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Blackjack Tips & Tricks: How to Win | AskGamblers

How to Win at Blackjack: Essential Tips & Tricks

Have you ever fancied playing at the tables and miraculously getting a pair of aces and winning but been worried you don’t know how to play blackjack? Well, look no further because we’ve put together the best Blackjack tips and tricks to help you get started!

A game of Blackjack can be extremely fun but if you don’t know the rules of the game you’re basically betting away your hard-earned cash for nothing. Luckily for you, Blackjack comes with relatively good odds, so once you know the simple rules which we’re about to talk you through, you’re already halfway there.

Unlike slots, Blackjack does require a level of skill and strategy which you’ll be able to master by the end of this blog. We’re going to show you the most basic Blackjack tricks for beginners and take you right through to the most advanced of Blackjack tips to win especially if you’re already an experienced player.

Either way, you’ll be able to call yourself a pro in no time!

Basic Blackjack Tips

The best way to play Blackjack is to know the basics tips and tricks before you start playing. If you’re a complete beginner then you can learn how to play blackjack from scratch first then use our tips and tricks to become more advanced.

There are many basics of Blackjack and we’ll go into a lot more detail below but things you should be paying attention to include knowing the deck of cards and probabilities and learning how to focus on your game with no other distractions. Knowing these basic tips for Blackjack could just be your key to success. One brief tip to always keep on your mind while gambling - do not go over your budget, play accordingly to the money in your account.

Know the Deck of Cards and Probabilities

A popular game like this can be played with up to eight decks of cards and some online casinos will shuffle a deck automatically at every hand. The most important cards for you to win a straight Blackjack hand of 21 are the face cards and the Ace.

how to win at blackjack

Blackjack that is played with multiple decks significantly increases the house edge but it is a very interesting game thanks to the probability math that is involved.

The probability of a specific outcome depends on so many variants which is why the game remains so popular. Blackjack has an unpredictable nature and determining the odds of an outcome is not something that a lot of people can do.

There are some simple probabilities that are more logical than others. For example, it would be relatively easy to calculate the probability of your first card being an Ace. However, Blackjack odds and probability equations run into the millions and get more complicated with the more decks that are played.

This is why our tips for playing Blackjack are about to come in handy.

Pay Attention to the Table

This could quite possibly be your secret weapon so when it comes to Blackjack tips, this is an important one. A successful player will always pay attention to the table and ignore their surroundings, so focusing only on your cards and what’s happening at the Blackjack table is vital.

Of course, there’ll be other factors on your road to becoming a pro but if your attention isn’t on the table, it may not be worth placing the bet. To win Blackjack you will need to focus so, if you’re playing from home, try turning off the TV or moving to a quieter room so your full attention is at the table.

A couple of losses in a row can also make you lose focus. At those times, it is important to take control of yourself and your emotions. Take deep breaths and try to reset your mentality and cool down.

Casinos won’t make it easy for you to win. If you’re playing at a themed table there may even be distractions within the game to try and make you lose your focus. The minute you do lose your focus it's likely you could start making bad decisions and this could cost you. Start focusing right from the get-go and soon you’ll see it just becomes a habit.

Tips That’ll Make You Good At Blackjack

Now you have some Blackjack tips for beginners already, it's time to move onto more tips for mid-level and advanced players.

Nowadays, online casinos are offering many different variations of the game and naturally, this means they all come with different rules. Sounds confusing? Don’t worry as we’ll cover how to get around this and start guiding you through which hands to play and which ones not to play.

Know the Table Rules

Knowing how to be good at this game means knowing the table rules and like we just mentioned, these can vary depending on the exact variation you are playing.

There’s no point playing a table if you’ve not familiarized yourself with the rules first and one of the main differences between the games is how many decks of cards are used. Other smaller changes could include betting types, allowances in splits, and dealer limitations.

blackjack cards

Grasping the rules of the game can take just a few minutes and, once you know the basic rules, you’re already a step ahead.

If you’re wondering how to always win at Blackjack, then the one rule that will always remain is that you have to beat the dealer. Reading a blackjack guide is always advised but to win a game your hand must score higher than the dealer's hand but cannot exceed 21.

A perfect hand will consist of either a Face Card which has a value of 10 (Jack, Queen, or King), and an Ace which scores 11, or a 10 Value Card and an Ace. If you score over 21, this is known as busting and you automatically lose your bet. Other table rules will vary depending on the game, so always check them before placing any wagers.

Know Which Hands Not to Hit

As we begin to go into more detail on how to play Blackjack for beginners it’s time to look at the kind of hands you should and should not be hitting in order to win. The basics of Blackjack are simple but if you’re not playing the right hand it’s probably not going to turn out profitable for you.

To know how to win Blackjack you must know which hands not to play. You could learn all the Blackjack tricks in the world but if you play the wrong hand there’s no going back. Each starting Blackjack hand has an inherent mathematical value associated with it which can have different outcomes depending on how you play it.

Statistically, one of the worst starting hands you can get in Blackjack is 16 if the dealer has been dealt a card valued at 10.

You should take another card and hope that you get lucky as chances are the dealer will finish with a score of 20 or under. However, if your starting cards are higher, let’s say above 18 or 19 you should consider sticking as chances are you will bust if you take another card.

Know Which Hands to Hit

The best hand you can get is Blackjack which is a total of 21 and this means your hand cannot be beaten unless the dealer has a Blackjack as well. Then the next best hand is a hard 20, which is two value ten cards. You could split your tens and play two hands but it would cost double the bet and you’re already at good odds at winning that hand.

Pay attention to the dealer's cards because if the dealer has an eight or a nine, the chances are his second card will be valued at ten and they will stand at 18 or 19. However, if the dealer has two sixes, they can draw two cards potentially giving them the perfect Blackjack.

blackjack table

If you start the game with a good card like a 7, 8, 9, 10-card, or ace for example you should not stop drawing until 17 or more has been reached. But some tips for Blackjack would be to never take a card if there is a chance you’re about to go bust. This is in the hope that the dealer will then have the desire to hit but will hopefully go over 21, winning you the hand.

Advanced Blackjack Tips

Now our Blackjack tips for beginners have sunk in, it's time to move on to the more advanced Blackjack tricks and tips. You’ll need to learn the double down rule and start thinking about house strategies as well as knowing about insurance and when to surrender, which is everything we’re about to show you.

Basic strategies on their own aren’t going to make you a pro, so listen up.

Don’t Be Afraid to Double Down

This is a phrase you’ll come across and you shouldn’t be afraid to use it when you feel you need to.

Advanced players will already be aware of the phrase but just in case you’re not at that level yet, at the start of every game, an initial bet is placed before any cards are dealt. This means most of the time you can’t place additional bets. However, the rules are different with double down.

A double down allows you to place an additional bet, equal to your ante, in return for one extra card. Once you receive the third card your hand is automatically over and you must wait to see the dealer's hand. Some variations will only allow you to double down on a certain total so remember to check the rules first.

Knowing when to double down is key! If a dealer shows a poor first card (a 5 or a 6) and you show a 9, a 10 value card could probably win you the game and this is a good time to double down. The double down is like having an extra wager when your hand has a better chance of winning but of course it also carries some risks too which can be weighed out first.

We've written extensively about double down, so make sure you pore over our blog for more insider tips on this rule.

Think About the House Strategy for Dealers

The house edge in Blackjack is generally lower than other casino games and when using basic strategy the house edge is generally 0.5%. However, this can change depending on your skill levels.

For example, if you play good hands the house edge for the dealer will remain low but if you make bad moves, this can increase the house edge between 2% and 4%. If you’re guessing every move and not paying attention to the table or your cards this increases the dealer's strategy massively and they’ll have much better odds at winning.

blackjack

The dealer always has the advantage as you will play first so if you bust the dealer doesn’t have to do a thing to win. However, the decisions you make which include using double down can all go in your favour and lower their strategy to give you better odds of winning.

Understand How and When to Use Insurance

Blackjack insurance is a side bet which will be offered to you if the dealer up card is an ace. This effectively is giving you insurance against the dealer getting a blackjack.

The insurance odds payout 2/1 and the maximum bet you can place is generally half of your main bet. Potentially this gives you the chance to break even if the dealer does score a Blackjack, even if you’re losing your main bet.

You can use insurance before the dealer looks at their hole card and insurance is paid out should the hole card be a value of 10, giving them a blackjack. If you also have blackjack, this will result in a standoff.

Insurance is invariably not a good proposition for you unless you are confident there is an unusually high number of 10’s left in the deck. Insurance also focuses more on what the dealer's hand is, other than your own.

Know When to Surrender

You should now know when to hit and when to stand but you also need to know when it’s time to surrender. In short and the simplest of forms, you should surrender when the odds are clearly against you. For example, if your hand is valued at 16 and the dealer has a 9, 10, or Ace or you have 15 and the dealer has a 10.

There are two types of surrender in this popular game; the early surrender option allows you to quit your hand and only pay half your initial stake before the dealer checks for blackjack. This is probably the better option as it reduces the game's house advantage. 

There is however a late surrender option that allows you to do the same thing but after the dealer turns their cards. If you use this you will only get half of your bet back if the dealer's hand is not a blackjack. Not all games of Blackjack will offer both types of surrender options so check this before you play.

Finally, once you master the basic rules, you can head over to our ultimate Blackjack guide to deepen your knowledge about this card game before you start counting cards like a pro.

Summary

We hope by now that we’ve given you all the Blackjack tips and tricks to make you an even better player, regardless of what your existing skill level is.

Is there a magic strategy that will answer your questions on how to win Blackjack every time?

Unfortunately not.

However, the best way to play Blackjack is to take into consideration everything we have taught you today and put it with everything you already know about the game.

There is no Blackjack player in the world that played their first hand and became a pro instantly. Just remember to have fun and if the fun stops you should stop too.