Blackjack Guide

Blackjack is a simple game to play but a difficult game to win at consistently.  Sure the luck of the draw may have you on a hot streak where you are winning rather consistently but truly understanding the game and knowing when to hit, when to stand, when to double down and when to split will help you to be an effective player over the long run.  The object of blackjack is to have a hand that is closer to 21 in value than the dealer’s hand.  An ace can either be used as a 1 or an 11, the face cards have a value of 10 and each other card in the deck has a value equal to the number shown on the card.  The dealer is obligated to hit until they reach or exceed a value of 17 and they must stand when their hand equals or exceeds 17.  When you and the dealer have equal hands at a value greater than 17, it is a push and you get your money back.  If you have the hand that is closer to 21, you win your bet at a 1:1 payout and if you have a blackjack hand consisting of an ace and a face card you win at a 3:2 payout.  A blackjack hand beats a hand of 21 obtained another way.  Those are the basic rules of blackjack but the strategies involved are much more detailed.

Blackjack Terminology

Understanding the terminology of blackjack is critical to your success when you are playing.  This knowledge lets you play with the confidence of knowing that you fully comprehend what is happening at the table.  The following are some terms that you may find useful.

Hit – after your initial cards are drawn you can hit until you either bust or reach a value that you are happy with and no longer wish to hit.  When you opt to hit, the dealer deals you additional cards until you tell them that you want to stand.

Stand – when you stand you are indicating that you are happy with the value of your cards and that you no longer wish to be dealt any additional cards.

Double down – is when you double your bet.  Once you do this, you will only be dealt one more card so it is wise to do this when you believe that the next card dealt will give you a winning hand.

Split – when your original two cards are of equal value, you have the option to split them into two hands with equal bets.  The game then continues as usual and you are able to hit or stand on each hand individually.  It is important to not the rules of each table because some casinos will only allow one additional hit when you split aces.  Also, if you are hit with a face card on one of your aces from a split this will be treated as a 21 hand a not a blackjack hand. 

Push – this is when you and the dealer have equal hands greater than or equal to 17.  In this scenario, neither party wins and your bet is returned to you.

Know How Many Decks are being Played

Similarly to poker, it is important to know how many decks are being played.  This number can range from 1 deck to 15 decks but it is rare to find a 1 deck game of blackjack.  Most involve multiple decks.  Keeping track of what cards have already been played, gives you the advantage or knowing how many cards of a particular value are remaining in the deck.  This gives you the confidence of knowing that you are playing the percentages.  For example, towards the end of the deck you will be more aware of what cards are likely based on how many of a particular value are remaining in relationship to the total amount of cards remaining.  You can take advantage of this knowledge to bet more aggressively at this time and to take more risks in terms of doubling down when you are confident that the odds of you winning are high.  The following table is useful for tracking the cards that have been played already.  This table is for a single deck game but it can be modified for any number of decks by adding additional columns for each value for each additional deck in play.

Blackjack Strategies – When to Hit, When to Stand, When to Split and When to Double Down

Of course luck will sometimes go a great distance in affording you some degree of success at the blackjack table but in the long run, it is a better idea to have a logical strategy in mind to increase your odds of winning regularly.  There are a few conventional strategies that are pretty widely accepted in the game of blackjack.  Such rules include never splitting 5s or 10s and always splitting aces.  The conventional wisdom behind not splitting 5s is basically that a hand of 10 is somewhat favorable as a hit of 7, 8, 9, 10, a face card or an ace all result in good hands.  A 5 however is not a favorable hand as being hit with a 7, 8, 9, 10, or face card puts you in a difficult situation where you have to hit again but a value of 10 will cause you to bust.  Splitting 10s is not recommended because it takes away a solid hand of 20 and gives you two hands of 10 that may put you in a bad position.  A hit of two 10s or aces would be great but a hit of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 all put you in a bad position.  For this reason it is considered safer to keep the 20 hand and hope the dealer doesn’t hit blackjack or 21.  The following table is a useful reference for indicating when to hit, stand, split or double down.

When to take Insurance

When the dealer is showing an ace, they may ask you if you would like insurance.  In this scenario, you are allowed to bet up to half of your original wager that the dealer has a 10 in the hole.  Your insurance bet is lost if the dealer does not have blackjack but is one at a 1:1 payout if they do have a blackjack hand.  The odds of the dealer having blackjack is 3:1 so it recommended that you waive the insurance.  There are some exceptions, however.  As previously mentioned it is always advisable to be aware of what cards have already been played and as a result, what cards are remaining.  If you are aware of the fact that there are many cards with a 10 value remaining, you may opt to take insurance in this instance. 

Betting Wisely

There are many theories on how to bet when you are playing blackjack.  Many methods call for you to start with a relatively low bet and then increase or even double your bet each time you lose.  Once you win a hand, you go back to the low bet and start over again.  The theory behind these methods is that you will eventually be due for a win and by increasing your bet each hand when you finally do win, it will be a substantial jackpot for you.  The problem with these theories, however, is that as much as there is skill and strategy involved, blackjack is still largely a game of chance.  You can play everything perfectly and according to a logical and proven strategy and still have a losing day.  For this reason, it is advisable to follow a much more conservative betting strategy.

A wise betting strategy is one where you bet moderately to start and if you happen onto a winning streak, begin increasing your bets slightly.  Many gamblers get caught up with placing extravagant bets after a winning streak because they believe that since they are playing with their winnings they are playing with the house’s money.  In actuality, this money is yours.  You have earned it and are free to walk away from the table with it at any time.  While betting high may be fun, it has the potential for significant losses.  It’s better to maintain a certain degree of conservatism even when you are winning.  The theory of betting less when you are losing and more when you are winning is very simple but it can be hard to follow in the heat of the moment.  Having an established game plan for when you will quit playing will help you to manage your money well.  For example you can plan ahead to leave the table after you have lost an initial investment or after you have made a certain percentage, say doubling your initial investment.  This will keep you from buying in and losing more than you planned or from continuing to play after a losing streak and losing your winnings back to the house.