The players' initial cards may be dealt face-up or face-down more common in single-deck games. The object of the game is to win money by creating card totals higher than those of the dealer's hand but not exceeding 21, or by stopping at a total in the hope that the dealer will bust.
On their turn, players choose to "hit" take a card , "stand" end their turn and stop without taking a card , "double" double their wager, take a single card, and finish , "split" if the two cards have the same value, separate them to make two hands , or "surrender" give up a half-bet and retire from the game.
Number cards count as their number, the jack, queen, and king "face cards" or "pictures" count as 10, and aces count as either 1 or 11 according to the player's choice. If the total exceeds 21 points, it busts, and all bets on it immediately lose. After the boxes have finished playing, the dealer's hand is resolved by drawing cards until the hand achieves a total of 17 or higher.
If the dealer has a total of 17 including an ace valued as 11 a "soft 17" , some games require the dealer to stand while other games require another draw.
The dealer never doubles, splits, or surrenders. If the dealer busts, all remaining player hands win. If the dealer does not bust, each remaining bet wins if its hand is higher than the dealer's and loses if it is lower. A player total of 21 on the first two cards is a "natural" or "blackjack", and the player wins immediately unless the dealer also has one, in which case the hand ties.
In the case of a tie "push" or "standoff" , bets are returned without adjustment. A blackjack beats any hand that is not a blackjack, even one with a value of Wins are paid out at even money, except for player blackjacks, which are traditionally paid out at 3 to 2 odds.
Many casinos today pay blackjacks at less than This is common in single-deck blackjack games. Blackjack games usually offer a side bet called insurance , which may be placed when the dealer's face-up card is an ace.
Additional side bets, such as "Dealer Match" which pays when the player's cards match the dealer's up card, are also sometimes available. After the initial two cards, the player has up to five options: "hit", "stand", "double down", "split", or "surrender".
Each option has a corresponding hand signal. Hand signals help the " eye in the sky " make a video recording of the table, which resolves disputes and identifies dealer mistakes.
It is also used to protect the casino against dealers who steal chips or players who cheat. Recordings can also identify advantage players. When a player's hand signal disagrees with their words, the hand signal takes precedence.
A hand can "hit" as often as desired until the total is 21 or more. Players must stand on a total of After a bust or a stand, play proceeds to the next hand clockwise around the table. After the last hand is played, the dealer reveals the hole card and stands or draws according to the game's rules.
When the outcome of the dealer's hand is established, any hands with bets remaining on the table are resolved usually in counterclockwise order ; bets on losing hands are forfeited, the bet on a push is left on the table, and winners are paid out.
If the dealer shows an ace, an "insurance" bet is allowed. Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has a blackjack. The dealer asks for insurance bets before the first player plays. Insurance bets of up to half the player's current bet are placed on the "insurance bar" above the player's cards.
If the dealer has a blackjack, insurance pays 2 to 1. In most casinos, the dealer looks at the down card and pays off or takes the insurance bet immediately. In other casinos, the payoff waits until the end of the play. In face-down games, if a player has more than one hand, they can look at all their hands before deciding.
This is the only condition where a player can look at multiple hands. Players with blackjack can also take insurance. When this happens, it is called 'even money,' as the player is giving up their payout for a payout when taking insurance with a blackjack, under the condition that they still get paid if the dealer also has a blackjack.
Insurance bets lose money in the long run. The dealer has a blackjack less than one-third of the time. In some games, players can also take insurance when a valued card shows, but the dealer has an ace in the hole less than one-tenth of the time.
The insurance bet is susceptible to advantage play. It is advantageous to make an insurance bet whenever the hole card has more than a one in three chance of being a ten. Card counting techniques can identify such situations. Note: Where changes in the house edge due to changes in the rules are stated in percentage terms, the difference is usually stated here in percentage points , not a percentage.
Blackjack rules are generally set by regulations that establish permissible rule variations at the casino's discretion. Most of the house's edge comes from the fact that the player loses when both the player and dealer bust.
The house edge for games where blackjack pays 6 to 5 instead of 3 to 2 increases by about 1. Player deviations from basic strategy also increase the house edge. Each game has a rule about whether the dealer must hit or stand on soft 17, which is generally printed on the table surface.
The variation where the dealer must hit soft 17 is abbreviated "H17" in blackjack literature, with "S17" used for the stand-on-soft variation. Substituting an "H17" rule with an "S17" rule in a game benefits the player, decreasing the house edge by about 0. All things being equal, using fewer decks decreases the house edge.
This mainly reflects an increased likelihood of player blackjack, since if the player draws a ten on their first card, the subsequent probability of drawing an ace is higher with fewer decks.
It also reflects the decreased likelihood of a blackjack—blackjack push in a game with fewer decks. Casinos generally compensate by tightening other rules in games with fewer decks, to preserve the house edge or discourage play altogether.
When offering single-deck blackjack games, casinos are more likely to disallow doubling on soft hands or after splitting, restrict resplitting, require higher minimum bets, and pay the player less than for a winning blackjack.
The following table illustrates the mathematical effect on the house edge of the number of decks, by considering games with various deck counts under the following ruleset: double after split allowed, resplit to four hands allowed, no hitting split aces, no surrendering, double on any two cards, original bets only lost on dealer blackjack, dealer hits soft 17, and cut-card used.
The increase in house edge per unit increase in the number of decks is most dramatic when comparing the single-deck game to the two-deck game, and becomes progressively smaller as more decks are added. Surrender, for those games that allow it, is usually not permitted against a dealer blackjack; if the dealer's first card is an ace or ten, the hole card is checked to make sure there is no blackjack before surrender is offered.
This rule protocol is consequently known as "late" surrender. The alternative, "early" surrender, gives the player the option to surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack, or in a no hole card game.
Early surrender is much more favorable to the player than late surrender. For late surrender, however, while it is tempting to opt for surrender on any hand which will probably lose, the correct strategy is to only surrender on the very worst hands, because having even a one-in-four chance of winning the full bet is better than losing half the bet and pushing the other half, as entailed by surrendering.
If the cards of a post-split hand have the same value, most games allow the player to split again, or "resplit". The player places a further wager, and the dealer separates the new pair dealing a further card to each as before.
Some games allow unlimited resplitting, while others may limit it to a certain number of hands, such as four hands for example, "resplit to 4". After splitting aces, the common rule is that only one card will be dealt to each ace; the player cannot split, double, or take another hit on either hand.
Rule variants include allowing resplitting aces or allowing the player to hit split aces. Games allowing aces to be resplit are not uncommon, but those allowing the player to hit split aces are extremely rare.
Allowing the player to hit hands resulting from split aces reduces the house edge by about 0. Note that a ten-value card dealt on a split ace or vice versa will not be counted as a blackjack but as a soft After a split, most games allow doubling down on the new two-card hands.
Disallowing doubling after a split increases the house edge by about 0. Under the " Reno rule", doubling down is only permitted on hard totals of 9, 10, or 11 under a similar European rule, only 10 or The basic strategy would otherwise call for some doubling down with hard 9 and soft 13—18, and advanced players can identify situations where doubling on soft 19—20 and hard 8, 7, and even 6 is advantageous.
The Reno rule prevents the player from taking advantage of double-down in these situations and thereby increases the player's expected loss. The Reno rule increases the house edge by around 0. In most non-U. casinos, a "no hole card" game is played, meaning that the dealer does not draw nor consult their second card until after all players have finished making decisions.
With no hole card, it is rarely the correct basic strategy to double or split against a dealer ten or ace, since a dealer blackjack will result in the loss of the split and double bets; the only exception is with a pair of aces against a dealer 10, where it is still correct to split.
In all other cases, a stand, hit, or surrender is called for. For instance, when holding 11 against a dealer 10, the correct strategy is to double in a hole card game where the player knows the dealer's second card is not an ace , but to hit in a no-hole card game.
The no-hole-card rule adds approximately 0. The "original bets only" rule variation appearing in certain no hole card games states that if the player's hand loses to a dealer blackjack, only the mandatory initial bet "original" is forfeited, and all optional bets, meaning doubles and splits, are pushed.
In many casinos, a blackjack pays only or even instead of the usual This is most common at tables with lower table minimums. Although this payoff was originally limited to single-deck games, it has spread to double-deck and shoe games. Among common rule variations in the U.
Since blackjack occurs in approximately 4. Video blackjack machines generally pay a payout for a blackjack. The rule that bets on tied hands are lost rather than pushed is catastrophic to the player.
Though rarely used in standard blackjack, it is sometimes seen in "blackjack-like" games, such as in some charity casinos. Each blackjack game has a basic strategy, the optimal method of playing any hand. When using basic strategy, the long-term house advantage the expected loss of the player is minimized.
An example of a basic strategy is shown in the table below, which applies to a game with the following specifications: [15]. Most basic strategy decisions are the same for all blackjack games. Rule variations call for changes in only a few situations.
For example, to use the table above on a game with the stand-on-soft rule which favors the player, and is typically found only at higher-limit tables today only 6 cells would need to be changed: hit on 11 vs. A, hit on 15 vs.
A, stand on 17 vs. A, stand on A,7 vs. Regardless of the specific rule variations, taking insurance or "even money" is never the correct play under a basic strategy. Estimates of the house edge for blackjack games quoted by casinos and gaming regulators are based on the assumption that the players follow basic strategy.
Most blackjack games have a house edge of between 0. Casino promotions such as complimentary matchplay vouchers or blackjack payouts allow players to acquire an advantage without deviating from basic strategy.
The basic strategy is based on a player's point total and the dealer's visible card. Players can sometimes improve on this decision by considering the composition of their hand, not just the point total.
For example, players should ordinarily stand when holding 12 against a dealer 4. But in a single deck game, players should hit if their 12 consists of a 10 and a 2. The presence of a 10 in the player's hand has two consequences: [17]. Even when basic and composition-dependent strategies lead to different actions, the difference in expected reward is small, and it becomes smaller with more decks.
Using a composition-dependent strategy rather than a basic strategy in a single-deck game reduces the house edge by 4 in 10,, which falls to 3 in , for a six-deck game.
Blackjack has been a high-profile target for advantage players since the s. Advantage play attempts to win more using skills such as memory, computation, and observation. While these techniques are legal, they can give players a mathematical edge in the game, making advantage players unwanted customers for casinos.
Advantage play can lead to ejection or blacklisting. Some advantageous play techniques in blackjack include:. During the course of a blackjack shoe, the dealer exposes the dealt cards.
Players can infer from their accounting of the exposed cards which cards remain. These inferences can be used in the following ways:.
A card counting system assigns a point score to each card rank e. When a card is exposed, a counter adds the score of that card to a running total, the 'count'.
A card counter uses this count to make betting and playing decisions. The count starts at 0 for a freshly shuffled deck for "balanced" counting systems. Unbalanced counts are often started at a value that depends on the number of decks used in the game.
Blackjack's house edge is usually around 0. Card counting works best when a few cards remain. This makes single-deck games better for counters.
As a result, casinos are more likely to insist that players do not reveal their cards to one another in single-deck games. In games with more decks, casinos limit penetration by ending the shoe and reshuffling when one or more decks remain undealt.
Casinos also sometimes use a shuffling machine to reintroduce the cards whenever a deck has been played. Sometimes a casino might ban a card counter from the property. The use of external devices to help count cards is illegal throughout the United States. Another advantage play technique, mainly applicable in multi-deck games, involves tracking groups of cards also known as slugs, clumps, or packs through the shuffle and then playing and betting according to when those cards come into play from a new shoe.
Shuffle tracking requires excellent eyesight and powers of visual estimation but is harder to detect; shuffle trackers' actions are largely unrelated to the composition of the cards in the shoe.
Arnold Snyder's articles in Blackjack Forum magazine brought shuffle tracking to the general public. His book, The Shuffle Tracker's Cookbook , mathematically analyzed the player edge available from shuffle tracking based on the actual size of the tracked slug.
Jerry L. Patterson also developed and published a shuffle-tracking method for tracking favorable clumps of cards and cutting them into play and tracking unfavorable clumps of cards and cutting them out of play.
The player can also gain an advantage by identifying cards from distinctive wear markings on their backs, or by hole carding observing during the dealing process the front of a card dealt face-down. These methods are generally legal although their status in particular jurisdictions may vary.
Many blackjack tables offer side bets on various outcomes including: [28]. The side wager is typically placed in a designated area next to the box for the main wager. In the long run, the house edge means that the casino always wins.
Let's face it - we have all been there. We have all looked for the best and the most effective strategy to win at a blackjack game after we lost our first hands online. With the right blackjack strategy it's possible to mitigate the house edge and increase your winning chances, and that's because blackjack isn't a gambling game like roulette, video poker, or slots.
You can use a basic blackjack strategy chart to knowing the best odds before you make a start. If you follow the basic betting strategy and learn how to use the information you have at your disposal, you can reach the optimal strategy for giving yourself the best chances to win included in the game.
Professional players have worked hard to 'solve' the game of blackjack and find how to play each hand dealt blackjack to get the best winning odds. They analyzed how the number of decks in play per single deck affects your chances to win and how you can make the best decision based on the cards you see on the table.
That's what they call the 'blackjack basic strategy'. A list of dos and don'ts where you find exactly how you are supposed to play each and every hand you are dealt. This is the best strategy for blackjack - both online and in live dealer blackjack games. The goal of the blackjack basic strategy isn't to help you win at blackjack every time you play.
That's impossible. Instead, it is to help you maximize your winning chances and to minimize your losses. That's also the goal of this guide. We don't list all the strategies for blackjack out there. Instead, we focus only on the best blackjack strategies that are known to work and should help you get better results when you play.
Starting from the tips and tricks included in our cheat sheet you can also find basic strategy charts to use when playing online. For anyone still learning the rules, bets, and payouts for a basic blackjack game, take a look at our Basic Blackjack Guide for starters.
Let's take a closer look at some of the main blackjack strategies you might come across. Hit the links below to find out more:. Knowing how to manage your money is as important in a classic blackjack game as it is in all gambling games. A correct 'bankroll management' as well as knowledge of house edge is essential when you play — regardless of the blackjack strategies you apply to your games.
Knowing how to bet and how much and how to select the right game when you play online blackjack for real money is extremely important.
Once you have those basics covered, you can move into the basic blackjack rules and learn how you are supposed to invest your money once the first dealer's upcard gives you the initial two cards.
As soon as the cards reach you and the dealer opens one of their cards, you have to make your first choice. In a game of blackjack, that means you need to consider the dealer's hand, and pick one of these options:.
Do you know why the basic blackjack strategy is also considered to be the best way to discover how to win at blackjack? Because it uses basic logic. While these choices are very simple on hands like the ones I use in my example, things get a lot more complicated with different cards on the table.
How do you play soft 17 in blackjack? When do you hit on a 16? What to do with 15 in blackjack? What to do when the dealer hits on 17? This collection of tips shows you the optimal play for every blackjack hands, calculating your winning odds in combination with the dealer's open card.
The basic strategy to win at blackjack has nothing to do with concepts like card counting or any of those tricks some 'clever' players adopt to beat the house. This is a simple-to-use guideline that shows you exactly how you are supposed to play every possible hand of blackjack.
Use it to know when it is recommended to hit, to stand, or to do something else. This is a blackjack side bet that a player can make if the dealer's upcard is an ace.
Here, you're betting that the dealer has a blackjack a hand containing an ace and a ten-value card. If the dealer does have a blackjack, this bet pays To make an insurance bet, the player must place a side bet equal to half of their original bet in the relevant betting area on the table.
If the dealer has a blackjack, the player wins their bet and loses their original bet. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the player loses their bet and the hand continues as normal.
The insurance bet is a good bet to make if the player is concerned about the dealer having a blackjack. However, it is important to note that the house edge on this bet is 7. This means that the player is more likely to lose money over time by making insurance bets.
To make things even easier for you and help you follow the best betting strategy whenever you play blackjack, we created a quick Blackjack Cheat Sheet with the basic strategy explained in full.
Download the blackjack cheat sheet it's free and print it or save it on your mobile phone to keep it always with you when you play. Don't play high-stakes games unless you feel ready for them and you have enough money to spend on online games. If you are reading this blackjack strategy guide and you are a beginner, you should be afraid of high-stakes games.
When you spend too much money on your games, you risk getting the opposite of what you want. You play to have fun and to find out how to get more chances to win at blackjack - and you end broke and frustrated.
Understanding the house advantage is critical here. The best way to play classic blackjack is to start with what I call a conservative approach. Because finding the right way to handle betting in blackjack is key to long-term fun.
Like many blackjack strategies suggest, you should increase the stakes only when things go well and any potential losses are compensated by the money you have already won, not the one you might win if you get lucky. Many players believe wins and losses come in streaks.
They think you might lose five or six times in a row — but when you win…you are not going to do it just once. Blackjack is a gambling game and there are no patterns for you to exploit or streaks that you can use to win more money every time you play.
There are, however, smart betting strategies like the basic blackjack strategy that can help you increase the chances of a victory. When you use this blackjack strategy, you need to go back to the original bet as soon as you lose one hand.
This is the best way to be in control of your money and end a gaming session in the black. All you need to do is to make the right choices use the basic strategy and raise your stakes little by little - but only when you win.
The Martingale betting strategy sometimes called the 'Martingale System' sits at the opposite side of the spectrum. This is the perfect blackjack strategy for those players who:.
In other words, this is the perfect blackjack strategy for big spenders, but isn't one that you should try if you are still a beginner who is looking for ways to learn how to play blackjack remember to check out our beginners blackjack guide first.
The Martingale blackjack strategy is expensive. This blackjack system will help you win often - but only when you have sufficient money to invest in your games. But if you do — continue reading to discover how to use this betting strategy to make side bets and increase your chances to win.
The Martingale Strategy is the exact opposite of the conservative approach to betting in blackjack we have just seen. When you follow this strategy, you need to double your bet every time you lose. Which, in case of a losing streak, can become very expensive very quickly.
The rationale of this audacious blackjack betting strategy is that you will need only one win to go back to square one and recoup all your losses in one hand.
The caveat is: your bankroll needs to be deep enough for you to play and play until that one win comes. Again, this isn't a betting strategy for beginners. If you decide to try it, make sure your bankroll covers at least 10 consecutive losses from hand 1.
The Blackjack Betting System is a progressive betting system that can be used in blackjack. It is a simple system to understand, but it can be very risky if not used correctly. The basic idea behind the Blackjack Betting System is to start with a bet of 1 unit and increase your bet by 2 units after each win.
If you lose a hand, you go back to betting 1 unit. The system gets its name from the fact that the betting sequence is 1, 3, 2, and 6 units. The blackjack betting strategy is not as exciting as the Martingale strategy, and that's a good thing. This betting strategy doesn't require a huge bankroll and is a lot more suitable for players looking for a way to have better chances to win at blackjack without investing a fortune in the game.
The numbers in the strategy's name indicate the way you should bet after you win a hand of blackjack. Your first winning is the trigger that starts the sequence while your first losing hand is the one that ends everything.
This blackjack betting strategy is built to get the most value out of winning streaks. If you are lucky enough to use it at the beginning of a four-hand winning streak, you are in for a treat.
What is possible, however, is to maximise your chances to win and get better winning odds when you play blackjack online. All it takes a few simple tips. Follow them carefully, as these blackjack tips are as important as the best blackjack betting strategy:.
Use these Blackjack Strategy Charts to learn the correct decision for every hand. Basic Strategy is the first step to beating blackjack with card counting European Blackjack is one of the most widely played blackjack variations. Find out its specific rules and how it differs from American Blackjack Learn the fundamentals of blackjack basic strategy to enhance your blackjack game. Unlock the secrets of winning at blackjack, and the best
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