What are some popular strategies for playing blackjack?
How do you play blackjack? What are the best ways to master basic strategy, count cards, or use a betting system? Share your tips or let us know where else we should look!
2 Answers
Best AnswerIf you’re playing a game of blackjack, your aim is to beat the dealer by getting as close to a total of 21 as possible. You can take more cards (hit), stop taking them (stand), divide your hand into two separate ones (split), or play twice as many cards at once (double down).
If you want to win, learn the basics of card counting. There are tables on the Internet that tell you how to play any combination of cards against any dealer upcard. Keep them in your head as if they were crib notes. Your advantage over the casino skyrockets.
Counting cards is trickier. It involves monitoring the proportion of high vs. low cards remaining in the shoe, so you can make higher bets when you have a better chance of winning. Counting cards requires experience and a long-term commitment. Plus, all decent casinos now watch out for it.
Martingale betting strategies do not ensure that you will beat the house; they merely enable you to control how much you lose before hitting your stop-loss level.
So practice. Play for free on the web. Engage with the wisdom of other players on a site such as Reddit’s r/blackjack. Play with your head, not with your heart. And good luck!
In blackjack, you need a score of 21. Don’t go over that. First, learn basic strategy: It’s all you really need. You can find charts on the internet.
After mastering these fundamentals, card-counting players keep a “running count” of high-value and low-value cards as they are dealt in order to determine when it is advantageous to increase their wagers. There are betting-system strategies (such as the Martingale system) that can reduce risk and allow players to stay within their limit, though no betting strategy overcomes the gambler’s disadvantage.
In a word: Practice. Online, there are plenty of free games and simulations that can give you the needed repetition. Take your time, don’t lose too much money, and learn when to quit.
See subreddits like r/blackjack or websites such as BlackjackInfo for more details. Breathe, and bet wisely!