Blackjack is one of the most beloved card games in casinos all around the world. It offers a mix of skill and luck that gives players the chance to beat the house edge and come out ahead in the long run. With a few strategic plays, you can take the house edge out of blackjack and make it your own game. Here are some winning strategies for blackjack to help you become the master of your own destiny at the tables.
The first thing you need to know about blackjack is that you should always hit if your hand total is 16 or less, no matter what cards you have been dealt. This is because statistically, there’s a better chance that you will get closer to 21 with another card than if you stand on 16 or lower. Plus, if you hit and go over 21, at least you still won’t lose any more money than if you had just stood on 16 or lower!
Your next key strategy for playing blackjack is to double down when appropriate. Doubling down means that after being dealt two cards face up, but before taking any further action, you may double your wager and receive one additional card face up only. This can be very advantageous in certain situations where one card could potentially make all the difference between winning or losing your bet. For example, if you have an 11 against a dealer’s 10 showing then doubling down would be wise as there’s a good chance that one more card would give you a 21 (or close enough). The key here is knowing when to double down – don’t do it recklessly!
It’s also important to understand when it makes sense to split pairs in blackjack. Splitting pairs allows players to divide their initial two-card hand into two separate hands by placing an additional wager equal to their original wager beside their original bet. Generally speaking, splitting pairs should be done when both cards are either 8’s or Aces; however, there are some other scenarios where splitting pairs can be beneficial so it pays off to do your research beforehand so that you know when these opportunities present themselves during play.
Finally, learning how to count cards while playing blackjack can give players an edge over the casino as they will now be able to determine which cards remain in the deck and thus what their chances are of getting certain hands (i.e., whether they should hit or stand). While counting cards isn’t illegal per se, many casinos frown upon it so make sure not to get caught!
By following these simple strategies for playing blackjack as well as doing some extra research on counting cards, players can greatly increase their chances of beating the house edge and coming out ahead overall in this classic game of skill and luck! Good luck out there!
