Basic Blackjack Betting Strategy Best Blackjack Tips To Win More
Basic Blackjack Tips and Strategies for Online Betting
Blackjack has over 20 different variations, including American, European, Spanish 21, and more. We’ll start with basic blackjack strategies for the most common and standard style, known simply as blackjack, American blackjack, or 21. We recommended starting with these blackjack tips and techniques.
1. Practice and Study the Rules
Blackjack is a simple game. The dealer deals the player two cards face-up and themselves two cards with one face-down. The goal is to achieve a value of 21 between your cards, or at least closer to 21 than the dealer. You can hit (take another card) or stand (not take any more cards). You lose (or bust) by going over 21.
2. Manage Your Risk (Stay vs Hit)
To avoid a potential bust, most blackjack strategies suggest standing on a hand of 17 or higher and hitting on a hand that is 16 or lower.
3. Know When To Split and Double Down
Splitting your hand involves creating two separate hands to make a new bet. The best times to split is when you’re dealt either two aces or two eights. Doing so can turn a risky hand into two fairer hands.Doubling down involves doubling your bet and getting dealt one more card. The best times to double down are when your hand totals between 9–11 without an ace, or a soft total (with an ace) between 16–18. Avoid doubling down when the dealer has an ace or if your cards total over 11.
4. Don’t Fall for the Insurance Trap
Blackjack has a low house edge. But when you start making side bets to gain an insurance bet if the dealer has 21, you’re significantly altering this small advantage. While the 30% odds of the dealer having 21 might seem like a safe blackjack betting strategy, it’s often not an advantageous wager in the long run.
5. Set a Budget and Know When To Quit
Setting a budget and managing your bankroll is one of the most crucial blackjack tips for beginners and players at all levels. Decide how much of your bankroll you’re willing to lose in a single game, set session limits, and don’t chase losses on bad days.Online Blackjack Betting Strategies
Now that we’ve looked at some basic approaches, let’s dive into some advanced strategies you can use for several different scenarios during a game. These can help you become familiar with the pace of play and know when to hit, stand, split, and double down. Here are our top blackjack tips to help you become a better player.
Stand on 12–16 vs Dealer’s 2–6
When the dealer has a weak upcard falling between 2–6, there is a good chance they’ll bust trying to reach 21. If your hand falls between 12–16 and doesn’t include pairs, the suggested blackjack betting strategy is to stand.
Hit On 12-16 vs Dealer’s 7-Ace
A 7 is a high upcard for the dealer to have. So, when your hand totals between 12-16, we recommend hitting to get closer to 21 to compete with the dealer’s potentially strong hand.
Always Split Aces and 8s
As mentioned before, splitting on aces and 8s is a solid blackjack betting strategy. Giving yourself two hands with an ace allows for the potential of two blackjack hands. Splitting 8s also helps you avoid being stuck with a weak hand of 16.
Double Down on 11 vs Dealer’s 2–10
Drawing a hand totaling 11 is one of the best opportunities to play aggressively and double down on your bet. This hand puts you in a great spot to draw a card with a 10 value and get a blackjack. However, double down is even more advantageous when the dealer has a potentially weak hand between 2–10.
Practice Card Counting (Optional)
Card counting is a skill-based approach used by some of the best blackjack players. It involves tracking the ratio of high and low cards that have already been dealt to try and gain an advantage for upcoming hands. While not technically illegal, many casinos take action against players who they believe to be card counting.
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Real Money Blackjack Betting Systems
There are many popular blackjack betting systems for players to choose from. Here are four common blackjack betting strategies and how they work.
System 1: Martingale System
The Martingale System is great for players with larger bankrolls. This simple strategy involves doubling your wager after each losing bet. In theory, you can eventually win back your losses, though long losing streaks require increasingly bigger wagers.
System 2: Reverse Martingale / Paroli System
The Reverse Martingale or Paroli System capitalizes on winning streaks by doubling your bet after each win. All winning streaks come to an end, so this strategy resets to the original bet size after three straight wins.
System 3: Fibonacci Sequence
The Fibonacci Sequence betting system is like the Martingale but more cautious. The main difference is that players increase their bet sizes after losses by smaller amounts instead of doubling.
System 4: 2-1-2 (Manhattan)
The 2-1-2 or Manhattan betting system starts with players betting 2 units. This amount drops to 1 unit on a win, then back up to 2 on another win. On a loss, the process starts over with a 2-unit wager.
Live Dealer Blackjack Tips
Solo blackjack lets you play at your own pace, anytime, anywhere. But if you prefer a faster pace with a higher house edge, live dealer blackjack might be more your speed.
Here are some tips for enjoying the more social experience of playing online live dealer games.
Best Sites To Play Real Money Blackjack
Many casinos offer online betting on blackjack. Sifting through the crowd to find the right casino for you is essential. At The Sports Geek, we’ve researched the best online blackjack sites based on their game options, banking options, bonuses, and more.
See the Best Blackjack Sites
Glossary of Blackjack Terms and Betting Vocabulary
Learning how to win blackjack starts with knowing the basic terminology. Check out our blackjack strategy chart to learn the basic terms for this popular game.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Hitting | When a player asks the dealer for an extra card. |
| Splitting | When dealt two cards of an identical rank, a player can split the cards and play two hands separately, betting on both. |
| Doubling Down | When a player with only two cards chooses to double their wager, allowing them to be dealt one additional card. |
| Busting | When a player or the dealer has cards that total a number over 21, they have busted or lost the hand. |
| Upcard | The one dealer card that is flipped upwards that the dealer is showing. |
| Hole Card | The one dealer card that is flipped downward that the dealer is not showing. |
| Soft Hand | When a hand involves an ace, it is considered a soft hand, as the ace can be used as 1 or 11, and the hand value is not fixed. |
| Hard Hand | When a hand does not involve an ace, it has a fixed value and is considered a hard hand. |
| Blackjack | Receiving a blackjack is when a player is dealt the best hand in the game, receiving an ace and any 10-value card such as a 10, J, Q, or K. |
Responsible Blackjack Gambling
We encourage all players to gamble responsibly. Remember that online betting is a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits. Budget your bankroll ahead of time to avoid losing more than you can afford to. Keeping these tips in mind will help you have fun and remain a responsible gambler.
If you are over-preoccupied with thoughts about gambling or exceed your budget regularly, you might benefit from some help. Consider the resources below if you recognize the warning signs and symptoms in yourself or a loved one:
Responsible Gambling Resources:
- AGA Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct (as support by the NBA)
- Have a Game Plan — Complete Responsible Gambling Resource
- Gambling Responsibly America App (Downloadable)
Key Takeaways for Online Blackjack Betting Strategy
Learning basic online blackjack strategy is key for players of all levels to have a chance to play one of the most popular table games. Basic blackjack strategy includes knowing when to hit, stand, split, or double down. Meanwhile, seasoned players learn more advanced betting systems like the Martingale or Paroli.
If you’re ready to start playing, head to our top choice for online blackjack, DuckyLuck. This beginner-friendly site offers a sweet welcome bonus of up to $2,500, setting you up for a great experience betting on blackjack.
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