Blackjack is one of the most mysterious games of chance. It attracts and frightens newcomers at the same time. Most casino visitors have heard about the basic strategy, card counting, shuffle tracking, and other tricks of professional players. Still, only a few know what we are talking about.
Blackjack is associated with numerous legends, myths, speculations, and nonsense. Romantic fleur around it is strengthened in the minds of ordinary people thanks to filmmakers, writers, and journalists who do not have an idea about the essence of the game.
They write stupid and superficial articles about blackjack, present card counters as math genii, and write platitudes about the casino in the novels. As a result, regular fans of gambling have a misconception about it. They think only a select few can win blackjack and prefer easy but less profitable games.
This section of Casinoz is designed for those who want to learn how to play blackjack right, making the most of the currently existing effective techniques. We will teach you the fundamentals of the basic strategy, tell you about its variations, explain the card-counting process, and introduce you to other professional methods.
Before we begin to discuss the strategy of blackjack, we should answer the question that many casino customers ask:
Why play blackjack?
Why indeed. It's a pretty complicated game. To achieve maximum results, you must acquire impressive theoretical knowledge and learn how to apply it in practice. It is also necessary to develop many additional skills related to psychological stability, financial management, and other aspects.\
Isn't it easier to play video slots or roulette?
Yes, it is more comfortable. But playing on slot machines, you can't beat the casino. You will never get rid of the house edge in video slots. And in most of them, it is at least 3%.
In blackjack, you can reduce the house edge to a few tenths of a percent, playing only on the basic strategy. Additional professional tricks allow you to win.
You should agree that you should learn a little for a positive result.
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There are many biases, legends, and misconceptions surrounding blackjack. Let's clarify a few contentious issues.
And finally:
Playing blackjack professionally is not an entertainment but a monotonous and rather boring activity.
It almost eliminates the creativity on your part but requires a lot of time and an impressive cash reserve. But that doesn't mean you should give blackjack up.
If you learn how to choose the most profitable varieties of the game and just play blackjack by the optimal strategy, you will minimize the house edge or even get superiority.
So go ahead, and our experts will help you!
Blackjack is presented in numerous versions at online and land-based casinos. They can be divided into two main categories:
Of course, both groups include dozens (or even hundreds) of games that differ in the nuances of the rules: the number of boxes, the features of doubles and splits, the presence of the surrender, and so on. They should be studied on a case-by-case basis.
Each item of the blackjack rules affects the size of the house edge.
For example, a blackjack game with one deck brings the house edge down by 0.48% than a game with the same rules but eight decks.
Professional blackjack players consider all the details when choosing a game and adjusting to the basic strategy to achieve the maximum return.
Here are several excellent online blackjack games. You can try them for free.
| Name | Soft | Return to player | ||
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99.78% | ||
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99.69% | ||
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99.65% | ||
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99.6% | ||
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99.59% | ||
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99.59% | ||
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99.54% | ||
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99.54% | ||
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99.54% | ||
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99.33% |
The so-called blackjack basic strategy is traditionally presented as a table. They are generally designed in a single format.
The column on the left contains the possible combinations of the player. "Hard" hands, aces, and pairs stay aside as they require different decisions in many situations.
The top line shows the dealer's cards, which he shows at the beginning of the deal.
The remaining cells are filled with actions the player should take in each situation: take a card, complete a set, do a split, and so on. For example, you must hit if you have 5 and the dealer has 10.
It is essential to understand the following:
The basic strategy does not guarantee a win at every hand. Moreover, it doesn't mean you are going to win every single game session.
Why do we need a basic strategy?
It minimizes the house edge and sometimes provides an advantage to the client.
The basic strategy recommends actions that promise the best chance of winning in each possible situation. Accordingly, you should not rely on intuition or luck; it is better to trust the math.
Casinos offer numerous variations of blackjack. The same version may have different rules for splits, doubles, and other gameplay aspects. There can also be special rules and bonuses.
Charlie rule | The player with a certain number of cards in one hand without busting wins anyway |
Side bets | Players can make extra bets to try hitting progressive jackpots or prize payouts. |
Bonus payouts | There are extra payouts for certain card combinations. |
Card exchanges | The game offers an opportunity to exchange cards between two hands. |
Considering all the nuances, you must alternate the basic strategy to minimize the house edge.
A strategy, adapted to a certain kind of blackjack, is called the optimal strategy.
Don't worry; you won't have to do the calculations yourself. Ready-made strategy tables are available for the most popular types of blackjack.
Also, free software that gives the best strategy for the specified parameters is available. You only need to clarify which rules apply in the blackjack you are interested in. You get a table with clear instructions on how to play in all theoretically possible situations.
Professional blackjack players also consider additional factors, as described in the thematic articles at Casinoz.
The learning process should combine theoretical and practical parts. We recommend the following algorithm:
Start playing blackjack for money with minimum bets. You have to get used to knowing real money is at stake. Many beginners make mistakes in the transition phase or merely lose their temper.
Remember that online casinos may offer different T&Cs for the games with the same name. If two manufacturers name their models European Blackjack, it does not mean they have the same rules. Learn to find the best versions.
Let's deal with another critical issue:
Where is it better to play blackjack: at online or land-based casinos?
There is no correct answer to this question. You have to make your own choice, considering the advantages and disadvantages.
Only at a land-based casino can you use the entire arsenal of professional blackjack players: card counting, sequencing, shuffle tracking, etc.
Online casinos reliably protect themselves from counters but often offer blackjack with more favorable rules. Moreover, they provide customers with bonuses, arrange prize draws, accrue comp points, and delight players with other promotions. Playing blackjack at an online casino means you will not spend money on traveling, accommodation, parking, food, and drinks.
If you are going to devote your life to professional blackjack, your choice is big land-based casinos. For the rest of the readers we recommend the most profitable types of blackjack at online casinos.
However, it's up to you.
This section of the site offers something but the strategy tables for different types of blackjack.
You will also find educational articles that deal with game situations, professional players' tricks, advanced techniques, mathematical chances, and other vital issues.
We discuss popular systems of card counting that allow you to gain a math advantage over the casino in 2024.
This information will interest curious readers seeking to improve their game level.
Blackjack is a beautiful game of chance in every respect. It is interesting, exciting, and profitable.
Even if you stop at the basic strategy without learning more complex techniques, you will already be in more favorable conditions than most online casino customers.
When playing blackjack correctly, you do not allow the gambling operator to make money from you quickly. Moreover, you pose a real threat to them.
Aren't you attracted to this?
Blackjack is probably the best game for advantage players. The best varieties of the game offer high RTPs. If you master basic strategy and card counting, you can beat brick-and-mortar casinos playing blackjack.
No, it does not. The basic strategy just helps players get the maximum RTP possible.
If you are going to play blackjack at land-based casinos, you should master card counting. It will help you beat the house. If you play online blackjack, this technique will not be useful (with rare exceptions).
In fact, if you play at online casinos, you do not have to know the basic strategy by heart. You can have a table in front of you and peek into it every time you need.
In some casinos, there are blackjacks with RTPs over 100%, but they are rare, of course. In most clubs, you will find a blackjack with an RTP over 99%.
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