Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games on the planet. It has been around since the 1700s and had humble beginnings in French casinos, where the game was called Vingt et Un. Since then, it has become a mainstay all over Las Vegas, and plenty of gamblers today are playing online blackjack games for fun.
If you’re going to have success with this popular casino game, you need to understand strategy in general and have a blackjack strategy guide to assist you. This means knowing blackjack odds, what constitutes a winning hand, and having an idea about the different blackjack variations.
Keep reading so that you can find out some blackjack strategy options that can help.
BLACKJACK BETTING STRATEGY — WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Before diving deep into the art of blackjack, you should understand why having a betting strategy is crucial, especially when you play blackjack online. The right betting strategy can be the difference between a loss and a huge win at the blackjack table.
A blackjack strategy is mainly important for helping you make decisions, so you’re not simply playing randomly. You’d be able to stack the odds in your favour when you are watching the table, understanding your hand and the dealer’s hand, and making educated estimations of what you are facing.
It is also important to have a solid betting strategy going in because the dealer always retains a house edge. This means that the dealer is slightly more likely to win than any given player. The house edge makes blackjack more interesting by raising the stakes and also makes the payouts bigger once you overcome them.
People often think of card counting when it comes to beating the house edge, but there are many other blackjack betting strategies that you can utilise that offer better odds of winning. On top of that, card counting is banned by most casinos as this method is considered cheating, which is something you won’t have to worry about when using the best blackjack strategies.
Once you understand the house edge, you’re able to set up blackjack betting systems that can make a difference. Each blackjack session can be fruitful when you understand the casino’s house edge and come up with a betting pattern that works for you.
For example, the Martingale strategy is a sound blackjack approach that several people use in brick-and-mortar and virtual casinos.
Understanding a basic strategy will help you manage your chips to help you stay at the blackjack table longer and multiply your winnings. This applies to blackjack games found in both land and online casinos.
Many professional blackjack players have strategies that they swear by. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
BASIC BLACKJACK STRATEGY AND ITS IMPACT ON BLACKJACK BETTING
Simply put, you’re playing a completely different game when you understand basic blackjack strategy as opposed to leaving it to chance. Blackjack has a variety of options, including doubling down, placing side bets, splitting cards, replaying the same bet, and so much more.
Knowing when to execute a strategy can be the difference between multiplying your winnings and sliding into a losing streak.
The optimal strategy can get you a winning hand whenever you’re playing blackjack. You can place an insurance bet or follow a certain betting system based on the size of your bet, the strength of your hand, and the strength of the dealer’s hand. Mastering the perfect basic strategy can help.
You can use strategy charts to help once you figure out the best betting strategy for you. Knowing how each betting unit can be adjusted will give you the edge that you need to even the odds. Get your hands on a blackjack strategy chart and try a few strategies until you get the best fit.
BLACKJACK STRATEGY: BETTING SYSTEMS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Once you recognise how important strategy is in blackjack, there’s simply no going back. Now you must get up to speed on each strategy so that you can play each hand with intention and increase your odds of winning in a blackjack game.
Card counting and team betting are controversial, but players use plenty of other systems regularly. There are some tried and true blackjack strategies that players have used in casinos and online betting since the game has been around.
Here are some strategies you can try out, whether you are new to the game or trying to refine your skill set.
THE MARTINGALE STRATEGY
Once you start learning blackjack, the Martingale system is one that you will hear people mention frequently. This blackjack system applies to single-deck blackjack and multiple blackjack variant options. This is a negative progression system that you can use in casinos and on online blackjack websites.
In a nutshell, the thesis for this negative progression betting strategy is that with enough time and opportunity, you will eventually have a winning hand. It requires perseverance and a large enough stack of chips to carry out the strategy.
After losing, the Martingale betting strategy says that players should double their bets on the next hand. The Martingale betting system can help you counteract the house edge by potentially recouping losses with one large win that can keep you in the game and earn you profits. While it does not guarantee as great success as the basic strategy, the Martingale system can still prove to be profitable.
As we mentioned, the Martingale system requires you to keep doubling your bet every time you lose. For example, if your first bet was €10 and you lost it, the Martingale system says that you should bet €20 in the next round.
After losing on that hand, your next bet would be €40. With enough time at the blackjack table, the system says that the odds will eventually play in your favour, and a big stack of chips will counteract all of your losses.
Make sure you have enough discretionary betting money to stick to this game plan. Losing streaks happen in blackjack or any gambling game, and you need to be prepared to ride the tide if you’re going to execute this blackjack system correctly.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE MARTINGALE STRATEGY OF BLACKJACK
So, what are the pros and cons of the Martingale strategy?
The main advantage is that you can use this strategy to make up for your losses, which inevitably occur, as with all casino games. It’s an exciting strategy that involves big risks and bigger payouts. By doubling down on your bets, you give yourself some form of insurance and can minimise your losses if things play in your favour.
The downside is that the strategy is costly, and, as with any strategy, it’s not always guaranteed to work for you. You might faithfully double your bets, only to find yourself losing hand after hand.
It’s easy to lose your nerve with these bets, particularly if you are an inexperienced player or someone who doesn’t have enough money to justify it. For this strategy to work correctly, you have to have a high-risk tolerance and a willingness to see the system through.
If you are worried about losing all of your money, set a cut-off that you’re not willing to go over. This way, you’re not habitually doubling down and losing money with each hand.
One way to split the difference with this betting system is to reset and go back down to your original betting amounts after hitting a cut-off and then doubling down each hand over again. It minimises your potential loss while allowing you to still stick to the strategy in earnest.
THE D’ALEMBERT STRATEGY
The D’Alembert blackjack strategy is used for a variety of gambling games in casinos everywhere, including the game of blackjack. In fact, some players believe it is the optimal strategy to use.
This is also a negative progressive betting system that allows you to hedge your bets and increase your payouts to even your odds.
This system begins by figuring out what kind of betting unit amount you want to place for each hand. This could be as little as €5, while other players with higher bankrolls may choose betting units of €50 or more.
With the D’Alembert system, you increase your bet by a single unit following a loss. After a win, instead of doubling your wager, you would scale back a unit. This raises your chances of increasing your winnings.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE D’ALEMBERT STRATEGY OF BLACKJACK
You also need to make sure that you fully understand the advantages and disadvantages that come with the D’Alembert strategy.
With this strategy, players deal with gradual losses as opposed to major ones. This is because players can decide on the value of their betting units themselves, which means that they can stick around and enjoy the game of blackjack for much longer. This lets players bet at their own pace rather than feeling pressured to up the ante before they are ready.
However, the things that make the D’Alembert strategy efficient also bring some drawbacks. Since it’s more of a conservative betting strategy, it will take much longer to build your stack of chips with wins, and you will be less likely to recover losses as they come along.
A losing streak can hamstring your efforts before too long if you’re not careful. Another downside is that because the bets are much smaller, it’s not enough for you to overcome the house edge significantly.
THE LABOUCHERE STRATEGY
The Labouchere system is one of the many progressive betting strategies that blackjack players put to use. When using the Labouchere strategy, players would be working with a betting system that is more customised than any other.
To begin, players must sit at a table with a predetermined amount of money that they want to win. From there, players must then build their bets in a way that amounts to this through different increments. For this reason, this progressive betting system involves some attention to detail.
For example, suppose you want to win a payout of €10. You can split this number into smaller ones to create a betting pattern – how you split it is entirely up to you. For the sake of this example, say you split it like this: 1 — 1 — 1 — 2 — 2 — 2 — 1.
Your bet value is determined by the leftmost and rightmost numbers. In this case, 1+1 = €2.
If this wager wins, you must then cross out the numbers you used from the sequence. The new sequence would then be: 1 — 1 — 2 — 2 — 2. With this sequence, your next wager would be 1+2 = €3. Continue the proceess untill all numbers have been crossed out.
If you lose, instead, you must add the value of your last bet to the sequence. So, if you ended up losing your initial €2 bet, the sequence would then be: 1 — 1 — 1 — 2 — 2 — 2 — 1 — 2.
It is important that you never forget to add or remove numbers from the sequence, especially if you’re dealing with a larger end payout.
There’s a lot of variance in this betting strategy, and it requires some attention to detail for you to stick to it.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE LABOUCHERE STRATEGY OF BLACKJACK
The advantage of the Labouchere system is that it increases the likelihood of stacking your winnings and beating the house edge. It provides plenty of flexibility, so you’re not stuck in a rut betting your money.
You’ll be able to make plenty of changes to your betting cycle and change your number chain whenever you need. When you’re able to change the numbers, you’ll be in a better position to manage your bankroll and minimise the risk that you’re taking on. You can even add a zero to the three numbers to make it safer whenever you’re playing hands of blackjack.
In terms of the downsides, you can run the risk of going on an extended losing streak that is difficult to recover from. This can add up and cause you to run through your bankroll before you are ready to.
It can be a tricky system for newcomers to try out if they aren’t accustomed to blackjack and don’t have the experience to overcome the potential setbacks.
PROS AND CONS OF 2-1-2 BLACKJACK BETTING SYSTEM
The 2-1-2 betting system is another blackjack betting strategy that you can put to use when you’re trying to win some hands. This is another progressive betting system that you can put to use that will help you hedge your losses and get more out of your bets.
This positive progression betting scheme is considered an optimal blackjack betting strategy by many. The scheme begins by deciding how much money constitutes a single betting unit. From there, you will start the game by betting a double unit.
So, if your betting units are €10, you will start the game by betting €20. After winning a hand, you will bet a single unit on your next hand and on each hand that you win after that.
If you lose a hand, you start from the beginning and bet a double unit once again. This is an easy blackjack betting system that will give you a chance to protect against losses and overcome the house edge.
ADVANTAGES
One of the most significant advantages of the 2-1-2 system of betting is that you won’t have to deal with any complex sequences like other betting strategies.
Aside from blackjack, you can play games of all types with the 2-1-2 system, including roulette and craps. Whether you’re playing a single deck game or other casino games, it’s a flexible and adaptable strategy that you can put to use.
You’ll be able to bring in high-level profits when you put this system to use effectively. By using a blackjack strategy like this, you’ll have the chance to increase your odds and stand more of a potential of beating the house.
DISADVANTAGES
Make sure that you also understand the disadvantages that come with the territory of using the 2-1-2 system. Beginning with a double unit can be a potential downside of this strategy.
Many other strategies begin with a single unit to help prevent blackjack players from losing their bankroll too quickly. If they go on a cold streak in their blackjack sessions, this can potentially spell problems that players would have trouble coming back from.
Losing streaks are always a possibility, even when you play a perfect basic strategy.
BLACKJACK BETTING STRATEGY AND HOUSE EDGE
Be sure that you consider some strategy tips that will help you when you’re looking into beating the house edge. A house edge refers to how much of an advantage the house or dealer has in games of blackjack, and it applies both online and in person at casinos. The edge is determined based on several simulations that were done to come to conclude the house edge size.
In blackjack, the house edge is about 2%. There are a variety of other blackjack variants that also have different house edge percentages. But, some blackjack players push to argue that the basic betting strategy can even beat the house edge.
This is because the basic strategy is based on mathematical calculations that compare profitable moves depending on the scenario. So, when you play perfect basic strategy moves, you might be able to overcome the house advantage.
That said, however, winning is never a guarantee. Even with the best blackjack strategies up your sleeve, losing is inevitable – but that’s simply part of the experience!
IS IT WORTH COUNTING CARDS IN BLACKJACK BETTING SYSTEMS?
Counting cards is a common strategy players use when trying to get winning hands in blackjack.
There are a variety of techniques that people use when counting cards. This includes adding or subtracting one from the value of your cards, depending on what you have in your hand, and breaking even for the value of other cards.
When you start counting cards in blackjack, you can work on beating the house edge and increasing your winnings. This happens at a small percentage during your blackjack sessions, but every little bit helps when you are trying to increase your chances.
You can consult a blackjack chart that showcases a variety of card values. When you see these values laid out in front of you, it’s easier to plan out your bets to count cards in a way that works.
Though this is part of blackjack basic strategy, it’s also one of the most debated. In general, counting cards is not recommended as it is banned at most casinos. So, it would be more beneficial to use another steady betting strategy.
For example, many players decide to look into a flat betting system to get the most out of their hands and their betting chips. Others use a progressive betting strategy to win.
CHOOSE YOUR STRATEGY AND PLAY BLACKJACK WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING
You must figure out what blackjack betting strategy makes the most sense for you when you’re trying your hand at the game. The easiest way to choose is through trial and error, and figuring out which method suits your risk tolerance and bankroll.
Figure out which blackjack variant you enjoy as well. There are several different types of blackjack that you can play, and these betting strategies can apply to any of them.
Using these strategies can help you get the most out of each hand, one bet at a time.
CONCLUSION — HOW TO WIN MORE AT BLACKJACK USING BETTING STRATEGIES?
Blackjack is a game that is packed with entertainment. One of the many reasons why this game is so popular is because players can test and apply their knowledge for a chance to win, and not only rely on luck.
There are several different strategies that you can use when you’re trying to win at blackjack. Use these strategies to your advantage as you figure out what makes the most sense for you, your betting style, skill level and bankroll.
FAQ
✅ CAN I USE MULTIPLE BETTING STRATEGIES IN ONE BLACKJACK GAME?
Conceivably, games of blackjack can go on as long as you want to play. You can bounce between a positive progression betting system and a negative progression betting system.
You can use multiple betting strategies for however long you’re at the blackjack table. That said, it’s best to use one strategy at a time so that you can experience the results.
✅ CAN BONUSES BE USED IN BLACKJACK BETTING STRATEGIES?
Generally, casino bonuses apply to the game itself rather than betting techniques. Bonuses can help boost your chances of winning, but they do not apply to the technique you choose to use as you play blackjack.
✅ DOES THE BLACKJACK BETTING STRATEGY GIVE THE PLAYER AN ADVANTAGE?
When applied correctly, blackjack strategies can help you minimise and make up for losses. However, it’s important to remember that the casino maintains a statistical advantage even with the best blackjack betting strategy in play.
Use it to manage your bankroll and hedge your bets, but respect the advantage and recognise that the game is intended to favour the house. When done efficiently, card counting is a way to give the player more of an edge, but it is banned at most casinos.
✅ ARE THE BETTING STRATEGIES THE SAME FOR BLACKJACK AT A LAND-BASED CASINO AND AN ONLINE CASINO?
You can use the same strategies for online casinos that you use for land-based casinos. Use them to maintain your bankroll and to try to come away with winnings.
If card counting is part of your strategy, it’ll be more difficult online because these platforms use software to shuffle the cards. Make sure to choose the best blackjack sites so that you can work your strategies effectively.
✅ WHAT IS THE BLACKJACK FLAT BET METHOD?
The flat bet method involves taking a percentage of your bankroll and betting it each hand, no matter what. You can start as small as 1% and make adjustments however you see fit.