Winning at blackjack requires skill, math and a good black strategy. The more you play the game the more you get to adopt your own unique way of winning. It may seem difficult to win against the house because the odds are always in favour of the house but with a good blackjack strategy you can lessen the house advantage and increase your odds of winning more blackjack hands. In this guide, I will outline a few fundamental techniques that can help you to win effectively whilst playing online blackjack.
Blackjack Variations
Before you think of using any blackjack strategy during game play, you need to first consider the type of blackjack variation you are playing. Each variation comes with its own set of rules and they differ from one another. If you intend to play blackjack at a professional level then you need to select a blackjack variation that offers a wide range of betting options. The betting options offered can benefit a player during game play.
The best blackjack variation to play is the one that offers the following betting options: – Stand, hit, Surrender, Insurance, double down (on anything or below 11), and Split (on aces and pairs). After having selected your variation, you can proceed with game play. With most online blackjack casinos, the dealer usually stands on soft 17.
Using Blackjack Strategy
As soon as the game proceeds, you need to focus mainly on your hand as well as the dealer’s hand. The dealer’s hand has a face down card and another card exposed to players. Hence, you need to make a comparison of your hand against the dealer’s hand and calculate the odds and likelihood of your hand beating the dealer’s hand.
With hand comparison, you will get to know the types of hands to play as well as knowing when to hit, surrender, take insurance, spilt or double down during game play. The best strategy to adopt is to know how to play your hard and soft hands. The following steps will guide you on how to play your hard and soft hands:
How to Play Hard hands
A Hard hand is a hand with two starting cards not consisting of an ace or the ace is counted as 1.
- If your hand is less than 8 then the best option is to always hit.
- If your hand is a 9 and the dealer’s card is a 3 through 6, its best to double down or otherwise hit.
- If your hand is a 10 and the dealer’s card is 2 through 9, double down or otherwise hit.
- If your hand is eleven and the dealer’s card is 2 through 10, its best to double down and hit if the dealer has an ace
- If your hand is 12 and the dealer’s card is 2 or 3, you can hit. Only stand when the dealer has 4 through 6.
- If you have 13 through 16, simply stand if the dealer shows a 2 through 6, otherwise hit.
- Always stand when you have 17 through 21.
How to Play Soft hands
A soft hand is a hand with two starting cards consisting of an ace.
- If you have an ace and 2, or Ace and 3, hit or double down if the dealer’s card is a 5 or 6.
- If you have an ace and 4 or ace and 5, hit or double down if the dealer’s card is 4 through 6.
- If you have an ace and 6, hit or double down if the dealer’s card is a 3 through 6.
- If you have an ace and 7, hit, double down if dealer has a 2 through 6 or stand if dealer has 2, 7 or 8.
- Always stand if you have an ace and 8 or ace and 9.
How to Play Pairs
Playing pairs are a bit tricky and players should avoiding re-splitting a hand since this can easily erode your bankroll if not applied properly.
- Always split when holding aces or 8s.
- Always stand when holding 10s.
- Split on a pair of 2s or 3s only if the dealer’s card is 2 through 7, otherwise hit.
- Split on a pair of 4s only if the dealer’s card is 5 through 6, otherwise hit.
- Double down if you have a pair of 5s only if the dealer’s card is 2 through 9, otherwise hit.
- Split on a pair of 6s only if the dealer’s card is 2 through 6, otherwise hit.
- Split on a pair of 7s only if the dealer’s card is 2 through 7, otherwise hit.
- Split is you have a pair of 9s only if the dealer’s card is 2 though 6, and 8 or 9 otherwise stand if the dealer’s card is 7, 10 or ace.
By knowing how to play these hands, you will certainly get an added advantage over the house and win effectively. It’s all about practice, the more you play is the more you get to master an effective winning blackjack strategy.