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The right blackjack strategy will lower the house edge and thus give you a better chance to win at the table. If you play with basic strategy, you can reduce the casino advantage to less than 0.5%, making it one of the lowest house edges on the casino floor.
In this guide, we provide you with playing tips, an updated blackjack chart, and cover the basic strategy in detail. Continue reading to learn all about the best ways to play 21 in land-based casinos and online blackjack sites.
Fast Facts for Players
- Using basic blackjack strategy significantly reduces the house edge, bringing it down to less than 0.5%, which improves your chances of winning in the long run.
- Following optimal playing moves, such as standing on 17 or higher, doubling down on 11, and splitting 8s and Aces, maximizes your potential winnings, while mistakes like splitting 10s can weaken your position.
- Choosing the right blackjack game is crucial for better odds, as single-deck games, 3:2 payouts for blackjack, dealer standing on soft 17, and options like surrender and doubling after splitting all favor the player.
- Practicing with strategy charts, flashcards, and free online games helps players memorize the correct moves, ensuring they can make the best decisions without relying on guesswork.
- Card counting can provide a long-term advantage in land-based casinos, but it is ineffective in most online games due to automatic shuffling, making basic strategy the best approach for online blackjack.
- Show Full Guide
Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart
The first step to learning to beat blackjack involves familiarizing oneself with a basic strategy chart. It provides an optimal way to play the game, with the correct move for every situation that arises at the table. The blackjack table chart is based on your and the dealer’s upturned cards.
We recommend printing the blackjack basic strategy chart below and keeping it in front of you. You can also simply open it on your computer screen or your phone when you play. If you happen to be in a casino and have not memorized all the plays, you can consult this perfect blackjack chart as you play.
How Blackjack Basic Strategy Works
The basic strategy for blackjack was devised in the 1950s. It was created by four U.S. Army engineers, who used simple adding machines to find the optimal playing strategy for blackjack.
The approach was later refined using computers, which simulated millions of blackjack hands. Based on those results, the blackjack strategy chart was created to give players a clear view of the right decisions.
It is important to understand that basic strategy cannot guarantee short- or long-term profits. It simply reduces the house advantage and gives you a better chance of losing less money.
Short-term results are often difficult to predict and luck still plays a big role in 21, no matter how low the casino’s house edge is.
The bottom line is if everything else remains the same, it is better to follow blackjack perfect strategy than to play it by gut feeling.
How to Read the Blackjack Chart
The blackjack cheat sheet can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but you can quickly understand how it works by consulting solutions for each situation as you play blackjack. Unlike in real money slots, you have a choice to make after receiving the starting hand in blackjack.
In the leftmost column, you will find your hand, which can be a total value or a particular starting combo of two cards. After identifying this based on the hand you have been dealt, you need to check the dealer’s upcard at the top of the BJ chart.
Move to the corresponding position on the right and the box will show you the best possible move for that situation.
You can hit, stand, split, double down, or surrender according to the perfect blackjack chart. If doubling down or surrendering isn’t supported in the version of blackjack you are playing, you can simply hit or stand instead. It’s best to play games that permit doubling down and surrendering, so choosing the right blackjack table is important.
Key Takeaways From Basic Strategy Blackjack
To help you get started with the blackjack strategy table, you can take away some key points and incorporate them into your sessions right away:
How to Learn the Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart
Since every move in the strategy table provides the best odds, blackjack players are advised to follow it to the letter.
There are some blackjack tips and tricks to help you memorize the blackjack chart:
You can play online blackjack in demo mode and take as much time as you want before making a decision. This allows you to think of your move and then check it against the BJ chart to verify it. You can also practice with betting strategies for free.
It is generally best to have the blackjack basic strategy chart printed on a piece of paper next to you, or on your phone. You can quickly glance at it when you aren’t sure of the right call to make. Plus, you can learn how to win blackjack rounds more easily with the table in front of you.
After studying the blackjack strategy card, you can create some index cards with different hands and then say the right playing strategy out loud. This will help you better solidify the information needed to win at blackjack when playing for real.
When practicing the basic strategy in blackjack, it is best to avoid any deviations and just stick to the provided table. Making changes based on your feelings will defeat the purpose of playing with a proven strategy.
Even after you memorize the perfect blackjack chart, remember to bet responsibly. You are not guaranteed to win, so it is always best to stay within budget and not chase losses.
Card Counting Blackjack Strategy
After mastering basic strategy for blackjack, you may want to incorporate additional approaches that can take you into the realm of playing the game with an edge in the long run. Some of these blackjack strategies – such as shuffle tracking – can be complicated.
The easiest one to learn is card counting.
It will provide you with a 1% to 2% advantage in the long run. However, you can only use this system in land-based casinos. Standard online games will shuffle the cards after every hand and negate card counting.
Same with games in land-based casinos that use continuous shuffle machines in order to discourage betting strategies. So, you should first learn how to play blackjack at a casino before jumping in.
With blackjack card counting, the player keeps track of the cards dealt from the shoe to calculate which cards are more likely to follow.
High cards are more beneficial when playing 21, so if the deck has more paint cards, 10s, and Aces, your advantage increases and it makes sense to increase your bet. It also opens the door to additional doubling-down opportunities beyond the standard blackjack strategy card.
Players start a count and add one for every 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 dealt on the table to keep track of the cards dealt from a shoe.
For 7, 8, and 9 cards, the count doesn’t change.
If a 10, J, Q, K, or A comes up, the count goes down by one.
Once you learn how to count cards in blackjack, you raise your bet as the count goes up.
But, it is more complicated than that. You also have to keep track of how many decks have been dealt – from, say, a six-deck shoe – and sometimes deviate from basic strategy based on the count (for example, if the count is -1, you would hit with 13 against a dealer’s 2).
A good guide to card counting is the book Blackjack Blueprint by veteran card counter Rick Blaine.
Live Dealer Blackjack Strategy
Live dealer blackjack is a special version available online. In this version, players can see the dealer deal the cards at the table. All bets are placed on the virtual interface, and payouts are made automatically.
However, you will have to make your decision within an allocated period of time, which can make it difficult for beginners to use basic strategy. Most live dealer games also don’t support demo play.
So, we recommend learning the blackjack rules and practicing with the blackjack chart on other games before betting real money on a live table. Once you are familiar with everything, the live dealer experience is definitely more exciting.
You can find live blackjack tables at most leading casinos, like platforms powered by Evolution Gaming.
How to Choose the Right Blackjack Game for the Strategy
Once you become comfortable with the basic strategy chart and know how to beat blackjack difficult spots, you must pick the right games. Small variations can make a game increasingly favorable to the house.
Look for these blackjack rules and play set-ups that lead to enhanced results for players:
How to Win at Blackjack
Winning at blackjack is easier than it may first appear. That is why it is often the go-to game at the best paying online casinos. With the basic strategy charts, you can play like a professional every time. Moreover, picking the right version and benefiting from the best blackjack RTP is much easier online since the options are just a few clicks away.
Once you have all of these aspects set, you can look at betting strategies you can use in blackjack. A basic betting strategy is simply to double the bet after losing a hand, also known as the Martingale system.
This can go for multiple hands in a row until you win at blackjack. Then, you reset the bet to the starting value. That one bet will cover your previous losses and even provide a profit. Moreover, if you land a natural blackjack at a higher stake, you further boost the profit.
It is important to note that this basic betting strategy requires a large bankroll to succeed. We recommend setting a small starting bet equal to around 2% of your playing balance. Avoid making any insurance or other side bets, and keep your blackjack cheat sheet close by.
Top Blackjack Tips
Before you hit the tables with the blackjack strategy card ready, check out these top tips:
Many blackjack variations come with side bets, like Perfect Pairs or 21+3. However, these betting options generally have a large house edge exceeding 10%. It is best to avoid any side bets in blackjack, including insurance bets.
Practice responsible gambling by setting a budget and sticking to it. Some of the best responsible blackjack tips are not to bet money you can’t afford to lose and not to chase losses. Even the best betting strategies require a set budget.
Blackjack basic strategy requires clear decisions and so it is best to avoid drinking alcohol throughout the session. Stay sober and pay attention to the hands if you want to win at blackjack.
If you had a good session and feel like you have played enough, consider cashing out. Enjoy your profits and have fun outside of the game. Knowing when to stop is a big part of winning in blackjack.
Don’t be afraid to change the bet size based on your session, especially with blackjack card counting. If more high cards remain in the deck, expert blackjack strategy suggests increasing the bet size to take advantage of the lower house edge.
Joining the Best Blackjack Casino
The right online casino can greatly impact your overall returns when playing blackjack. You can benefit from casino bonuses, promotions, and rewards to help boost your winnings. Plus, you will have more games to choose from and can easily practice the blackjack strategy chart for free.
Moreover, the top online casinos in the U.S. ensure safe and secure banking transactions. You can deposit and withdraw funds through different payment methods without issues.
How to Play Blackjack
Let’s step back and understand how blackjack works and how to play it. First of all, the goal in blackjack is to beat the dealer.
You can do this in several ways:
- Drawing a hand of higher value than the dealer’s hand, without going over 21
- Standing on a hand that is 21 or lower, while the dealer goes over 21
- Having a hand value equal to 21 from the first two cards dealt to the player. This is called a “natural blackjack”
- If the dealer has less than 21, you win
- If the dealer has 21 from his first two cards, the hand is a push and you neither win nor lose
- When the dealer shows an Ace, you may be able to take even money through insurance
To put it simply, you will lose the hand if you go over 21, or if the final value of your hand is lower than the dealer’s hand when they didn’t exceed 21.
Blackjack Card Rules
Cards from 2 to 10 have their face value, while paint cards (Jack, Queen, and King) each have values of 10. An Ace can have a value of 1 or 11, depending on which will be more beneficial to your hand.
For example, if you have 8 and Ace, you want the Ace to be 11 for a total of 19. If you have 10, 6, and Ace, you want the Ace to count as 1 for a total of 17, instead of busting with 27. The hand’s total value is the sum of the cards that have been dealt.
You start the round with two cards facing up and you can also see the dealer’s upcard, while his hole card will be revealed after all the players at the table end their turn.
You can attempt to improve your hand by requesting additional cards, which is where the blackjack strategy chart comes in. The dealer will also do the same when it is his turn.
Blackjack Playing Options
Your hand starts with two cards dealt from the blackjack shoe. You then choose which action to take.
Blackjack is a game in which players’ decisions can influence whether or not they win a particular hand. This is what makes basic strategy in blackjack important.
You can make the following moves during a hand of blackjack:
- Stand: You keep the value of the hand and you end your turn for the round.
- Hit: You request another card from the deck, which will be added to the hand.
- Split (when available): Creates two hands from a pair of cards with the same denomination. Requires another bet.
- Double down (when available): Requests one single card while adding another bet equal to the initial wager. Player’s turn ends after that third card has been dealt.
- Surrender (when available): Forfeit the hand and lose only half of the initial stake.
- Insurance (when available): A common side bet in blackjack when the dealer shows an Ace. You generally put up half of your stake for a second bet.
Note that with insurance, if the dealer has Blackjack (21 from the first two cards), you get back your insurance bet and the money you bet on the hand. If the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose your insurance bet. With insurance bets, you are wagering that the dealer has blackjack.
How to Bet in Blackjack
While there are quite a few versions of online blackjack available online, the playing processes are often very similar. So, let’s take this premium option and learn how to beat blackjack dealer hands. The controls are usually the same on blackjack apps, but there can be differences with some mobile versions.
- The first step is to place your bets, which you can do by selecting the value of the chip you want to use.
- Then, click on the circle to place one chip down. You can bet multiple chips as long as you stay within the blackjack table limits. Moreover, this version supports up to three hands at the same time, so you can place chips on any of the circles.
- After placing the chips, you can erase the bet or take back chips if you change your mind.
- Once you are happy with the wagers, click on the button in the middle to deal the cards.
- You will receive two cards for each hand you wagered on, while the dealer also receives two. All your cards are showing, and only one dealer card is visible on the table. This is when you check the blackjack strategy chart for the right move.
- You will play each hand by turn, with a small arrow showing you where the action is. You can choose your move from the buttons at the bottom.
- After all the hands are set, the dealer will reveal the second card, also known as the hole blackjack card, and deal more if needed.
- When you win at blackjack, you receive the payouts automatically.
- You can choose to rebet the same wagers or place different ones.
The Bottom Line
Basic blackjack strategy reduces the house edge to less than 0.5%, improving your chances of winning. Standing on 17+, doubling down on 11, and splitting 8s and Aces increase your odds, while splitting 10s can weaken your position. Choosing the correct game, like single-deck blackjack with a 3:2 payout and dealer standing on soft 17, improves your advantage.
Using strategy charts, flashcards, and free games helps players memorize the best moves. Card counting works in land-based casinos but is ineffective online, making basic strategy the best choice.
