occur, a push will happen, and the player will get their bet back.

To understand how to get a hand that can beat the dealer, blackjack players must first understand the cards’ values to know what to do. The cards’ values are the following:

  • King, Queen, and Jack – 10
  • 2-10 – the cards’ face value
  • Ace – 1 or 11

Learn Basic Strategy

After knowing the cards’ values, blackjack players can then learn about basic strategy. Basic strategy is the foundation of all blackjack strategies that all professional gamblers use. Mastery over basic strategy gives players a better idea of when to make certain plays and when to deviate from them. Learning basic strategy means learning when to do the following:

Knowing when to hit, stand, double down, split, and surrender are the absolute basics and playing without knowing them will only result in significant losses. Below are tables that show players what to do when they have certain hands while the dealer has a certain upcard. The dealer’s upcard is shown in the top row, while the player’s hand is shown in the leftmost column.

What to Do in Certain Hard and Soft Totals?

 

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Ace

17

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

16

S

S

S

S

S

H

H

H

H

H

15

S

S

S

S

S

H

H

H

H

H

14

S

S

S

S

S

H

H

H

H

H

13

S

S

S

S

S

H

H

H

H

H

12

H

H

S

S

S

H

H

H

H

H

11

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

10

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

H

H

9

H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

H

H

H

H

H

8

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

A, 9

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

A, 8

S

S

S

S

DD or S

S

S

S

S

S

A, 7

DD or S

DD or S

DD or S

DD or S

DD or S

S

S

H

H

H

A, 6

H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

H

H

H

H

H

A, 5

H

H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

H

H

H

H

H

A, 4

H

H

DD or H

DD or H

DD or H

H

H

H

H

H

A, 3

H

H

H

DD or H

DD or H

H

H

H

H

H

A, 2

H

H

H

DD or H

DD or H

H

H

H

H

H

Legend:

  • H = Hit
  • S = Stand
  • DD = Double Down

In the table above, players are prompted to double down or stand/hit. This is mainly to accommodate different blackjack variations where players can’t double down due to the specific variation’s rules. If doubling down is not allowed, then players must either hit or stand, depending on what basic strategy dictates.

When to Split?

 

 

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Ace

A, A

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

10, 10

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

9, 9

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Don’t Split

Split

Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

8, 8

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

7, 7

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

6, 6

Split if DAS is allowed

Split

Split

Split

Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

5, 5

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

4, 4

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Split if DAS allowed

Split if DAS is allowed

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

3, 3

Split if DAS is allowed

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

2, 2

Split if DAS is allowed

Split

Split

Split

Split

Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Don’t Split

Legend:

  • DAS = Double Down after Split

When to Surrender?

 

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Ace

16

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

15

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

14

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

 

Learn Proper Card Counting

After learning and mastering basic strategy, learning about card counting in blackjack is the next step to improving a blackjack player’s chances of making a profit. Card counting is an advanced blackjack strategy that requires prior mastery of basic strategy to know when to raise and lower bets. This is necessary to minimise losses when the player is at a disadvantage and increase profits when the player has the advantage.

Card counting can be considered an advantage play, and casinos typically hate advantage players. Casinos don’t like losing money, so they usually ban certain players from the casino itself or the blackjack table. There are currently a lot of misconceptions about counting cards because of how much casinos dislike advantage players.

Learning how to count cards in blackjack will involve using specific card counting systems to be able to count cards effectively. It’s also important to learn how to count cards safely to ensure that gamblers can continue playing.

Best Card Counting System for Beginners

Card counting in blackjack involves using certain systems to count cards effectively to keep track of which cards have already been dealt and which ones have not. Keeping track of them can give blackjack players an idea of whether raising their bets will allow them to win big or not.

Among the card counting systems that people can use are the following:

  • Hi-Lo
  • Hi-Opt I
  • HI-Opt II
  • Knock Out
  • Red Seven
  • Omega II
  • Ace/Five
  • Zen Count
  • Halves
  • KISS I
  • KISS II
  • KISS III
  • Wong Halves
  • Noir
  • Silver Fox
  • Unbalanced Zen 2
  • Illustrious 18
  • Revere Point Count
  • Uston Advanced Point Count
  • Canfield Expert System

Of all the systems mentioned above, the Hi-Lo is arguably the best for beginners.

Hi-Lo Card Counting System

The Hi-Lo card counting system is one of the simplest and easiest to understand card counting systems out there that beginners can study. The Hi-Lo system was created in 1963 by Harvey Dubner and refined by Julian Braun, which Edward Thorp further modified. Thorp published the card counting system in the book Beat the Dealer, which was considered the first book on card counting.

In the Hi-Lo system, blackjack players assign a value to each card. The cards’ values are as follows:

  • 2-6 = +1
  • 7-9 = 0
  • Ace, 10, Jack, Queen, King = – 1

As each card is dealt, the player must add 1, subtract 1, or do nothing based on the drawn card’s value. A standard 52-card deck has the following number of cards and their respective values:

  • 20 cards worth +1
  • 20 cards worth – 1
  • 12 cards worth 0

Calculating the cards’ values is necessary to keep track of which cards are drawn and maintain either a running count or a true count. The running count is the count that players apply to determine the true count, which is then calculated by dividing the running count by the number of decks left. In a one-deck game of blackjack, the running count automatically equals the true count.

In the Hi-Lo card counting system, gamblers must size their bets according to the true count. Written below is how players can apply this:

  • If the true count is negative, 0, or 1, place the minimum bet
  • If the true count is +2, double the bet
  • If the true count is +3, triple the bet
  • If the true count is +4, quadruple the bet

A positive count means more high-value cards remain in the deck, so getting blackjack or a hand close to 21 is even more possible.

Learn Blackjack Deviations

Blackjack deviations are times when players must alter their playstyles. A player must first master basic strategy to learn when they should deviate from it to make more advantageous plays and throw off the casino when suspected as a card counter.

The following are the two kinds of blackjack deviations to learn always to have the advantage in the game:

Betting Deviations

A betting deviation is a deviation from the standard betting practice a gambler is expected to have when using a card counting system. This means not taking advantage of high probabilities of getting blackjack and betting low. When using the Hi-Lo system, players must raise their bets when the true count is high, but deviating from it means betting low and not taking advantage of the high probabilities of winning big.

Deviating from standard betting practices is useful to throw off the casino from the fact that the gambler is counting cards.

Playing Deviations

A playing deviation is a deviation from the standard playstyle when religiously following basic strategy or other advantageous strategies. This means deliberately making mistakes like doubling down on a hard 12 or not splitting double Aces.

Deviating from standard playstyles allows players to deliberately make mistakes to make the dealer think they’re rookies who don’t know how to play. This is important because dealers in traditional casinos typically announce when people double down on a hard 12, announcing that the particular player is a potential card counter. Only veteran players know why it’s important to double down on 12.

 

Manage Your Bankroll

When practising basic strategy to learn about card counting, it’s important to know how to manage their bankrolls to keep themselves from losing too much money. Having a sizable bankroll allows the player to play for extended periods even after experiencing a few losing streaks after getting unlucky while counting cards correctly.

It is not unheard of for professional card counters who play correctly to suffer bad losing streaks, so rookie counters must have enough money to continue playing. When possible, gamblers must look for tables with low minimum stakes to be able to limit their losses and play for long periods, even with a small bankroll.

Read more: How to Make a $100 Bankroll Last?

Bankroll management is absolutely necessary to be able to practice basic and advanced blackjack strategies. Without it, gamblers won’t be able to practice playing the game with the ideal strategies. This is also the case for practising deviations when making deliberate mistakes is necessary.

Avoid Side Bets and Insurance

Basic strategy is the foundation of all winning blackjack strategies, and it doesn’t say anything about side bets and insurance. Experts advise against taking insurance due to how disadvantageous they are for gamblers.

Side bets typically have hefty payouts that can attract anyone to place bets on them. The only problem is that the chances of winning such bets are low that willing a few of them aren’t profitable. Sticking with basic strategy and strategies formed from mastering it is enough to win and profit from blackjack.

Choose Online Casinos Over Land-Based Ones

Playing blackjack at land-based casinos will have a lot of disadvantages for gamblers, including rookies and professional card counters. Playing personally at traditional casinos can be intimidating for beginners when playing with more experienced players who might blame rookies for making mistakes and ruining their own plays.

Playing blackjack in an online casino in Singapore will allow gamblers to avoid the stares of disappointed and angry players. Being able to do so allows rookies to play comfortably without the condemnation of other players at the same table. Playing blackjack online also allows gamblers to enjoy the following benefits:

  • Be able to play low minimal bet games
  • Faster game speed
  • Casino bonuses and promotions
  • Practice playing with free blackjack demo games
  • Practice basic strategy and card counting with minimal chances of getting caught

Playing in online casinos also allows card counters to potentially stay safe from getting banned. Traditional casinos typically prohibit advantage players from playing in the casino or the blackjack tables at least.

Practice with Free Blackjack

As mentioned above, playing in online casinos allows blackjack players to practice using a gaming provider’s demo games. Online casinos typically offer demo games to their players. Such games can help gamblers practice or get in the mood to play blackjack for real money. Some providers also allow their regular tables to function as demo games to experience playing the real game without any risk of losing real money.

Practising basic strategy and card counting through live demo games should allow players to know how they should play when faced with the real thing. Gaming without practice can make mistakes when finally playing with real money.

Quit While Ahead

Once a gambler knows how to win at blackjack and wins several games through perfect basic strategy and card counting, they should also know when to quit. Knowing to quit while ahead will allow gamblers to leave the casino with their winnings in hand or at least limit their losses.

Register in a Reliable Online Casino

As mentioned above, playing in an online casino is advisable to ensure that gamblers can play blackjack without any worries of getting judged by other players or getting caught counting cards. When deciding to play through an online casino, gamblers must ensure that they’ll register in a reputable online casino. This allows the gambler to play blackjack online without any worries of getting scammed off their winnings.

CM2Bet is one of the best online casinos in Singapore and Malaysia where blackjack players can play comfortably. CM2Bet also has a wide selection of great casino games, including live blackjack, through different casino gaming providers like Evolution Gaming. Register with us today to start playing blackjack for free and real money.

Through CM2Bet, gamblers can also learn more about blackjack strategy through our series of blackjack strategy guide articles below:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Online Games

Banking online