Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack is one of the oldest and most popular games in the world, and learning how to play blackjack can be a really fun process. Over the years, players have developed different blackjack betting strategies in order to try and master the game. Have any of them been successful? In this guide, we are going to take a look at each blackjack betting strategy and find out.
Blackjack Basic Strategy and How it Works
Basic Blackjack Strategy is the most commonly used strategy for playing blackjack in its various forms. This is a table that shows players the optimal way to play their hands based on the dealer’s hand. While this does not guarantee a win, it can help minimise your losses.
Hit
Hit is one of the two main options you will be presented with when you are dealt your initial hand. If you hit, you will receive another card. You can continue to hit until you go bust, which is when your hand is worth more than 21.
Stand
Stand is the second option that is presented with every opening hand. If you stand, you do not receive any more cards and the dealer will then play his hand. Once you have decided to stand, you can not change your hand.
Split
The option to split is presented whenever you have two matching cards in your initial hand. When you split, the hand is split into two new hands, and you can play both of them against the dealer.
Double
The double option is not available in every version of blackjack. When it is presented, players can double the stake of their hand. If you double, the dealer can only give you one more card.
Surrender
In Surrender, players can fold their hands and forfeit half of their original bet. That is, if they believe their hand is weak. Early Surrender and Late Surrender are the two types of Surrender in Blackjack. They are beneficial strategies for players with a weak hand to minimise their loss.
Understanding the Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart
The Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart is like a religious text for a lot of blackjack players, with many players enshrining it in their memories and being able to recall it at a moment’s notice. Across the top of the chart, you will find the dealer's hand numbers, and up the left-hand side are the player’s hands. You can then follow the chart to find out the best way to play your hand against the dealers. Players study the chart in order to commit it to memory and optimise their performance when playing.
When looking at the chart it is important to understand what each option shows. The 'H' symbol shows you on which hands you should hit. The red 'D' symbol shows when you should double down. The green 'S' is when you should stand. Finally, the blue 'SP' is when you should split.
Once you memorise basic blackjack strategy you can also look into more advanced betting strategies, which are discussed in more detail below.
Common Blackjack Betting Systems
Over the years, players have developed a diverse range of different blackjack strategies to attempt to beat the game. Let’s take a look at each blackjack strategy individually and find out how to use them.
Martingale System
The Martingale system is one of the most popular used by blackjack players. In the Martingale system, players double their bet every time they lose. They continue doing so until they land a win.
About the Martingale System >D'Alembert System
The D'Alembert system is extremely similar to the Martingale system. In this system, you double your bets when you are losing, as you do in the Martingale. However, whenever you win, instead of starting again, you go backwards one stake and slowly decrease.
About the D'Alembert System >Parlay System
A Parlay betting system in blackjack is simple to execute. In the system, players increase their bet using their accumulated winnings. You do not have to double your bets, just increase them and add your winnings to the pile
About the Parlay System >Paroli System
The Paroli system is the opposite to the Martingale. Using the Paroli system, players double their hands every time they win. Streaks are typically played in sequences of four, with players starting again with their original stake if they win four in a row.
About the Paroli System >Other Blackjack Betting Systems
Positive Progression System
A positive progression system is one where a player increases their bet every time they win and slowly decreases it whenever they lose.
Oscar's Grind System
Oscar’s Grind is a method where players continue to play until they are up by one unit. Players choose a unit and continue to play until they have won this unit. When they have done so, they start again.
Trioplay system
The Trioplay system is a closely guarded secret that players will need to pay to access. However, we can reveal that it is a positive progression betting system with slight increments in stake whenever players land a win. The system is well-respected and has been reported as having a moderate success rate
Fibonacci System
The Fibonacci system, as its name suggests, uses the classic Fibonacci Sequence to help players determine their stakes and is a popular blackjack betting strategy. For this, players add their last two stakes together for their next bet. The sequence is typically 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34, and so on.
Kelly Criterion System
The Kelly Criterion system is a complex maths-based strategy that has been analysed and studied extensively. In order to use this system, players first need to have an understanding of both basic blackjack strategy and card counting.
Understanding Card Values
Card Counting in Blackjack
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