How to Beat the Dealer at Blackjack
If you have ever played blackjack, you probably know that the objective of the game is to beat the dealer by getting more points than he does. The dealer’s total is 21, so you must get a number higher than 21 to beat him. If you get more than 21 points, you are out. Hence, it’s essential to learn all the tips and tricks in blackjack so that you can beat him in the end. Here are some of them.
Basic strategy
When you play blackjack, you need to employ the basic strategy to increase your payouts and minimize your losses. There are many charts available to help you apply the basic strategy. Four mathematicians came up with the strategy in the 1950s, knowing that the rules of the game were fixed and built a probability simulation based on millions of hands. Because basic strategy is so easy to follow, most blackjack enthusiasts use it in their games. It has proven itself time and again to reduce the casino’s edge to less than one percent.
Insurance bets
Insurance bets on blackjack are special bets that pay out only if the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer does have a blackjack, you win your insurance bet at odds of two to one. Although an insurance bet can give you a big advantage, it can also cost you money. Let’s examine the pros and cons of placing an insurance bet. You may be wondering whether to place an insurance bet when you are playing blackjack.
House edge
The house edge of blackjack is not the same for all players. For every $1 you spend, the casino has an edge of between 0.5% and 2%. The expected return on side bets can be quite respectable depending on the amount you bet. For example, if you’re betting $1/100 hands, you’re expected to win about half of them but lose the rest. You’re likely to lose half of your hands, but make about $500. If you can limit your house edge to less than 2%, you’ll be able to reduce the edge.
Split hands
The best time to split hands on blackjack is when the dealer has a weak hand. Two eights have a decent chance of getting 18 points, while two sevens could easily bust before hitting 20. Additionally, the dealer’s upcard should be an eight or ace. However, many gamblers have trouble deciding when to split. Below are some tips to help you decide when it’s time to split your hands.
Early surrender
Early surrender in blackjack is a blackjack strategy used when a player has a pair of sevens or eights, or a hand with a high card count of 14-16. This strategy is especially useful when the dealer has an ace or a high card count. It’s best to use early surrender when the odds are in your favor, since it’s more likely to result in a loss than a win if you surrender before you have the correct odds.
Card counting
Card counting in blackjack is a mathematical strategy that enables players to keep track of the high and low cards. By using this method, players can minimize the house edge and make better decisions. In addition to improving their chances of winning, card counting can also help them cut down on their losses. There are various types of card counting systems. These include: hi-lo, KO, and even progressive methods. To learn more, you can read our card counting basics article.
Multi-deck blackjack
If you prefer the classic rules of blackjack, then you might enjoy multi-deck blackjack. Multi-deck blackjack uses multiple decks of cards at once, so you won’t be able to count cards. This change hasn’t changed the odds of winning, but you should always check the payout rates to determine if it’s worth trying out. For example, if you get an ace in a single deck, the odds of winning are still 3/51. However, if you pull the ace from a pack of eight decks, you’ll have a one in thirty-seven.