Blackjack tips
Blackjack Strategies for Online Players: How to Win at Blackjack
You may significantly increase your odds of winning at blackjack by heeding our advice and becoming familiar with the fundamentals of the game.
Pick Your Table Wisely
Don't hurry into the first table you see; instead, take your time selecting a table. Different rule variants may apply to tables, and you may benefit from some of these.
- Always choose a table whose minimum is no higher than 5% of your total bankroll.
- Choose a table where you will have the option of doubling down on any two cards.
- Choose a table where the dealer is required to stand on a soft 17.
- Also choose a table where play is brisk, but friendly. Drunk or disorderly players are just distracting and reduce the number of hands that can be played in a certain time frame. An unpleasant dealer will decrease your enjoyment of the game.
Fundamental Approach
Always stick to the basic strategy when playing blackjack. Blackjack is a statistical and mathematical game. Never rely on your feelings or intuition. If the casino permits it, carry a blackjack strategy card at all times and consult it while playing.
Recall that the goal of blackjack is to defeat the dealer, not to get as close to 21 as you can!
How to Play
You will never win unless your hand has 17 or more points, or the dealer busts, because the dealer must hit on any hand with 16 points or fewer. Consequently:
- Always hit on any hand below 17 if the dealer's up-card is an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, ten, nine or eight.
Stand on any hand whose point's value is 11 or greater if the dealer's up-card is a 4, 5 or 6.
- If you are able to double down, do so with any hand of 9 or any soft hand of 13-17 against a dealer's up card of 4,5 or 6.
- Splitting:
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- Never split face cards, 10's or 5's.
- Always split 8's or 7's against a dealer's up card of equal or lower value.
- Always split 2's or 3's against a dealer's 4,5 or 6.
- Always split two Aces.
- Insurance: Insurance bets are not safe bets; they are more like side bets that the dealer has blackjack. It is only recommended for you to play the insurance bet if you are card counting and are aware of what cards remain in the deck.
Give the Dealer a tip
In blackjack, it is customary to give the dealer a gratuity. Unless you are winning a lot of money, tip $1 every 20 hands or so. The dealer's tip is doubled if you win and you place your tip in front of your betting circle, where it functions as a side bet. The game will be more enjoyable with an amiable dealer. A well-tipped dealer might have more blatant tells, which you can take advantage of.