Blackjack is one of the most popular table games because it’s so easy to learn and has favorable odds. Whilst there’s never a guarantee that you’ll win, our tips for blackjack could potentially boost your chances of winning more rounds of this popular table game.

Basic Blackjack Gameplay

blackjack

The aim in blackjack is to reach a total hand equal to 21 or as close to it as possible, without exceeding it. You’ll first need to join a table and place your bet. Many games accept wagers starting from $1. On the other hand, you’ll also find tables that are more suitable for high rollers with table limits reaching up to $5,000.

The dealer starts off with two cards, but unlike the players, one card will be facing up. Now it’s time to look at the value of your cards and decide whether to hit or stand. Our blackjack tips to win listed below will help you with this. If you chose to hit, you’ll now have a new hand value. If your hand is 21 or less, you’ll still be in the game.

Once all the players have made their decisions, the dealer will reveal their facedown card. Any hand over 21 busts and the player loses their bet. You win if your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s. The dealer wins if their score is equal to or closer to 21 than any of the other players’ values. A blackjack, which is an Ace and a ten-value card, is an automatic win.

Beginner Blackjack Tips

We’ve gathered a team of expert blackjack players to share their top strategies for you to use when playing this table game. Read through our blackjack tips to improve your odds.

Tip #1 – Learn the Basics

Blackjack is not simply a guessing game where sometimes you hit and others you stand. There is an ideal technique to play every hand you’re dealt. Therefore, it’s important to learn the basic strategies, including when to hit or stand. Use our blackjack chart to help you with this.

b2c blackjack chart - blackjack cheat sheet

Tip #2 – Choose the Tables with the Best Rules

Read the table rules before joining a game. We recommend ones where the dealer stands on “Soft 17s”. Additionally, tables with fewer decks are preferable. However, if you’re playing a 6-deck or 8-deck game, you can choose a table that allows you to surrender. Use this choice well. Surrender when you have a 16 and the dealer has a nine, ten, or Ace, or when you have a 15 and the dealer has a 10.

Tip #3 – Never Split 10s or Face Cards

Blackjack tips split 10s

A simple but important blackjack tip is knowing when to split your hand. All 10-value cards are splittable. You won’t have to wait to be dealt a 10 and another 10. Technically, you can split your 10 and Queen or your Jack and King. However, this strategy is generally only used when counting cards. On the whole, it means that in exchange for the high chance of winning with a 20, you risk losing twice as much money.

Tip #4 – Split Aces and 8s

Basic blackjack strategy tells you to split eights and Aces, and many times nines. Although it requires another bet, this is the best option no matter what the hand of the dealer is showing. Two eights will give you an uncomfortable total of 16 whilst two Aces hold a value of either 2 or a soft 12, making it one of the worst hands you could receive. If you decide not to split Aces or 8s because of the risk, the house will gain a significant edge.

Tip #5 – Only Take Insurance if You’re Counting Cards

Blackjack tips 17 rule

Don’t take insurance unless you’re counting cards and it seems that a 10 is about to be dealt. Casino offers insurance as a side bet when the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. This offers the player a chance not to lose their main bet if the dealer has a blackjack. This can be quite tempting, however, the math shows that the chances of the dealer getting a 10-valued card is around 33%.

Tip #6 – Never Double Down on a Pair of 4s

Do not double down on two fours. Just like you wouldn’t double down a total value of eight, with, for example, a three and five. A pair of fours is always a hit unless the dealer has a five or a six. In these cases, split only if a double down after the split is possible. If it’s not, hit. However, many times this is not an option.

Tip #7 – Don’t Stand on Soft 17s but Stand on Hard 17s and Over

Blackjack tips 17 rule

This blackjack tip is all about 17s. We recommend hitting or doubling down with soft 17s. Your best bet is to double down if the dealer’s upcard is between three and six, otherwise hit. On the other hand, if you have a hard 17 or more, stand, no matter what the dealer’s card is.

Tip #8 – Avoid Side Bets

Many online casinos offer side bets for players to try out. The most common examples are 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Insurance. The low house edge of blackjack is one of its most alluring aspects. This is usually around 1%. Whilst side bets allow you to play for longer, the house advantage increases to over 10%.

Tip #9 – Practice Before Playing For Real Money

Several of the best online casinos for real money offer the chance for players to play for free in demo mode. Therefore, you’ll gain more experience as you get used to the rules, develop a strategy, try out different variants, and more. This way, you’ll be more confident when playing against others. Just make sure to find a virtual game as it’s not possible in live-dealer games.

Tip #10 – Place Small Bets to Extend Your Bankroll

This blackjack tip is especially important if you’re a beginner. Playing at blackjack tables with high stakes might seem tempting when you think about what you could win. However, here you’ll usually find expert blackjack players and high rollers. Therefore, it is better to place small bets at a low-stakes game at the beginning to extend your bankroll.

Tip #11 – Casino Bonus

Although this might seem like an obvious blackjack tip, we thought it’s important to remind you. Find an online casino that offers bonuses that can be used for blackjack tables. Check out the best casino bonus codes today to unlock the most rewarding blackjack promotions.

Tip #12 – Play Responsibly

Last but certainly not least in our list of blackjack tips is to always gamble responsibly. Take frequent breaks, set a budget, and stick to it. Additionally, limit your alcohol whilst gambling.

Blackjack Tips for Pros

If you’ve got more experience and are looking for more sophisticated blackjack tips and tricks, check out our advanced blackjack strategies below.

Tip #1 – Learn How to Count Cards

Card counting has gained popularity as an advanced trick for playing blackjack. Maybe because of hit movies and TV shows like Rain Man and 21, or simply because it boosts your chances of winning. Luckily, you don’t need to memorize every single card to do it and it’s much easier to accomplish when playing online.

Theoretically, learning how to count cards is easy as it involves giving each card in a deck a value. There are three typical strategies used by card counters so we recommend reading our article to learn this advanced tip for blackjack.

Tip #2 – Composition Delicate Hands

Blackjack pro tips composition hands

Our second blackjack tip is what to do if you’ve got a 15 or 16 but not with just two cards, but with three or more. If your total is 16 and the dealer’s upcard is six or less, you should follow the basic blackjack strategy chart. Instead, if the dealer’s upcard is 10, basic blackjack strategy tells you to hit. However, this ignores which cards in the deck make up the hands.

If the Dealer’s Upcard is 10

As an example, if your 16 is made up of four fours (4, 4, 4, 4) you shouldn’t hit as you’re likely to go bust. This is because low-denomination cards are probably no longer in the deck. Additionally, if your total of 16 is made up of a 4 or a 5, and the dealer has a 10, you should also stand.

Tip #3 – Bet on The Other Player’s Hand

Just like land-based casinos, many of the best online blackjack casinos, like Wild Casino and Lucky Block, allow you to bet on another player’s hand. If you notice that your opponent has a strong hand, you can buy his hand by offering him more money than the dealer would have. If he agrees and unless the dealer has a blackjack, you’ll be able to keep the difference.

Best Blackjack Tips to Avoid Making Common Mistakes

We’ve looked at the different blackjack rules and seen the most frequent errors players make when playing. Below you’ll see what you should do instead.

  1. Read the rules of the table before you play.
  2. Place small wagers if you’re just starting out.
  3. Avoid 6:5 games, and choose 3:2 if possible.
  4. Avoid taking insurance unless you’re counting cards.

Overall, try to stay focused on the game and not get stuck rethinking your past moves.

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