Blackjack is one of the casino’s most popular games. The reason for this is because it is simple to understand, and players are usually able to pick it up in the first few hands with little extra explanation needed. But it’s not just about ease of playing. Those blackjack players with a good strategy can swing the odds and have a good chance of winning money – but that’s never guaranteed!
Blackjack strategies are a hot topic ever since the MIT Blackjack team started counting cards and taking the casinos to the cleaners. So, what are the best blackjack strategies, and one that even beginners can use? Here we run through two strategies that can help you win at Blackjack.
Will Be Able to Use These Strategies at an Online Casino?
Yes, most blackjack strategies are now able to be used when playing at an online casino, which is just as well considering the popularity of playing Blackjack online. Some strategies require players also to take note of other players’ cards at the table – such as card counting – and this was not always possible at online casinos.
But now online casinos make their games more social, so you can see the other players at the table, especially on live casinos which also come with a live dealer, streamed from a studio or casino floor. It’s evident that playing Blackjack online has never been so good!
Three of the Best Blackjack Strategies
#1: The Basic Strategy
Simple mathematics can tell us when we need to fold, stick or twist, and it all has to do with what cards you have compared to what cards the dealer has. By learning these basic rules, the house edge is slashed from 1-2% to around 0.5%. They are:
· Stand when you have between 12-16 and the dealer has 2-6
· Hit if you have between 12-16 and the dealer has 7-A
· Always spilt 8s and As
· Hit or double Aces-6
#2: Card Counting
Counting cards is the most talked about type of blackjack strategy and the one that the aforementioned MIT team used to win big frequently. It involves keeping a mental tally of what kind of cards have been dealt to everyone (high vs low cards). When the count is low, players start to bet bigger because they know they have more chance of getting better cards.
It is not easy to do and takes exceptional mental arithmetic to get right.
Is Card Counting Illegal?
Despite popular belief, card counting is not illegal – only frowned upon. It is a legitimate strategy, but casinos do not like their patrons using it. They can blacklist people they believe who are card counting. But you cannot be arrested for this technique as it is not cheating. Some members of the MIT team did, however, spend the night in jail.
Maybe it would be safer for you and your buddies to play some drinking card games instead?