How to Increase Your Odds of Winning at Blackjack

blackjack

Blackjack is a popular casino game that can be played in many places around the world. It is a very simple game to learn and it can be a lot of fun. However, like any other casino game, blackjack has a house advantage that can reduce your chances of winning. The best way to increase your odds of winning is to play a strategy that will give you the most chances of winning at any given time.

The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by having a total value that is higher than the dealer’s hand. This can be done in several ways including:

By Counting Cards

Card counters are players who use math to improve their blackjack odds. They assign a running value to each card that is removed from the deck, which they then use to adjust their bets as needed to make sure they are getting an advantage over the house.

Splitting Cards

If you have two cards of equal value, you can choose to split the hands into two separate hands and double your bet. This is usually the best option if you are unsure of how the cards in your hand will work together.

Early Surrender

If your hand is likely to lose, you can forfeit half of your wager before the dealer checks for blackjack. This is an excellent strategy for any player who has a poor hand that will be a hard total to beat.

Resplitting Aces

You can split an ace to avoid drawing a weak soft total in case the dealer has a high card. This is especially important if you have a hand that contains an ace or a face card.

A split can also be made with a pair of cards, but the original wager on both hands must be the same amount as before you split. A player can double down after splitting, but this is a risky move that is only recommended if the hand is very strong and the dealer has an unfavorable upcard.

Insurance

The player who has been dealt a natural (two-card 21) may take the dealer’s offer to insure their hand against bust. This offers a 2:1 pay-out to the player, but it is not recommended for the novice blackjack player who does not have any experience with counting cards or the dealer’s up card.

Rules and Strategies

Basic Strategy
The most important part of a good blackjack strategy is to follow the rules and understand how the rules are different from casino to casino. It is essential to learn the rules of the house and the number of decks used before playing.

Hitting and Standing

To hit in a blackjack game, you extend your palm near the cards and “scratch” them gently. This signifies to the dealer that you want more cards. The dealer then deals you one more card, face up and puts it next to your original two cards.