There is a lot of information related to the rules and the strategy of Blackjack. Since Blackjack is a game of skills, it requires both novice and seasoned players to make a series of decisions that will be beneficial to them in the long run. To help you master the basics of this brilliant casino game, we have prepared a comprehensive Blackjack guide for you. The tips you are about to learn are easy to grasp and apply in real game scenarios.

• Printable Blackjack Basic Strategy Card
• Simple Blackjack Strategy
• Blackjack Strategy Trainer
• How Long To Learn Basic Strategy Blackjack
• Learn Blackjack Strategy Online

Our guide will teach you everything you need to know to win easily

Blackjack basic strategy isn’t nearly as hard as you might have thought it was. You can memorize the simplified basic strategy presented in this post in less than an hour easily. When you do, you can deal with a house edge of about 0.65% if you pick good games.

• Hitting: When it’s best to hit
• Standing: When it’s best to stand
• Double down: When it’s best to double down
• Slitting: When it’s best to split a pair of cards
• Surrendering: When it’s best to surrender
• Insurance: Should I take insurance?
• Card counting: How it’s done

What is a basic strategy in Blackjack?

Once you have mastered basic strategy Blackjack, you will get a better understanding of how you can use the rules of the game to your advantage. The game is full of unexpected twists and turns and you need to know how to make certain combinations of cards you have in your hand and what actions to take to have the best results in the long run. The game is based on player decisions and it is important to learn Blackjack basics to succeed and enjoy the game.

Just to remind you of the meaning of Blackjack main terminology, we have listed the main player actions for you to go through:

• Hit: if you choose to hit after the original set of two cards has been dealt to you, you are making a signal that you will take one more card.
• Stand: standing is the exact opposite of hitting, which means that you are satisfied with the cards you have in your hand and you will not be drawing any additional cards.
• Double: not all casinos allow this bet because this action will most likely help you conclude the game with a winning hand, but if you do proceed with doubling your initial bet, the dealer will give you one additional card.
• Split: When you get a pair of cards, for example, two Queens, you may choose to split them. This means that you will receive an additional card and play each hand as a normal hand. The new hand will also require an additional bet that matches the original bet placed on the initial hand with a pair. Say, for example, you have made a bet of $10, you have decided to split the pair of Queens, hence, the new hand will need its own bet of $10.

After you have mastered the rules of the game, it is best to work on a Blackjack basic strategy online and absolutely risk-free. When you look for a new casino, keep an eye on various Blackjack bonus packages you can benefit from if you decide to open an account with the selected casino. By claiming your Blackjack bonuses, you can avoid risking real money and try out different Blackjack gambling combinations and player actions.

Let’s get straight into the essentials of the game of 21 that will show you how to win at Blackjack and have fun.

When should you hit or stand in Blackjack?

FAQ: Should I hit or should I stand when playing Blackjack? Which is the best move?

This is a really important moment which impacts your gameplay immensely. There are numerous scenarios you will encounter, however, your most important rule of thumb is to make your decision based on the value of your hand. Therefore, it's important to know the value of the cards. Here are two main scenarios:

Scenario 1: If the total value of the cards in your hand is 11 or less, it is definitely best to hit. This will help you improve your hand without risking going bust.

Scenario 2: If you hold a hand which is valued at 12 or higher, you will have to evaluate the odds first before deciding whether to hit or to stand. In this case, the risk of going bust and losing your hand is very high. If one of the cards in your hand is an Ace, your decision will also be determined by the type of hand – whether it’s a soft hand or a hard hand.

Here is a basic summary of whether it’s best to hit or to stand carefully compiled by our dedicated team of casino experts.

• Step 1: First check the dealer’s face-up card to analyze your odds. Your goal is to make the dealer go bust (without going bust yourself). Proceed to step 2.
• Step 2: Choose your strategy wisely and keep your cool. Follow the guide below.

If the dealer’s face-up card is:

• ACE = Hit on 17 or less

It is likely that the dealer will get a total score of 17 or higher and you will lose the hand. The odds of the dealer receiving a blackjack against you are 31%. In this case, it is best to HIT.

• 7 to 10, Jack, Queen, King = Hit on 16 or less

It’s best for you to take a chance since it looks like the dealer is going to improve their score.

• 4, 5, 6 = Hit on 11 or less

Here you have a great chance to win, so play it safe and stay away from going bust. The odds of the dealer going bust are staggering 42%. If you have 12 or more, be patient and simply stand.

• 2 or 3 = Hit on 12 or less

If you have 13 or more, it is safer to stand. It is very likely that the dealer will go bust.

Blackjack strategy chart

To continue perfecting your basic strategy and learn which decisions to make to improve your chances of winning and not go bust, use basic Blackjack strategy charts that we have outlined below.

Your (player’s) hand is demonstrated in the first column of the basic Blackjack strategy chart. The first row above the basic strategy blackjack table represents the bank’s hand.

You should, therefore, opt for the decision located at the intersection of the row and the corresponding column. For example, if you hold 15 and the bank only has a 4 you should stand.

Does Blackjack strategy involve taking an insurance bet?

Many players question whether it is wise to take insurance.

Short answer: No, never take insurance as the odds of losing your bet are very high.

An insurance bet can be placed when the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. The players will then have a chance to place a separate bet, which is totally optional. This bet means that the player is betting on the fact that the dealer’s hole card will be a ten or a face card. You are allowed to wager one half of the initial bet on this type of bet.

If luck is in your favor and the dealer gets a ten or a face card, your insurance bet will win at the odds of 2 to 1. In other words, you win the same amount as you initially wagered. You lose your insurance bet, if the hole card is not a ten or a face card. The game then resumes.

Keep in mind that insurance bets are simply side bets which may increase your bankroll slightly, however, in the long run, they do not increase your chances of winning.

Bottom line: Focus your energy on other bets and use different card combinations that take you one step closer to getting a Blackjack.

Is Card Counting an effective strategy?

You must have heard of card counting as a common way used by some players to make the house edge work in their favor. Card counting is not illegal as it is simply a mental exercise of tracking which cards have been in play and planning ahead some future combinations which increase the odds of winning. However, if players are spotted counting cards, they will be asked to leave the casino.

Nowadays, single-deck games are not very common anymore due to the fact that a single deck of 52 cards (excluding Jokers) is much easier to keep in mind. Casinos normally deal multiple decks of cards, ranging between 4 and 8 decks, which are dealt from a machine, which is called a shoe.

Card counting requires mental strength and photographic memory. Players mentally put each played card away and work out which cards are left in the deck. Knowing which cards are left in the game helps to decide whether it’s best to hit, stand, double or split as well as whether it’s ideal to bet high or low.

When only small cards have been played, there is a great chance that higher value cards will be dealt soon. This means that it is the right moment to increase your bets. On the contrary, if only high-value cards have been dealt, it is best to play it safe and bet low. It’s also a suitable moment to hit without risking going bust.

Does Blackjack basic strategy work?

According to the American statistical association, casino experts don’t recommend card counting as it only causes mental exhaustion and triggers further mistakes. Equip yourself with a solid understanding of the rules of the game and the most common strategic player actions. This will help you enjoy combining your Blackjack skills with an element of surprise brought by various combinations of cards every time a new hand is dealt to you.

TIP: When you are faced with numerous combinations of multiple decks of cards, card counting becomes really cumbersome and, therefore, ineffective.

If you have been dreaming of going to Las Vegas, opt for live casino games such as Blackjack, Poker and Roulette to experience the thrill of real-life casino entertainment. Keep in mind that you will be asked to place real money bets from the moment you walk through the casino’s door. This is why learning how to play Blackjack beforehand will help you save money in the long run.

Furthermore, best US Online Casinos provide players with a range of free bonuses that can be used in conjunction with your favorite casino games. This means that you can practice playing against the house online from the comfort of your home using your personal computer, smartphone or tablet. If you are a Mac user, opt for Mac-friendly casinos and use no download casino software to start playing hassle-free.

To make your Blackjack practice even more fun, consider organizing a casino night at home. All you would need is a table and a deck of cards. This will give you an opportunity to polish up your Blackjack basic strategy and start thinking on your feet.

Blackjack strategy helps to beat the house edge

This basic strategy has been designed to help you make your first bets at a Blackjack table with confidence. By following the suggestions, we have outlined in the Blackjack strategy charts, you will surely make your gameplay more successful.

Once you have mastered the basics of this fascinating game, learn other versions of Blackjack and improve your gaming tactics by using a more advanced strategy. Remember that there is no use in engaging in card counting and it is much more efficient to simply follow the rules of the game and do your best to reach an exciting Blackjack.

Are you ready to start? Game on!

To enjoy playing Blackjack online and try other types of Blackjack games, go through our articles from the list below and have fun:

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Millions of players have heard the message that of all the casino table games, blackjack is the one that it is possible to beat. A practical system for counting cards in blackjack to gain an edge over the casino was made available to the public in the early 1960s. As it happened, few players ever really learned to beat the dealer. Furthermore, playing conditions have changed since then. Some tables use more than one deck at a time or cut a percentage of the cards out of play so that a card counter never sees them.

Even though most players don't have the skill to win consistently, the belief that blackjack can be beaten was enough to spark a boom in the game. Blackjack is by far the most popular casino table game in the United States, with more players than craps, roulette, and baccarat combined.

A lot of people don't have either the patience, persistence, and concentration necessary for card counting or the bankroll to make it effective. But they can still narrow the house advantage to less than 1 percent in blackjack. The secret is to learn basic strategy for hitting, standing, doubling down, and splitting pairs. A little time spent learning to play well can make your money go a lot farther in the casino. In this article, you will learn the fundamentals of blackjack, as well as some strategies to increase your odds of winning. Let's get started by learning how to play the game:

Rules

Blackjack is played with one or more standard 52-card decks, with each denomination assigned a point value. The cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value. Kings, queens, and jacks are each worth 10, and aces may be used as either 1 or 11. The object for the player is to draw cards totaling closer to 21, without going over, than the dealer's cards.

The best total of all is a two-card 21, or a blackjack. Blackjack pays 3-2--that is, a two-card 21 on a $5 bet will win $7.50 instead of the usual $5 even-money payoff on other winning hands. However, if the dealer also has a two-card 21, the hand pushes, or ties, and you just get your original bet back. But if the dealer goes on to draw 21 in three or more cards, your blackjack is still a winner with its 3-2 payoff.

The game is usually played at an arc-shaped table with places for up to seven players on the outside and for the dealer on the inside. At one corner of the table is a rectangular placard that tells the minimum and maximum bets at that table, as well as giving variations in common rules. For example, the sign might say, 'BLACKJACK. $5 to $2,000. Split any pair three times. Double on any two cards.' That means the minimum bet at this table is $5 and the maximum is $2,000. Pairs may be split according to the rules described below, and if more matching cards are dealt, the pairs may be split up to three times for a total of four hands. The player may double the original bet (double down) and receive just one more card on any two-card total.

Most games today use four, six, or eight decks. After being shuffled, the cards are placed in a receptacle called a shoe, from which the dealer can slide out one card at a time. Single- or double-deck games, most common in Nevada, but also popular in Mississippi and some other markets, may be dealt from the dealer's hand.

Play begins when you place a bet by stacking a chip or chips in the betting square on the table directly in front of you. After all bets have been placed, each player and the dealer are given two cards. In a shoe game, all player cards are dealt faceup, and the players are not permitted to touch their cards. In a single- or double-deck game dealt from the hand, cards are dealt facedown and players may pick them up with one hand. Either way, one of the dealer's cards is turned faceup so the players can see it.

Once the cards have been dealt, players decide in turn how to play out their hands. After all players have finished, the dealer plays according to set rules: The dealer must draw more cards to any total of 16 or less and must stand on any total of 17 or more. In some casinos, the dealer will also draw to 'soft' 17 -- a 17 including an ace or aces that could also be counted as a 7. The most common soft 17 is ace-6, but several other totals, such as ace-3-3 or ace-4-2, on up to ace-ace-ace-ace-ace-ace-ace in a multiple deck game, are soft 17s.

Hit: If you hit, you take another card or cards in hopes of getting closer to 21. If the player's total exceeds 21 after hitting, the player is said to 'bust' and loses the bet. In shoe games, the player signals a hit by pointing to his cards or scratching or waving toward himself. In facedown games, the player signals a hit by scratching the table with the cards. Verbal calls to hit are not accepted -- signals are used for the benefit of the security cameras above the table, so a taped record is on hand to settle any potential disputes.

Stand: If you stand, you elect to draw no more cards in hopes that the current total will beat the dealer. Signal a stand by holding a flattened palm over your cards in a faceup game or by sliding your cards under your bet in a facedown game.

Double down: You may elect to double your original bet and receive only one more card regardless of its denomination. Some casinos restrict doubling down to hands in which your first two cards total 10 or 11. Others allow you to double on any two cards. Double down by taking a chip or chips equal to the amount of your original bet and placing them next to your bet. In a facedown game, at this point you also need to turn your original two cards faceup.

Split: If your first two cards are of the same denomination, you may elect to make a second bet equal to your first and split the pair, using each card as the first card in a separate hand. For example, if you are dealt two 8s, you may slide a second bet equal to the first to your betting box. The dealer will separate the 8s, then put a second card on the first 8. You play that hand out in normal fashion until you either stand or bust; then the dealer puts a second card on the second 8, and you play that hand out.

Insurance: If the dealer's faceup card is an ace, you may take 'insurance,' which essentially is a bet that the dealer has a 10-value card down to complete a blackjack. Insurance, which may be taken for half the original bet, pays 2-1 if the dealer has blackjack. The net effect is that if you win the insurance bet and lose the hand, you come out even. For example, the player has 18 with a $10 bet down. The dealer has an ace up. The player takes a $5 insurance bet. If the dealer has blackjack, the player loses the $10 bet on the hand but wins $10 with the 2-1 payoff on the $5 insurance bet.

Many dealers will advise players to take insurance if the player has a blackjack. This can be done by simply calling out, 'Even money' -- because if the dealer does have blackjack, the player gets a payoff equal to the player's bet instead of the 3-2 normally paid on blackjack.

These are the steps involved: Player bets $10 and draws a blackjack. Dealer has an ace up. Player makes a $5 insurance bet. Dealer has blackjack. The player's blackjack ties the dealer's, so no money changes hands on the original bet. But the $5 insurance bet wins $10 on the 2-1 payoff -- the same as if the original $10 bet had won an even-money payoff.

As it happens, dealers who suggest this play are giving bad advice. Insurance would be an even bet if the dealer showing an ace completed a blackjack one-third (33.3 percent) of the time. But only 30.8 percent of cards have 10-values. Taking insurance is a bad percentage play, no matter what the player total, unless the player is a card counter who knows that an unusually large concentration of 10-value cards remains to be played.

Variations

Not all blackjack games are created equal. Some variations in the rules are good for the player, and some are bad. The shifts in the house edge may look small, but they make large differences in a game in which the total house edge is less than 1 percent against a basic strategy player. Here are some common variations and their effect on the house advantage:

Double downs after splitting pairs permitted: A very good rule for the player, it cuts the house advantage by 0.13 percent. In areas where several casinos are within reasonable distance, the player should choose games in which doubling after splits is allowed.

Resplitting of aces permitted: At most casinos, the player who splits aces receives only one more card on each ace. But if the player receives another ace, some casinos allow the resulting pair to be resplit. This option cuts the house edge by 0.03 percent. It is rare to find a game that goes even further by allowing the player to draw more than one card to a split ace, an option that cuts the house edge by 0.14 percent.

Printable Blackjack Basic Strategy Card

Early surrender: When the dealer's faceup card is an ace, the dealer checks to see if the down-card is a 10 to complete a blackjack before proceeding with play. If the house allows the player to surrender half the original bet instead of playing the hand before the dealer checks for blackjack, that is early surrender. A great rule for the player, and one that is rarely found, early surrender cuts the house edge by 0.624 percent. Surrender can easily be misused by beginners who haven't mastered basic strategy.

Late surrender: Found more often than early surrender, but still not commonplace, late surrender allows the player to give up half the bet rather than playing the hand after the dealer checks for blackjack. This decreases the house edge by 0.07 percent in a multiple-deck game, 0.02 percent in a single-deck game.

Simple Blackjack Strategy

Double-downs limited to hard 11 and hard 10: Some casinos do not allow the player to double on totals of less than 10 or on soft hands. The net is a 0.28-percent increase in the house edge.

Blackjack Strategy Trainer

Dealer hits soft 17: If, instead of standing on all 17s, the dealer hits hands including an ace or aces that can be totaled as either 7 or 17, the house edge is increased by 0.2 percent.

How Long To Learn Basic Strategy Blackjack

Blackjack pays 6-5: Common on single-deck games on the Las Vegas Strip, this game is a bankroll breaker for players. For example, a two-card 21 pays only $6 for a $5 bet instead of the usual $7.50, which adds 1.4 percent edge to the house--more than the usual house edge against the basic strategy of seasoned players in nearly all games with the normal 3-2 return.

Learn Blackjack Strategy Online

Now that you know how to play, let's explore some of the finer points of the game. In the next section, you will learn the etiquette and strategy of blackjack.