Tips for playing blackjack. How to win at blackjack

09.08.2023

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When playing the popular card game blackjack, many players acquire superstitions and speculations about making certain situational decisions. They often make these conclusions incorrectly in terms of the probability of winning/losing. For example, any professional player knows that it is impossible to split two tens under any circumstances, but not everyone follows this rule. The following 10 mistakes are the most veiled by the opinion that decisions are made correctly.

Do not take a card on 12 when the dealer has a two or a three."Every time I hit a 12, I always get a 10 and lose, so I pass and let the dealer hit instead" is a typical reason given by players who have the extremely unpleasant feeling of betting on a 12 against a 2 or 3. because they are afraid to take ten and lose. The player sitting on the last box especially does not want to take a card, because “he does not want to take the dealer’s card, which threatens to bust.” However, 12 points is somewhat different from most other "hard" hands, since the player actually has a 9 out of 13 chance of not busting. Also, the dealer is not as vulnerable on a 2 or 3 as on a 4, 5 or 6. But even if you take a card, 12 against the dealer's 2 or 3 is a losing hand. But this is still better than not taking a card for 2-4%. Therefore, taking 12 versus 2 or 3 is the correct decision, not because it wins more often, but because it loses less often.

Don't split on eights when the dealer has a 9."16 versus 9 is a loss. Why increase losses by doing a split?" Yes, 16 vs 9 is a bad hand. In fact, this is one of the worst blackjack hands you can face. But by doing a split you can transform this bad hand into two better hands, where the chance of winning is much better. Even in this case, both eights ultimately lose, but less than with 16 by 5-12%. Therefore, making a split on the dealer's 8s against the dealer's 9s is the cheapest way to go in such a bad situation.

Always take "even money" for blackjack."I always take even money because it's one of the few guaranteed wins in the game." Yes, even money guarantees a win equal to the original bet regardless of whether the dealer has blackjack or not. Thus, if you bet $10 each and take even money, you can always win $10. However, if you don't take it, the average win will be $10.40 (that's 4% more money). Why? About 9 times out of 13 the dealer will not have a blackjack and the winnings will be $15 on a $10 bet. The other four times the dealer will have blackjack and, accordingly, a draw. So, if you give up even money, the winnings on a $10 bet over 13 times will be $135, which is $5 more than a “sure” win. Even though a guaranteed win is very tempting, this is one of those cases where pie in the sky is better than a bird in the hand.

Do not take a card with an ace and 7 (soft 18) when the dealer has a 9, 10, or an ace."I will never change a good hand - 18." Most typical blackjack players believe that 18 is good hand, which should never be changed. However, if the 18 consists of an Ace and a 7, and the dealer has a 9, 10 or an Ace, the player has a negative expected value (meaning, ultimately, that he will lose more money than he wins). The reason is that the dealer will usually hit more than 18. For example, when the dealer has a 10, there is a 52% chance that he will end up with a 19 or 20. Taking a card is the right move because there is a chance to improve the combination. By taking a card on a soft 18, the player improves the situation by about 8% when the dealer has a 9 and by about 4% when the dealer has a 10. Against the dealer's Ace, the odds for a "hit" or "don't hit" are about the same, but still in favor "take".

Do a split on two tens against 6."Even if it doesn't come to me good map, the dealer has a lot of chances to bust." Although the dealer has a high probability of busting with a six, a pair of tens, worth 20 points, is one of the player's strongest combinations - splitting them for dubious gain is not advisable. The player's advantage when he does not split against six 0.7040%, if he does - 0.4517%

Never rent."Why should I give up the fight?" Most players won't give up because they don't understand what it means or because they don't want to "get beaten without a fight." But there are options when renting is necessary because, in the long run, it will save some money. When a player gives up, he loses 50% of his bet. Therefore, you should always rent when the chance of losing is greater than 50%. And this is when the player has 16 against the dealer’s 9, 10 or ace (but not 8 and 8) and when the player has 15 against the dealer’s 10.

Do not split on two nines against the dealer's 9."Nothing would make me risk losing two bets against the dealer's strong 9 points." Splitting nines against the dealer's 9 may seem like a killer play, but in the long run it will save money. If the player stays on 18, then he is in a bad situation, because the dealer will often end with the standard 19. However, if you do a split, then the player already has many chances to make 19 points, and sometimes even better. Even though sometimes a player loses on both sides, in the end it is a worthwhile risk because the savings are approximately 8% of all the money involved in such hands.

Do not take a card on 16 versus 7 from the dealer."Every time I draw a card on 16, I'm busted, so I'll preserve my chances of winning by not drawing a card." Yes, a player often loses when he takes on 16, but this is compensated by the fact that when there is no bust, the chance of winning is very high. If you don’t take a card, the chance of winning is 40%, if you still take it, it’s 48%. The player still loses, but the consolation is that he will lose 8 cents less for every dollar involved in this situation.

Do not take a card on an ace and 6 (soft 17) against the dealer's 7.“I have a chance to stay on my own, so why risk taking a card?” This is a big mistake. In fact, this hand represents one of those rare opportunities in blackjack where a player can turn a losing hand into a winning hand. If a player does not draw a card, he loses on average 10 cents out of every dollar, and if he does, he wins 6 cents. This is one of those cases when you definitely need to take a card.

Making a double for less money than the original bet."I'm not entirely sure whether I'll win or lose by doubling, so I'll compromise and not double the whole bet." Nothing is more astonishing than the actions of a player who does not use his entire advantage on a strong combination. This is the same as cutting off the branch on which you are sitting. When a player doubles, he wins less often, but he increases the net benefit due to the extra money. When he doubles for less money, he doesn't get the full advantage. This cannot be done.

“In fact, this is all really happening, because at one time I myself played tennis before the championship trips and participation in top competitions and often noticed similar cases, so there’s nothing new here, this is a sport, by the way, something similar, only here everyone has been revealed: Revealing tennis games"

23:23 01.05.2016

Blackjack is an integral part of the casino repertoire, and a favorite game for many. Hundreds of books have been written about blackjack and how you can win at blackjack. Blackjack originated in 18th century France and has now spread to Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and continues to be one of the most popular casino games. Blackjack is also popular because in this game the theory of probability can turn in favor of the player rather than the bank, and information about this is available to the general gaming public.

In blackjack, the player faces off against the dealer (dealer). Blackjack is played as follows:
There is a horseshoe-shaped gaming table, on the inner radius of which there is a dealer, and on the outer radius there are places for players. The game, depending on the rules of a particular casino, uses a standard deck of fifty-two cards (single-deck game); or from 2 to 8 standard decks (multi-deck games).
The blackjack player's task is to score 21 points or a number close to it on the cards; at the same time, it is impossible to exceed 21 points (this is called “busting”); in case of busting, the player definitely loses. Some online casinos introduce additional rules, so before playing blackjack you should take at least a quick look at them.

Blackjack scoring rules

An ace is worth one or eleven depending on the situation: an ace counts as one point in a hard hand combination and eleven points in a soft hand combination.
Cards from 2 to 9 count for the same number of points
10, Jack, Queen, King count as 10 points.

A combination of cards is called “natural” when there are 21 points on two cards (an ace and a ten, for example). Blackjack is also a sum of 21 points, but scored on several cards. Blackjack versus blackjack results in a draw. However, "natural" blackjack wins against regular blackjack: this means that if the dealer has a natural blackjack and the player has twenty-one points on three or more cards, the dealer wins and vice versa.

The dealer, having shuffled the deck, invites one of the players to remove it. When the deck is cut, the dealer inserts it into a special device for distributing cards - a shoe. After the player places his bet on a specially marked space (box) on the table, he is dealt two cards face up. The dealer deals himself one card - face up. .

The player (except for the dealer) is free to make one of the following decisions:

Surrender (surrender)- This position is not available in every blackjack game and can only be taken before any other action. Surrender - usually this is the right to refuse further fight on the first two cards, giving away half of your bet without playing. Sometimes you can surrender on any number of cards.
Hit (buy card)- the player asks the dealer to deal him another card.
Stand (stop)- the player decides not to draw any more cards.
Double down (double your bet)- having two cards in hand, the player can decide to double his bet. After that, he is dealt only one card. Sometimes there is an option when the bet can be tripled. After a player has doubled, he can deliver another bet and receive another card.
Splitting pairs (split a pair)- If the first two cards received by a player are the same, most casinos allow the pair to be split. To do this, the player says "split" and does next additional bet the same size as the initial bid. Now he plays on two combinations, each of which is played separately. You can re-break newly formed pairs. In any case, remember: twenty-one points in two cards when playing a broken pair is not considered a natural blackjack and is paid out in a single amount, like any other winning bet.
Insurance- If open card The dealer is an ace, the casino can provide insurance against blackjack from the dealer. To do this, the player makes an additional bet on a special field for insurance. If the dealer actually has a blackjack, then the insurance pays 2 to 1. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, then the insurance loses.

The dealer draws cards to 17, if he has 17 points in his hands, then he stops. However, if the dealer has an ace in his hand, he can get 21 points. The dealer cannot double down, split, hedge or give up.

The payout table in blackjack is very simple:

Winning the game- 1 to 1
Blackjack insurance at the dealer- 2 to 1
Blackjack with two cards- 3 to 2

Following a certain basic strategy gives the player a mathematical advantage of approximately +0.19%. This is the strategy:

Legend: A - ace, X - any 10-point card.

1. Never take out insurance.
2. Steady hands:
Against dealer 2.3 - take up to a solid 13.
Against dealer 4,5,6 - take up to a solid 12.
Against the dealer's 7,8,9,X,A - take up to a solid 17.

3.Soft Hands:
Against dealer 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 - take up to soft 18.
Against the dealer's 9, X, A - take up to soft 19.

4. Solid double:
With your own 9, it’s a double against the dealer’s 3,4,5,6.
With your own 10 and 11 - a double against the dealer's 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.

5. Soft Double:
With their A,2 and A,3 - double against the dealer's 5,6.
With their A,4 and A,5 - double against the dealer's 4,5,6.
With their A,6 and A,7 - double against the dealer's 3,4,5,6.

6. Split:
With their own 2.2 and 3.3 - a split against the dealer's 2,3,4,5,6,7.
With its 4.4, it’s a split against the dealer’s 5.6.
With your 5.5, don’t split (double against 2-9).
With its 6.6 - a split against the dealer's 2,3,4,5,6.
With its own 7.7 - a split against the dealer's 2,3,4,5,6,7.
With its own 8.8 - a split against the dealer's 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.
With its own 9.9 - split against the dealer's 2,3,4,5,6,8,9 (from 2 to 9, but not against 7).
With your X, X - do not split.
With your A, A - split against the dealer's 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,X.

7. Lease.
Against dealer A - rent on your own 5,6,7 and 12,13,14,15,16,17 (including pairs).
Against dealer X - lease on their own 14,15,16 (including 7,7 and 8,8).
Against the dealership 9 - rent on your own 16 (split by 8.8).

Blackjack has been one of the most popular card games for several centuries. Its simplicity, fast games and great chances of winning a good win attract millions of new fans every day. Everyone is interested in the same question: what are the strategies for playing blackjack? In fact, there are a lot of ways, but the most popular are card counting and the strategy with betting progression. At the right approach Each system will bring its own fruits, the main thing is to follow clear instructions.

Briefly about the rules

Blackjack is a card game with simple rules. The statement that you may come across that you need to score 21 points to win is erroneous. In fact, to win, the main goal is simply to score more points than the dealer.

All players at the table are dealt two cards. The dealer takes one for himself, but in some types the dealer deals himself two cards, one of which is face down. If the player gets an ace and the picture is blackjack, then the winnings are automatically paid 3 to 2. Other participants who did not get 21 can take another card or stop whenever they see fit.

When more than 21 is rolled, it is interpreted as a bust and the bet is withdrawn in favor of the casino. After the cards are dealt to the players, the dealer takes the card for himself. If the sum of his points is more than that of the players, then the bet is lost. The cards of your neighbors at the table do not play any role; in blackjack the game is played only against the dealer.

How to win

Today, there are several theories on how to beat a casino at blackjack. Some systems require a little math knowledge, while others require a little care. When playing in an online casino, all card drops are controlled by a random number generator.

Basic method

Having chosen an online casino and your favorite type of blackjack with suitable bets, you should pay attention to one detail - the restrictions for the dealer. As a rule, the dealer stops when 17 points are collected, but in some cases this figure can be 16. The game strategy will depend on this.

For example, the dealer deals himself a card with a value from two to six. In this case, the dealer’s chance of winning is minimal, since the probability of the next ten card or picture coming out is quite high, and he must stop when he scores 17 points. The player’s actions in this case should be as follows: if the dealer rolls from 2 to 4, you should not risk busting and stop after scoring 12 points. And if you get a five or a six, it won’t hurt to double the “Double”.

When the dealer takes a card with a value from seven to ten, the chance of winning the casino increases and the possibility of getting 18, 19, 20, or 21 is quite large. The player should score more than the dealer would have if the next card is a ten or a picture. For example, with the dealer's first seven, you need to score at least 17 points or higher.

With this strategy you can increase your advantage over the casino by a couple of percent. The technique is perfect for beginners who are just starting to master blackjack. Having fully studied the basic strategy of playing blackjack, you can combine it with card counting, which together will give a positive result.

Strategy 1-3-2-6

This system should be used only if you have a strong belief in successful and negative periods of the game. The numbers in the name of the strategy are multipliers of the first bet if the previous one is won. The system is very good for both beginners and professional players. In practice it looks like this:

We choose a suitable table with payouts 1 to 1. Having a bankroll of $1000, we place a bet of 10 USD and win. Then we bet 30 USD and win again. Then you should bet 20 USD and if the situation is positive, the circle ends with a bet of 60 USD. The circle has been completed and we return to the bet of 10 USD. The main thing in the strategy is to return to the minimum bet after each loss until we catch the so-called “lucky streak”, during which the player receives twelve minimum bets. And during the losing streak there are only four. Thus, this difference of eight bets will lead to an increase in the starting capital.

You can use the system without having large cash reserves. But it’s worth having 100 minimum bets and a firm belief in victory, because this strategy primarily depends on a person’s mental attitude.

Counting cards in blackjack

You can count cards in blackjack in games with live dealers or in a real casino. When playing online, it is best to use a basic strategy or raise and lower bets. This will be the most reliable option, because not all casinos disclose how many decks are involved in the game.

You can try your hand at mathematical card counting using the Plus-Minus system or according to your strategy in Live games with live dealers. Many casinos today offer this type of entertainment, so it won’t be difficult to find a suitable table and try out all the theories and practices in practice.

Helpful Options for Winning at Blackjack Online

You can increase your chances of winning using additional options. Unfortunately, they are not always used, so it is worth taking the time to find a casino with a full range of pleasant options.

Split is present in every type of blackjack. When two identical cards are dealt, the player can split them into two hands, adding to the initial bet. This significantly increases your chances of winning.

Double – allows you to increase the initial bet and receive only one card. It is best to do a Double if you have 10 or 11 points in your hand.

Triple – allows you to triple your bet immediately after a Double and get another card.

Sarendo - if the first two cards do not inspire confidence in winning, then you can take 50% of the bet.

Insurance – When the dealer deals himself a card and an ace comes up, all players are asked to insure themselves against blackjack. To do this you need to bet 50% of the bet. If the dealer collects 21, then the player's bet is lost and insurance is paid out at a 2 to 1 odds.

How to beat a casino at blackjack

To win at casino blackjack, a player must adhere to several rules. All recommendations refer to the type of “cautious” play. Here you can learn how to play blackjack.

Recommendation #1. A deck is called “hot” if it contains many cards equal to a large value. “Cold” – when there are many cards of low value. With the first type, the player must raise, with the second - lower, this reduces the risk of a big loss. Players who know how to win at blackjack in a casino are sure that this is the basic rule of the game that must always be followed. But it is not so easy to comply with it. You need to learn to follow the game process and count them all the time. This is already the second rule. We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with Spanish blackjack.

How to play this game:

Recommendation #2. The second rule will teach the player to remember and count the cards in the deck. The countdown, as expected, starts from absolute zero. Initially, all cards in the deck are zero. It is mentally divided into three parts. Cards from two to six are equal to +1; from “seven” to “nine” are equal to 0; from ten to ace are equal to -1. These values must be remembered or written down when the card is pulled out. If there is a “three”, we write +1, if there is an “eight” we do not write anything, since this middle card is not valid. If the “king” is rolled, it takes away one point, that is, -1 will be recorded.

These calculations are necessary in order to decide whether to raise or lower the rate. If what remains in the deck gives a sum of +2, then we raise the bets; if the sum is -2, then we lower the bets.

These calculations don't just apply to single-deck play. Using these calculations, you can find out how to beat a casino at blackjack. where two or more card sets are used. To do this, the sum of the deck's points (let's say it is -6) must be divided by the number of decks involved in the game (for example, there are 6 of them). The result is -6. 6= -1, that is, our deck comes out “cold” - we lower the bets. The same calculation is made for any other quantity.

Recommendation #3: Apply Strategies. In addition to the well-known basic scheme, there are several other “cautious” tactics. For example, "doubling". This tactic is similar in structure to the Martingale scheme and helps you beat casinos at blackjack. The idea is simple - the bet must be doubled after each lost round. If the initial bet is $1, we lose, the second time we bet $2, then $4. We maintain this progression until the first successful game, after which it returns to the bet of $1. You can also learn about the basic strategies for playing blackjack in online casinos here.

3 Comments

Let's try to beat these bourgeoisie and see what comes of it

To beat a casino, in my opinion, you need 2 things:
- Out-of-the-box thinking
- Mega luck

I completely agree with Alexander! no luck here

Blackjack is an integral part of the casino repertoire, and a favorite game for many. Hundreds of books have been written about blackjack and how you can win at blackjack.

First, a little about the rules.

Blackjack scoring rules

1. An Ace is equal to one or eleven depending on the situation: an Ace counts as one point in a “hard hand” combination and as eleven points in a “soft hand” combination.

2. Cards from 2 to 9 count for the same number of points

3. 10, Jack, Queen, King count as 10 points.

The player (except for the dealer) is free to make one of the following decisions:

Surrender (surrender)- This position is not available in every blackjack game and can only be taken before any other action. Surrender - usually this is the right to refuse further fight on the first two cards, giving away half of your bet without playing. Sometimes you can surrender on any number of cards.

Hit (buy card)- the player asks the dealer to deal him another card.

Stand (stop)- the player decides not to draw any more cards.

Double down (double your bet)- having two cards in hand, the player can decide to double his bet. After that, he is dealt only one card. Sometimes there is an option when the bet can be tripled. After a player has doubled, he can deliver another bet and receive another card.

Splitting pairs (split a pair)- If the first two cards received by a player are the same, most casinos allow the pair to be split. To do this, the player says “split” and makes an additional bet nearby of the same size as the initial bet. Now he plays on two combinations, each of which is played separately. You can re-break newly formed pairs. In any case, remember: twenty-one points in two cards when playing a broken pair is not considered a natural blackjack and is paid out in a single amount, like any other winning bet.

Insurance- If the dealer's up card is an Ace, the casino may provide insurance against the dealer's blackjack. To do this, the player makes an additional bet on a special field for insurance. If the dealer actually has a blackjack, then the insurance pays 2 to 1. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, then the insurance loses.

The payout table in blackjack is very simple:

Winning the game- 1 to 1

Blackjack insurance at the dealer- 2 to 1

Blackjack with two cards- 3 to 2

And now - the main secret of blackjack: Following a certain basic strategy gives the player a mathematical advantage of approximately +0.19%. Those. You can win against the casino for a long time.

This is the strategy:

Legend: A - ace, X - any 10-point card.

1. Never take out insurance.
2. Steady hands:
Against dealer 2.3 - take up to a solid 13.
Against dealer 4,5,6 - take up to a solid 12.
Against the dealer's 7,8,9,X,A - take up to a solid 17.

3.Soft Hands:
Against dealer 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 - take up to soft 18.
Against the dealer's 9, X, A - take up to soft 19.

4. Solid double:
With your own 9, it’s a double against the dealer’s 3,4,5,6.
With your own 10 and 11 - a double against the dealer's 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.

5. Soft Double:
With their A,2 and A,3 - double against the dealer's 5,6.
With their A,4 and A,5 - double against the dealer's 4,5,6.
With their A,6 and A,7 - double against the dealer's 3,4,5,6.