Basic Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack is one of the only casino games where your choices as a player can affect the outcome of the game. In other words, to a certain extent, when you play blackjack online you have control of what goes on in the game. Make sure you know all there is to know about blackjack strategy.

Traditional Blackjack Card Counting Strategy

The age old most effective strategy of winning at Blackjack is to count the cards. If you know the game you are playing is only with one deck of cards then it is fairly simple to count cards and have the knowledge of what has come before to help you choose your move. With this knowledge you are able to predict, to a certain extent what the next cards could be and this will help you in your decision of whether to hit or stand at each hand. If for example you know that all of the high numbered cards have already been used and you are at 15, then you can be fairly confident that another Hit will not make you bust. On the other hand if all of the lower numbered cards have been used, it is more likely you will get a higher number card and therefore you have less chance of winning and more chance of going bust. However, to be good at card counting, you have to practice your card counting skills a lot. Card counting is not an effective blackjack strategy for online blackjack.

Strategy Charts for Blackjack Online

The more common and accepted strategy used for guiding you to win Blackjack online is using strategy charts. Strategy charts are mathematical charts that have been calculated using complex formulae and probabilities based on the number of decks used for a game and the number of cards that are left against the hand that is held. The charts are similar to the traditional card counting but much more complex. The chart is basically a grid and made up of potential hands for the player and dealer. Depending on what each player holds will depend on whether the player should hit, stand, double down or split. For example if a player has a hand of 13 made up of 2 cards and the dealer has a hand of 7, then the player should hit again, whereas if the player has a hand of 17 and the dealer has a hand of 7, the player should stand.

Common Sense Blackjack Strategy

Memorizing a blackjack strategy chart is not always the easiest thing to do and different players have different ideas of which strategy works better. Once you are familiar with the game of Blackjack the strategy charts will also become more familiar and logical to you. You will see that strategy follows a pattern and has a lot to do with common sense. For example if you have a hand of 17 and the dealer has a hand of 15, you are not likely to draw another card unless the 17 is made up of an Ace and a 6, because the likelihood is that you will be bust. If you have two cards which both have a value of 10, then the obvious move is to split the cards giving you more chances to win, rather than just standing. Although card counting and strategy charts are important so is gut feeling and common sense. If you think about every move before you take it, then you are bound to make some sensible and rewarding moves. No strategy is a sure winner, it is important to remember that there is also an element of luck when playing Blackjack online.