As card games go Blackjack is probably one of the quickest and simplest to learn. With just a few basic rules in place, it is a game that pretty much anyone can pick up and enjoy realistically quickly. However, don’t let the simple form of the game trick you into thinking that there aren’t tactics and strategies you can use to give yourself the best possible chance of winning. 

There are plenty of ways that you can improve the odds & strategies you can use to win the game – and plenty of professional players use these on a regular basis. When you’re playing online Blackjack you should pay attention to the top strategy tips to maximize your chances of winning.

Getting Started with Blackjack

Blackjack might seem like a simple card game to play, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid learning the rules. It is all well and good learning and trying to implement Blackjack strategies but if you haven’t got a solid understanding of the rules then you’ll be hard-pressed to make everything work.

After all, you need to be able to understand what you are implementing and why in order to give them the best possible chance of being a success. The good news is that there aren’t many rules to learn and after a few practice games with friends you’ll likely have a pretty good understanding of what it takes to play the game, even if you haven’t been successful at winning yet.

If you’re interested in playing Blackjack online then you’ll find plenty of places that offer the chance to enjoy the game online for free too. Playing against people online is a great way to practice because it gives you the opportunity to play against people with different playing styles and techniques too.

Should You Use a Strategy?

There really is no right or wrong if you’re just playing Blackjack for fun, because it doesn’t matter to you if you win or lose. However, if you’re wanting to start Blackjack games on a more professional level or you’re keen to improve your chances of being crowned the winner then introducing strategies is the right way forward.

Of course, as you might imagine there are different tactics and strategies that you can use. It is important to do your research and look at the different options out there, so you can work out what works best for you and which you find easiest to follow.

A Look at Blackjack Strategies

The idea behind strategies is to remember lots of card variations and what the chances are of the next card being dealt as the one you want depending on this. On top of that, there are Blackjack deviations – these look at the times when you need to change how you are playing.

The idea behind remembering these scenarios and playing based on them is that you’re not playing based on luck or how you’re feeling, but instead on mathematics and the odds of the next card being what you need.

When you start to research Blackjack strategies you’ll come across loads of options to research – some of these you can introduce together and others need to be played as the sole strategy you’re using for that game.

Strategies that you are likely to come across include:

  • Hard 11 – Always double down on a hard 11
  • Splitting – Always split a pair of 8s and aces but never split a pair of 5s or 10s
  • 9 or Less – Always double down on 10 when the dealer’s card is 9 or less

There are plenty of other strategies and many of them depend on what the dealer’s up card is compared to the cards that you have. There can be a lot of different combinations to learn, but many find that once they start playing Blackjack using an actual strategy they struggle to play any other way.

Choosing a Blackjack Strategy

There will be plenty of people out there that insist the method they use is the best one and the most successful. The important thing is that you research the options, get to grips with them and work out what works best for you. In general, a strategy looks at over 200 hands and what the chances are of something happening depending on the card(s) that have been dealt.

For you to be able to successfully implement any sort of Blackjack strategy you’re going to need to remember these possibilities – as that is what you are going to use to decide your next move. Once you have decided to play using a strategy or set method it is important to stick with this and not do any moves on gut feeling.

Many of us feel lucky or get a feeling that the next card is going to be a certain number. However, this all comes down to luck which is something that a Blackjack strategy leads you away from and instead relies on odds and mathematics to decide the next move you should make.

Enjoying Blackjack

It is important to remember that however you’re playing and whatever your reasons are for playing the game it is supposed to be fun. If you’re losing too much or you’re feeling anxious because you feel as though you simply can’t remember enough of the strategies to make a difference then it is time to step away and give yourself a break.

Playing card games, especially for money can be hard going and if you feel as though it is something causing you more upset than it is fun then it’s time to find another game. That said, card games are a great way to relax and have fun. Introducing strategies like this can feel complicated but they’re a great way to keep your mind working even when playing a simple card game. Just take your time learning, do your research and keep on top of what has been drawn in the game and you’ll soon be having fun and being successful like a pro.