If you’re new to blackjack, you might think that the game is simple. Just see if you can reach 21, right? Well, there is more to it than that.
If you want to play online blackjack real money, you need to understand a bit of strategy.
Here are 7 strategic rules you need to follow in your attempt to win.
Table of Contents
Insurance Isn’t Worth It
An insurance bet is a secondary bet you can place while playing blackjack. This side bet becomes available if the dealer’s up-card is an ace.
You win the insurance bet if the dealer reaches 21. The maximum you can bet in insurance is half of your original bet. The idea is that you might lose the round, but not by as much.
The only time when an insurance bet makes sense is if you’ve counted the cards. This way you’ll know if the dealer is likely to reach 21 or not. If not, you may end up losing your original bet and the insurance bet for an even worse blow.
Remember Hard 17 And Hard 11
The general strategy needed to play this game surrounds the numbers 17 and 11.
If you get a hard 17 (meaning a 17 not created through an ace) or more, then you should stand. It doesn’t matter what the rest of the cards may hold, your current hand is good.
If you have a hard 11 or less, you should hit. The highest number you will get in this situation is a 10, and if that happens then guess what – you’ve reached 21.
If you forget everything else, remember that!
Remember Soft 19 and Soft 17
If you do have an ace in your hand, you need to remember that it can be used as an 11 or as a 1 – you get to choose. It’s because of this swap that any hand with an ace in is considered soft.
If you have a soft 19, you have an ace and an 8. The likelihood of you reaching anything higher than that is low. Because of this, you should stand.
If you have a soft 17, you have an ace and a 6. There is still a lot of wiggle room. You are unlikely to win with 17, but you could make your numbers even better. Let’s break down how
If you get a 1, 2, 3, or 4, your numbers will be closer to 21. If you get a 10, J, Q, or K, your numbers remain at 17. So if you get 5 or 6 you’ll end up with 12 or 13 overall, meaning you could play another card.
If you get a 7, 8, or 9, your numbers will be too high to hit again, but too low to be worth it. This means your odds of losing rely on avoiding these three numbers, which is statistically easy.
This strategy is a little bit more complicated, but the more you remember, the better your game will be.
Does The Dealer Have A 6 In Their Up-Card?
The up-card is the dealer’s card which is on show. If the dealer’s up-card is 6 or less, they are statistically more likely to go bust.
This is because the dealer has to reach a certain number before they can stand. With a low first card, they are unlikely to reach that number. As a player, you have more room to play.
With a 6 or less in their up-card, a hard 13 or higher will be more likely to win. This allows you to stand earlier than at any other time in the game.
Split Your 8s And Aces
When you get two cards that are the same, you have access to a new rule – splitting. Say you are dealt 2 8s – because they are the same, you can either carry on the game as normal or split the cards into two hands.
This means your single bet is worth 2.
You don’t always have to split the bets if you don’t think the card is worth it, but if you are dealt two aces the chances of you winning are doubled.
With two aces you can create 2 soft hands which give you more flexibility as the cards are dealt.
If you are given two 8s, together they make 16 which is too low to win and too high to add in a new card. However, if you split them, you have a better chance of picking up a winning hand.
Split When You Match The Dealer
If you have two 7s and the dealer’s up-card is a 7, the likelihood of their second card being a 7 is low. Using that information you should split your hand to make your odds better than the dealers.
Total of 11? Hit!
Lastly, if you have a total of 11 or lower, hit. There is no way you can lose, but you could end up reaching 21.
Summary
Keep all of these tips in your back pocket, so you know what to play and when. Blackjack isn’t a game of luck, it’s a game of strategy. Know the right moves and you’re more likely to win.