Blackjack is a game filled with decision making. Once understanding the game and the blackjack strategies, you will know when to hit, stand, double down or when to split/pair.
The best advanced blackjack strategies will help you inch your way to the big win you are looking for. Use the Martingale Strategy or Count Cards, whatever your preference in terms of strategies may be, we are here to help you.
There is never a guarantee that you will win when you use any blackjack strategy, but they sure do increase your chances. Learn all you need to know about the advanced blackjack strategy and so much more in this informative guide.
How to Win at Blackjack – The Best Blackjack Strategies
There are many gamblers that love to and know how to play blackjack. The main two factors for this being that the game has simple and easy to follow rules that are the same no matter where you go and there is only a house edge of 2%, which you can easily bring down to 0.5% if you follow a blackjack strategy.
We will be looking into the advanced blackjack strategy and blackjack strategy chart and how you can utilize it, along with other blackjack strategies you can try. These are sure to help you edge your way closer to getting that big thrilling win you have been waiting for.
The Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart
In order to understand blackjack, become serious about the game and start winning, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic blackjack strategy chart. This chart provides the best winning blackjack strategy to take into account when playing the game. It will give you the best move to make for any possible situation at the table. This is all determined by the dealer’s upturned card and the cards that you have in your hand.
Once you have become familiar with the basic strategy chart and it is like second nature to you, we suggest you move on to an advanced blackjack strategy.
It will be best to print out this chart and keep it with you when playing blackjack, so you have it on hand at all times and consult it no matter what situation you find yourself in throughout a blackjack game.
How to Read the Blackjack Betting Strategy Chart
Blackjack charts are essentially tables with multiple columns and rows. The chart shows you the best possible decision a player can make in a given situation after the dealer’s card is face up and the player has their first two cards. The chart will show you the five main options a player has each time, and these are, hit, double down, split, surrender, and stand.
It can be quite overwhelming when you first look at the chart but will soon be able to understand how it works for every possible situation of the game.
The column on the left will show you your hand, which is the starting value of two cards. Once you establish your hand, you need to check the dealer’s card that is face up. You will move to the corresponding position on the right and the chart will then show you the best possible move for that situation. You will be able to stand, split, double down or surrender.
Main Points from The Blackjack Strategy Chart
Here are some key points for you to take from the blackjack strategy chart that you can start incorporation into your game straight away.
- Stand on 17 and above – even if the dealer has an ace or 10, you need to stand if you are on 17 or higher.
- Double down on 11 – a hard 11 is one of the best hands you can be dealt, and it is best to double down and take advantage of it.
- Split 8s and Aces – regardless of what card the dealer has, it is best to split 8s and aces if dealt as the starting hand.
- Do not split 10s – having 20 as your starting hand gives you a great chance of winning.
- Hit on ace to 7 for a dealer’s 9, 10 or ace – always hit if you have a starting hand from ace to 7 while the dealer has a 9, 10 or ace to start.
- Only stand with 12 on dealers 4, 5 or 6 – if you have 12 and the dealer is showing a 4, 5 or 6, otherwise always hit on 12.
- Stand with 13, 14, 15 or 16 on dealers 2 to 6 – it is best to stand if the dealer is showing 2 to 6, if the dealer’s card is higher, then you should hit.
Let Us Look at The Perfect Strategy in Blackjack for Advanced Players
Now that you have grasped the basic blackjack strategy chart, you can move onto other blackjack strategies. Advanced blackjack players turn to many different strategies that they feel may help them win. Card counting being one of the strategies advanced players use.
Card Counting
The idea behind card counting is that players will use mathematics to work out whether a hand will be good for the player or the dealer. You can tell whether you should bet high or low. This is simply done by keeping track of the number of small and large number cards that have been used and how many remain in the deck to still be played. If done successfully, card tracking can decrease the house edge by 1%.
The hi-low card counting strategy works by assigning a value of either -1, 0, or 1 to each card that is dealt facing up. This is easier and a common alternative to counting the value of each card. Hi-low is based more on approximate numbers.
- Small cards (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) will be tagged as +1. This means that if they are removed from the deck the player will be at an advantage.
- Other cards (7, 8 and 9) will be tagged as 0. This means that if they are removed from the pack, it will have no impact and they do not need to be counted.
- Large cards (10’s and aces) will be tagged as -1. If they are removed from the deck, it gives an advantage to the house.
Tip:
Tagging cards is a simpler way to “count cards” that does not require all that much memory and mathematics. Players do this by adding or subtracting ‘1’ every time a small or large card is removed from the deck. They will then know whether the deck is leaning in their favor or not and can manage their bets according to this.
How Do the Best Blackjack Betting Strategies Work?
Once you have mastered the basic blackjack strategies you can start applying the more advanced blackjack strategies. These include knowing when to double down, play hard or soft hands, and also when to split.
Everybody has their own answer as to how they can beat the house edge. The million-dollar question is do these strategies actually work, and how do they work?
Well, there is no guarantee that these strategies players use will work every time, but they certainly do help bring down the house edge and get you closer to winning. The basic blackjack strategy chart and counting cards are two strategies we have previously mentioned that definitely do help.
These two strategies along with many others out there have helped many gamblers and blackjack players around the world to get the win they want. Once mastered, these strategies become part of your game and you eventually are able to bring them into play without too much hassle and thought.
Other Advanced Blackjack Strategies
Now that we have discussed two very commonly used and popular blackjack strategies, let us have a look at a few more advanced blackjack strategies that many people believe to work and are used quite a lot in the gambling world. Always remember that no matter what strategy you are using, there is no guarantee that you will definitely win.
Tip:
Always practice responsible gambling. Set yourself a budget before you start playing and never exceed your limit. The best gamblers know when to stop!
Martingale Strategy in Blackjack
One of the oldest betting systems around is the Martingale betting system. This system goes way back to the 18th century in France. The strategy was originally used for roulette but has since become a common strategy used for other games. In simple terms, the theory states that a player who is quite wealthy could prevent a loss in even money bets by doubling each bet every time he lost.
This theory has worked in times and players can recover all their losses with a single win. On the contrary, if luck is not on your side and you end up with a bad streak of cards, you can end up losing a lot of money. This strategy is fine for high rollers, but we suggest the casual gambler rather stick to other tactics and strategies.
1 – 2 – 3 – 5 Blackjack Strategy
The 1-2-3-5 blackjack strategy or betting system is also known as the Fibonacci System. This strategy will follow the famous 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 and so on. Each number is equal to the sum of the previous two numbers. Here the player will increase the stake with every losing bet.
The following rules apply when following the Fibonacci betting system:
- Every time you lose a bet, you must move one number up the Fibonacci sequence. Bet this number of units.
- Every time you win a bet, you must move two numbers down the sequence. Bet this number of units.
Let us look at an example:
| 1 | Bet 1 unit | Lose |
| 1 | Bet 1 unit | Lose |
| 2 | Bet 2 units | Lose |
| 3 | Bet 3 units | Lose |
| 5 | Bet 5 units | Lose |
| 8 | Bet 8 units | Lose |
| 13 | Bet 13 units | Lose |
| 21 | Bet 21 units | WIN |
| 8 | Bet 8 units | Lose |
| 13 | Bet 13 units | Lose |
| 21 | Bet 21 units | etc… |
The D’Alembert Betting Strategy
This is a unique betting strategy that was designed to be used with various casino games, especially those that involve using cards. The ultimate goal of the D’Alembert betting system is very similar to that of the Martingale system. This betting system is a negative progression system.
The player will work their way through a regression of reduced bets. Basically, in simple terms, the player will reduce their bets when they win. This is a negative as reducing bets has proven not to be very successful in the blackjack game.
Negative progression betting systems like the D’Alembert system require a very big bank roll to work successfully. This system requires a player to increase bets after a loss and decrease them after a win.
For example:
- Hand 1 - bet $4 - lose
- Hand 2 - bet $8 - lose
- Hand 3 - bet $16 - win
- Hand 4 - bet $8 - win
- Hand 5 - bet $4 - win
Oscar's Grind
Oscar’s Grind betting system uses a positive progression style of betting. The aim is to win one unit per cycle and once the profit is achieved then the cycle comes to an end. This system works well and rewards players that like to receive a series of small wins rather than aiming for a big jackpot. You need to be patient and put in the continuous hours of gameplay. You will keep your bets low when you are losing and raise them when you are winning.
Here is a table showing you an example of the Oscar’s Grind betting system.
| Bet | Result | Balance | Profit |
| $1 | loss | $49 | -$1 |
| $1 | loss | $48 | -$2 |
| $1 | loss | $47 | -$3 |
| $1 | loss | $46 | -$4 |
| $1 | win | $47 | -$3 |
| $2 | loss | $45 | -$5 |
| $2 | win | $47 | -$3 |
| $3 | win | $50 | $0 |
| $1 | win | $51 | +$1 |
Online Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack is the online casino game with the best odds and can be played at many of the best online blackjack live dealer casinos. Losing at the game can become very frustrating. Online blackjack is a lot of fun and excitement especially if the dealer is not doing so well and is on a losing streak. However, unless you're an advantage player, you need to pick a basic strategy and just stick to it. Your mind can play tricks on you and make you think you're doing well but you shouldn't stray from your system of choice.
While playing online blackjack, you are able to use the same blackjack strategies that you would in a brick-and-mortar casino. It is probably even easier as you can have your sheets of paper with you at all times. Below are a few tips that may help you when playing online blackjack.
- Know the difference between online and live blackjack. You are not able to count cards with online blackjack.
- Memorize the card rankings so you know what your next move should be.
- Think hard about whether to hit or stand – be cautious.
- Learn and make use of the basic blackjack strategy chart.
- Set yourself daily wagering limits.
- Practice playing with free online blackjack games.
- Have fun!
Your Optimal Advanced Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack is a popular casino game that has been enjoyed for many years and is still to be for many more years to come. There are many different strategies that players use in order to help them sneak closer to that win they have been patiently waiting for. When first starting out, the simplest strategy to use when playing blackjack would be the basic blackjack strategy.
Once you have come to really understand the basics, then you can look at a more advanced blackjack strategy to incorporate into your game. The experienced and advanced blackjack players have many different options available to them. Counting cards, the Martingale Strategy, Oscar's Grind, the D'Alembert Strategy and the 1-2-3-5 strategy are just a few of the advanced strategies we have mentioned in this guide.