Tips for playing blackjack online
We all know about blackjack. It’s one of the world’s great classic card games.
But do we know the very best way to play online blackjack? What are the tactics that maximise your chances of winning?
Blackjack has roots way back in the past and has evolved slowly over the centuries. First, it became a cult favorite and now it has become mainstream.
Thanks to online blackjack, the game is more popular than it has ever been. It is now one of the most widely played casino card games and the favourite of millions of online players.
Blackjack has always had the advantage of being easy to learn and simple to play.
But did you know your success at the game isn’t just down to luck – it has a crucial element of strategy?
Expert players know when to hit, stand, double down or split their cards. The probability of winning depends on making the right decisions.
Apply the right skills and blackjack has one of the lowest house edges in the casino. That means they offer better odds of winning for players – and the chance to make your playing budget last longer and longer.
Top blackjack tactics
Basic strategy
The experts use these simple rules as the basis for playing blackjack optimally. They call them ‘basic strategy’.
It involves making the best decisions based on the value your hand and the dealer's card.
There’s even a basic strategy chart which provides the guidelines. These tell you whether to hit, stand, double down or split your hand in every possible situation.
It’s all based on the probability of your next card improving your hand – or busting it. Players who always use the basic strategy rules will reduce the casino's edge to only around 0.5%.
Card counting
Card counting is a more controversial strategy. It involves keeping track of the high-value cards (tens and aces) and low-value cards (2-6) that have been played to estimate the proportions remaining in the deck.
In a casino this allows you to adjust your decisions based on the deck's composition and the likelihood of the next card being what you want.
Card counting is legal and can be effective but requires a significant level of skill, practice and concentration. Casinos disapprove of card counters and if spotted, they will ask them to leave.
It’s a useless strategy online. Cards are selected randomly by the software and there’s ‘deck’ to try to get an insight into.
Bankroll management
Managing your bankroll is different but crucial for long-term success in blackjack, and any game. It involves setting a limit on how much you're willing to lose – and sticking to it.
It's essential to never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Using a proper bankroll management strategy ensures that you survive playing during losing streaks and then continue playing when odds work in your favor.
Insurance betting
This involves a side bet in blackjack that is available when the dealer's shown card is an ace. It protects yourself against the dealer having an unbeatable blackjack.
Most experts advise not to take the insurance bet though. The odds of the dealer having a blackjack are not so high that it’s worth it.
Stick with the basic strategy and always make decisions based on the value of your own hand.
Doubling down and splitting pairs
These tactics are part of basic strategy – but need to be used carefully.
If you double down, you double your initial bet – and in exchange commit to stand after receiving one more card. Doubling down is usually used when you have a good total like 10 or 11 and the dealer's upcard is poor.
Splitting pairs is used when you have two cards of the same rank. It creates two separate hands.
They can be good tactics but experts advice to always stick to basic strategy in these decisions.
Surrender
Surrender is available in some types of blackjack and in some casinos. It lets you to give up half your bet and forfeit your hand if you believe you have weak cards compared to the dealer's.
It can be a good strategy when used in the right spot. It helps minimize losses in the most unfavorable situations.
Play smart to improve your odds
All these strategies depend on the specific rules and variations of blackjack you're playing. Understanding every detail of those rules is a crucial part of being a successful blackjack player.
They can vary from game to game and catch you out.
Remember blackjack is a game of chance so no strategy guarantees you’ll always win. Even the best can merely improve your odds.
So note the ebb and flow of chance, stay within your budget – and be determined to enjoy the game, whether you win or lose.