Blackjack Perfect Strategy
If the dealer deals you two cards with the same blackjack card value, the rules of blackjack say you may “split” them into two separate hands by placing another bet equal to your initial wager. For example, virtually all players of 21 will split a pair of Aces by placing. And you never split a pair of 5’s. You can learn more about when to split and not split in the last section on this page. 5 – Understand Insurance. Blackjack insurance is a special side wager the dealer offers the players when the dealer has an ace showing. You have the opportunity to place a second wager of half your original wager. The hand signal for a split, which applies for both face down and face up games, is to raise your index and middle fingers in the shape of a ‘V’.
Blackjack is a timeless game that remains popular with punters from all over the world. Learning basic blackjack strategy is a necessary step for everyone interested in the game and grasping crucial tips will enrich your ability to beat the house.
While the casino has about 5% advantage over unskilled players, having a basic blackjack strategy can reduce the house advantage to 0.5%.
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A blackjack game begins with a bet by the players against the house. The dealer deals two cards for the players and two for themselves. One card faces up, the other down. The values for cards 1 to 9 correspond to their face number.
The picture cards (king, queen, jack and 10) count for 10, while the ace has a value of 1 or 11 depending on the state of the game. Players have a decision to make – whether to hit, stand, split, double down, or surrender.
The dealer acts after the players. He stands on 17-21, or hits on 16 or less. If the dealer exceeds 21 (busts), the players win. If the hand totals of players are higher than that of the dealer but less than a bust, they win.
Blackjack Split Aces
Know your aces. A hard hand has the ace valued at 1 or as nothing at all. For instance, a hand of 4, ace, 9 and 2 is a hard 15 as well as 9 + 6. A soft hand has an ace valued at 11. For example, ace, 3 and 4 is a soft 18, while 2, 3, ace and 3 is a soft 19.
Blackjack Basic Strategy
Applying the perfect blackjack strategy means making the right decision for the circumstances, rather than having hard and fast rules.
Blackjack Basic Strategy: Hitting & Standing
To hit is to request another card, while standing is to signal that you need no more cards. Players stand or hit on hands that total to 21 or less. However, beware not to bust by exceeding 21.
If you want to hit, signal the dealer by beckoning or tapping the table behind your cards in shoe games. In hand-held games, you signal a hit by scratching the edges of your cards lightly on the felt. To stand in shoe games, wave over the cards, and in hand-held games tuck the cards under your chips.
Blackjack Basic Strategy: Doubling Down Soft & Hard Hands
Doubling down means to double the amount of the initial wager to receive one drawcard in return. Commonly doubled hands include soft 13 through 18 (A-2 to A-7), and hard 8 to 11. Always check the doubling restriction of a particular casino.
Blackjack Betting Strategy: Splitting a Pair
When you draw two like cards you can make a split bet. Splitting a pair is necessary when a player wants to turn a losing hand into a winning one, lose less money, or win more cash.
The basic blackjack strategy on splitting depends on the playing rules and the number of decks of the game. With NDAS (No double after split), you split hands less than in the case of liberal DAS (Double after split). Check the strategy table for tactical splits.
Blackjack Strategy: Surrendering a Hand
The blackjack strategy of surrendering sounds rather unpleasant but is often a timely solution. If you notice minimal chances of winning after comparing your two-card hand with the up card of the dealer, surrender.
This means forfeiting your hand and losing half of your wager amount. Then, the dealer puts your two initial cards into the discard tray. This is better than losing a full wager. You can make an ‘early surrender’ or a ‘late surrender’.
The late blackjack surrender takes place after the dealer peeks at his hole card (the card facing down) and has a blackjack like the player. For example, in a single deck with hard 17 when the dealer’s up-card is 10, and you hold 16, surrender. It reduces the house edge by 0.07% for multiple decks.
With the early surrender, players give in their hand having seen the picture up-card and/or ace of the dealer before the dealer determines whether he has a blackjack. For example, surrendering hard 14 to 16 against a dealer of 10. Early surrender is the perfect blackjack strategy if you think you are at risk of losing it all.
Blackjack Betting Strategy: Insurance & ‘Even Money’
The insurance strategy is an extra, optional bet where a player anticipates that the hole card of the dealer is a picture/ten card. The wager on an insurance bet is equal to about half of the original wager. If your prediction is true, this bet wins at 2 to 1 odds. If the dealer has a card different to that which you bet on, you lose the insurance bet.
‘Even money’ is the cash equivalent to your wager that a dealer pays you when she shows an ace up-card while you have a blackjack. The dealer pays before checking her hole card to see whether it is a blackjack.
How to Count Cards in Blackjack?
Another crucial blackjack betting strategy is to count cards. It is important to know how to do that in blackjack so that you know when to increase your bets, slow down or stop. As a player, card counting helps you vary your bets to take advantage of the casino. To learn how to count cards in blackjack follow these simple steps:
Blackjack How To Signal Split Screen
- Assign a tag of -1 to the cards 10, J, Q, K, and A. Assign +1 to the cards 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The cards 7, 8, and 9 take a tag of 0.
- After the shuffle, start counting every card pulled from the deck by adding its tag. Consistently count cards accurately to get the running count of each round.
- A positive running count means that the undealt cards are of large value, so you should increase your bets.
- If after any round the running count is negative, that means undealt cards are of small value, so you should decrease your bets.
You can learn how to count cards in blackjack using an interactive card counting trainer. This is a software that applies a mathematical technique to counting cards accurately. Always do some counting to mitigate the risk on your bet.
The Round Up
Gaming is fun when you apply the perfect blackjack strategy. To maximise your chances of winning on your wager, consider a blackjack betting strategy ideal for an isolated situation.
Blackjack How To Signal Split Signal
If you are a newbie, check for a strategy table on the website of your casino to guide you on the moves to make. Most importantly, and most reliably, whichever blackjack betting strategy you use don’t forget to count cards to assess your progress.
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Table Etiquette
Although the game itself is simple, there are casino rules and traditions that are important to follow in order to avoid a reprimand from the dealer.
- Once you've place your bet, don't touch the chips. The dealer might think you're trying to sneak extra chips into your bet because you have a good hand.
- If you're doubling down, place the additional chips next to the original chips that you bet, not on top of them. The dealer doesn't always count your bet ahead of time, so he might think you're adding more than double to your bet when you mix the two together.
- In a London Deal game, in which you get your cards face up, do not touch your cards. Casinos prohibit this to prevent players from marking the cards in some way.
- If you're playing Nevada Deal, you'll have to pick up your cards to look at them. Never touch them with two hands, and don't handle the cards more than necessary. Always keep them above the table, in plain sight.
- Making your play at a blackjack table is not quite as simple as telling the dealer, 'Hit me,' or 'Stand.' In a crowded, noisy casino, it would be very easy for the dealer to misunderstand what you say, or hear the play at another table and think it was yours. That's why hand signals are required.
- The dealer's eyes will be on the cards almost all the time. When you want another card, say, 'Hit me,' and make a brushing or scratching motion behind your cards. (If you're holding your cards, you can brush them against the table behind your bet.) Imagine that you're making a slight, subtle, upside-down 'Come here' motion, and you'll get the idea.
- The signal for standing is a small wave of the hand while saying, 'Stay,' or 'Stand.' Imagine that someone has just offered you a large slice of pie, but you just ate and you're stuffed. That 'No, thanks' hand motion is similar to the signal for stand. (Alternately, slide your cards face down under your bet.)
- It's vital to pay attention at the table. One story goes: A gambler looked away for a brief moment when a waitress asked if he wanted a drink. He inadvertently left his winnings from the previous hand in the betting circle (a substantial amount), and turned around to find the dealer had dealt him in with a $500 bet. Before he had a chance to complain, he glanced down to find he had been dealt a natural blackjack. That was a surprise happy ending, but his inattention at a key moment could easily had led to a huge loss.
- Tipping the dealer, known as toking, is customary but not required. The usual practice is to place the chips you're tipping with on the edge of the betting area between you and the dealer. You're actually betting the tip for the dealer. If you win the hand, the dealer gets twice the tip. If you lose, the dealer gets nothing.
- It's a good idea to exchange your cash for chips at the casino's cage before you start playing. However, there is usually a cash box at the blackjack table. You can place the money you want to play with on the table, and the dealer will exchange it for chips. In some casinos, you might even be allowed to bet with cash, but your winnings will be returned as chips. The dealer can't and won't change your chips back into cash -- it's back to the casino cage for that. The dealer will, however, allow you to trade in stacks of small-denomination ships for larger-denomination ships.
Now you know how to play blackjack. Next, we'll learn how to win.
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