Professional blackjack players that use sophisticated blackjack strategies most of the time manage to win a game and cash in a huge sum of money. You can do it, as well; read below and find out how.
How to Win at Blackjack
In order for you to win a game of blackjack you must beat the dealer. Even though, there might be other players at the table, you shouldn't take them into consideration, as it won't influence your game in any way. The only thing you should check are the cards being dealt to them. (Read below to find out why)
To win a blackjack hand, you must finish a round with a higher total hand value than the dealer's hand, but not go above 21. If you go above 21, then you bust, which means you lose. If the dealer bust, as well, then he still wins the round, if you've busted too.
If you manage to get a hand value of 21, then you win, which is called "blackjack". There are also several possibilities to do in a blackjack game. Check below to find out more:
- Hit and Stand – These are the most common actions performed during a blackjack game. When you say or press hit, the dealer will give you another card, and when you say or press stand (or stay), the dealer will not give you cards anymore.
- Double Down – This option allows you to double your initial bet, but you are forced to receive another card, after which you must stand.
- Split – If you get two cards that have the same value, you are allowed to do a split and play with two hands.
- Surrender – You can forfeit your game and receive half of your bet back.
- Insurance – You can make an insurance bet if the dealer's face up card in an ace. If a dealer hits blackjack you'll win your insurance bet, but lose your initial bet.
- House – This is a term representing the casino itself.
- House Edge – This is the advantage the casino has over the player.
- Bust – Meaning to go over 21. If you do this, you'll lose the game and your bet.
- Soft Total and Hard Total – In blackjack, an ace can have the value of 11 or 1, depending on your choice. A soft total is when you choose your ace to be worth 11, and a hard total is when the ace's value is 1.
- Push – You'll make a push if your and the dealer's hand have the same value. In this case, you'll receive your bet back.
There are also some terms specific to blackjack. See below:
Blackjack Card Counting
Blackjack card counting is the most effective blackjack strategy for increasing your winnings odds. Card counting isn't actually that complicated, and even though real casinos don't like it, it's not illegal.
There are several card counting techniques, but let's focus on the simplest one here and leave the rest to another article. In blackjack card counting your task is to analyze the cards that were dealt and try to predict the ones that will follow.
The easiest card counting technique is the Hi-Lo Card Counting System, where a deck of cards is being split in three and given a numerical value. This looks like as follows:
Cards 2 to 6 = +1
Cards 7 to 9 = 0
Cards 10 to A = -1
If you add up all cards in a deck, then the final value will be 0.
Now, you must understand that if halfway through a blackjack game your hands value is positive, it means that there are more 10s, Aces and face cards left in the deck, which means you have better winning chances.
If your hand value is low, or in minus, it means that the dealer has a much greater winning chance. Keep these things in mind, because they will help you considerably in your quest to become a pro blackjack player.
Advanced Blackjack Strategy
But there is much more to blackjack strategy than the things described above. Read our additional blackjack guides that teach you about several blackjack card counting techniques and advanced strategies like blackjack shuffle tracking.
Learning to play properly is the key to become successful. The guides offered by us were written by professional blackjack players, and if you follow our advice you can become a pro player too.