Basic Guide To Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack is one of the most thrilling casino games, and has long been a staple choice for countless of new and experienced online casino players.

Most online casino games are generally based on the element of chance, so no player can actually predict the outcome of a game – unless they have secret superpowers that is. Seeing as this is highly unlikely, players use strategies to increase their chances of landing a win.

In this short review, you will learn how to play blackjack.  We will be going through the rules of blackjack, looking into some basic strategies, and also going a bit more in depth into how to place bets during the actual game.

The Basics of How to Play Blackjack

The game of Blackjack has a very simple premise, where players need to obtain a final card value that equals 21. If you go over the 21 mark, your hand is deemed as being bust and you would automatically forfeit your bet.

The same blackjack rules also apply to the dealer, which creates a lot of different possible outcomes for any given game. As such, it can be said that luck is a key factor in a game of blackjack, but having a strategy at hand would increase a player’s chance of besting the dealer and walking away with big real money prizes.

The game generally starts with the dealer distributing two cards, face up, to the player, and one face up card with one face down card for himself. Once this step is completed, a player will then ask the dealer for a hit (or another card), or they can stand (opt to not take any card).

Players can ask the dealer to hit or stand between each round, but in some cases they can also ask the dealer to double down or split.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of finding the perfect blackjack strategy for you, we will briefly cover the different types of blackjack games that you can find at the best online casinos.

Blackjack Video Tutorials

Watch our short series of Blackjack video tutorials and you’ll master the game in just five minutes.

Finding the Blackjack game that’s right for you

Seeing as blackjack online is very popular with players at online casinos, it exists in several different variants. Some forms of blackjack have been around the online casino world for some time now, but new versions are constantly being formulated to meet an ever growing demand.

Standard online blackjack is by far the undisputed leader of the online blackjack scene, where it still attracts a massive following today. However, players are also enjoying other more dynamic versions such as ‘Switch Blackjack’, where they can place two bets instead of one and receive two separate hands. This variant doubles a player’s chances of winning, but also makes the game very interesting since players can swap cards between their two hands before they decide on their next move.

Another recent introduction to online casinos, which is also rising in popularity is live dealer blackjack, which provides players the realistic feel of a land based casino from the comforts of their homes. Players get to interact with a live dealer through their webcams, where they are greeted to an actual table on which they can vocalise their bets.

Other prominent blackjack versions include high-stakes 21 and multi-hand blackjack, which also provide a spin on the original game with different betting styles and hands. All these different versions of this online game will also carry different blackjack odds, which should always be kept in mind.

Why should you use a strategy?

As already mentioned above, blackjack is an online casino game that is heavily based on chance, and yet there is a certain degree of skill that is imperative to improving your chances of success.

Blackjack odds will generally always be similar between online casinos, but any online review site will strongly suggest that a player adopts some form of blackjack strategy in order to increase your edge on the online casino.

While it is true that a blackjack strategy will never alter the outcome of a game in any way, or even make the player ‘beat the game’, it is very helpful. This is the reason why players should learn how to use a blackjack strategy.

By using a proper blackjack strategy, a player will be able to know which is the best move to make according to the hand that is dealt. Knowing the rules of blackjack is essential, but since there are 340 possible combinations that can result as a player’s hand at the beginning of any game of blackjack online, knowing a strategy is a pretty important thing.

Use a Blackjack strategy chart

The starting point for online blackjack newbies will be to download a basic blackjack strategy chart that is readily available on various online websites. In this chart, players will observe a table that shows the possible combinations of a player’s hand versus the dealer’s hand, and the suggest next move such as ‘hit’, ‘stand’, ‘double down’, and so on.

Generally speaking, if a player managed to perfect a basic blackjack strategy, they can manage to reduce the online casino’s house edge by an approximate 0.5%. However,  basic strategies  are not enough to take you to the next level.

Once you manage to memorise your first basic blackjack strategy chart down to a tee, you can now move on to finding more intricate charts online. As already mentioned, not all online blackjack games will be the same in every online casino around. As such, players would then need to tailor their new blackjack strategy to a different variation of the game.

However, basics are always important, so this is why memorising a basic blackjack strategy is essential, as it pretty much lays down all the ground work to perfect future strategies!

Betting is a strategy in itself

When you play blackjack online, having a great blackjack strategy also includes some knowhow into the way a player places their bets, as this will also have an impact on the amount of winning hands that a player will have.

Firstly, there are different types of bets that can be placed during a game of online blackjack, including flat bets and progressive bets. Flat bets means that a player will always bet the same amount every time. Generally, this method is quite unpopular as most blackjack players see it as boring. Flat bets are quite good at keeping a consistent bankroll, but at the same time it decreases the chances of either winning or losing big.

On the other hand, progressive betting is considered to be more dynamic as the player varies their bets as they like throughout the game. In some cases, players can increase their wager amounts with each win and this will in turn increase their bankroll more quickly. However, players are also running the risk of having a big losing hand that can set back all the hard work done from the start of the game.

Try Blackjack today

After reading this review your next step should be to play blackjack online and give it a shot.

Once you understand basic blackjack rules, simply find a blackjack strategy chart and download it, go through it for some time to understand the different hand combinations, and test it out.

The best online casinos offer demo versions of blackjack online to their clients, so this present a perfect opportunity to test out your new blackjack strategy.

Once you feel confident in your new strategy, experiment with different betting systems, and you can very well be on your way to some sweet real money prizes.