Employing a basic blackjack strategy when you play online can be the difference between winning and losing. Obviously, it is possible to play with perfect strategy and still lose multiple hands. Nothing is guaranteed, as card selection is entirely random. But that is exactly the reason to employ some type of time-tested bj system, unless you are just playing for fun.
The game of blackjack delivers some of the best possible odds out of any casino game, whether virtual or real-world. This is why 21 is the focus of many successful veteran gamblers, who would prefer to have the best opportunity at winning money as opposed to playing those casino offerings which do not reward intelligent play as frequently. Just make sure you are always accessing a safe online blackjack option at which to use your strategy.
Blackjack strategies can vary wildly, but most of the playing tips which have proven fruitful over the years continue to pay off. That is because BJ game play has not changed very much since the game was first introduced. And if you are looking to improve your play by implementing a smart blackjack betting strategy, the first thing you need to know is the basic definition of how to win a hand.
Blackjack Mission: Beat the Dealer
If you are one of those card players who believes that the primary objective of BJ is to come as close as possible to 21 without going over, you are sadly mistaken. And that misunderstanding may not even be your fault. That was probably the way you were taught to play the game, but successful 21 players understand that your only motivation on every single hand should to beat the dealer.
Think about it. If you decided to play a hand where your two cards totaled just five or six points without taking at least one additional card, that would not be very smart. However, if the dealer busts, you still have a win under your belt. So remember that the most successful basic strategy players can practice must be based on this "beat the dealer" platform, not one in which you only try to get as close to 21 as possible.
Better Sorry Than Safe - Insurance Doesn't Pay Off In Blackjack
A blackjack basic strategy which consistently gives you the best opportunity at winning also requires that you never, ever buy insurance. This will be offered when the dealer has a possible chance at turning over a Blackjack total of 21, but it limits your payout ratio over time. Unless you are a seasoned player, simply steer clear from this loser's bet altogether.
All Cards Matter
These two principles of winning blackjack strategies are based on a principle that professional gamblers use in most every card game. They base their play off what cards they believe or know that other players and the dealer are holding, not just on the value of their own cards.
And in a game like this, where the dealer has no say so in his or her actions, which are predetermined, playing with a strict set of rules rather than using your emotions is the financially intelligent way to go.
To Split or Not to Split....
A few more basic playing tips include always splitting pairs of 8s and Aces, and never splitting pairs of 4s and 5s. The obvious intelligence of splitting Aces is based on the fact that players scoring a 21 or bj get paid 1.5 times their bet, delivering the best possible return on a single hand.
And the reason for splitting 8s is simple. This blackjack betting strategy is formulated around the fact that dealers must always stand pat when they have a combined score of 17 points. Since the pursuit of cards which have a value of 10 is your goal, and these cards make up a full 30.7% of the deck, your chance of receiving a 10-valued card is greater than any other single card denomination.
Simply put, you always split pairs of Aces and 8s to return the best possible opportunity at winning the hand. Concerning other systems, virtually all strategies will tell you to never split a pair of 10s, as this is as close to a guaranteed winner as you are likely to get without an Ace in your hand.
Be Double Sure About Doubling Down
Some other simple blackjack tips which make sense over the vast majority of hands are to double down when you have a hand total of 10 or 11, but only when the dealer's up card is worth less than the combined value of your hand. This means you obviously do not want to double down on a 10 or 11 when the dealer is showing a 10, Jack, Queen, King or an Ace.
Go With the Flow
Remember that basic strategy is built around the premise that you want to give yourself the best odds of winning on any given hand. You are going to have ups and downs, you are sometimes going to suffer losses even when you employ the correct strategy, and even reckless players who have no understanding of odds can end up winning.
Using smart blackjack betting strategy means not bucking the odds, and focusing on the long term. And before you play your very first hand online, you can improve your financial outlook by grabbing the biggest welcome bonus available, giving an immediate boost to your bj bankroll.
Our advanced blackjack strategy guide can help build upon this guide and provide further information concerning the game of blackjack and other popular strategies.