Online Blackjack Strategies

The game of Blackjack is the only casino game where a player can take a small house advantage and turn that into a player advantage. All you need is a little know-how and some basic strategy to become a skilled player. Read on to learn about insurance, splitting and doubling down

In this article you will find
• Which bets to take
• Insurance
• Splitting
• Double Down
• Counting Cards

What bets to take

During a hand of blackjack you may be faced with side bets that can be placed.  Depending on what cards you are dealt will determine what further actions you may be eligible for. Some of these bets are good and should always be used. Others should be avoided at any cost, while some only warrant use when the situation is just right.

Below is table outlining the optimal betting strategies for each hand:

Insurance

When the dealer shows his up card as an Ace you will be offered insurance in most casinos. The insurance bet pays 3-2 and only wins if the dealer has a natural 21. This bet should always be avoided as it is one of the worse bets in Blackjack and possibly all table games.

Splitting

When you are dealt two of the same cards you will be given the chance to split them and make 2 new hands. You will have to make another bet that is the same as your original to perform this action.

You almost always want to split when you have 2 eights because 16 is the worst possible starting hand in Blackjack. You also want to split Aces in most cases. While having 2 Aces may look pretty, it’s a bad hand to start. You also gain the advantage of being able to make Blackjack on 2 hands.

You never want to split 2 cards other than 8s or Aces when the dealer shows an Ace or a 10. The chances they have a high hand are greater and splitting may cost you your hand. You can also split cards with the value of ten if you want.

Double Down

To double down means you get one more card and pay an extra bet. You only get 1 more card, so don’t forget that! You always and I mean always want to double down on 11 regardless of what the dealer shows. Most casinos allow you to double down on hands that equal 9, 10 or 11. Some may let you do it on any hand, but that is rare.

Counting Cards

Counting cards is a simple math based strategy that allows you to estimate when the deck will be full of high cards. Having higher value cards in the deck gives the player an advantage, thus making it worthwhile to know when this occurs.

To count cards, you simply add or subtract 1 from your starting point of zero every time a card is dealt. Cards 2-6 are counted as -1, 7, 8, 9 counts as zero and all cards Ten through Aces are counted as +1.Once you have a count that is -5 or lower, you begin to up your bet sizing. This is because the deck has more high cards and is offering you a better chance to win more hands. To take advantage of this you increase your bets to potentially win more money.

The best way to practice your these playing strategies is to practice. Casino.com offers a free demo mode where you can play Blackjack for free, allowing you to try out these techniques before playing for real money.