Best Online Blackjack Tips & Strategies
Even though online blackjack essentially is a game of luck, and nothing can guarantee a win, it also combines skill and strategy. Whether you consider yourself a seasoned player or a beginner, applying a few strategies can help you get some more wins. Among other things, we’re going to review when to hit, stand, how to manage your bankroll and use a blackjack strategy chart!
Why Use Blackjack Strategies?
Understanding the mix of luck and strategy that makes blackjack such an exciting game for millions of players is the key to playing it well. Obviously, your hand and the dealer’s hand are determined purely by luck, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
What you can do, however, is learn about the game and follow a few simple strategies that’ll help lower the house edge and increase your chances of winning. Those tips can directly impact your gameplay (know when to hit, stand, etc.), or just your approach to the game (knowing when to stop, managing your budget, etc.).
Being a game that lets some skill come into play makes blackjack one of the few rewarding options for players willing to put some time and effort into learning its tropes. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it, right?
Blackjack Strategy: When to Hit, Stand, Double Down or Split
Understanding basic blackjack strategies is a good way to make smarter decisions by comparing your hand to the dealer’s face-up card. Let’s see a few helpful tips that can help you do the right thing on the table:
- Hard Hands vs. Soft Hands
- When to Hit
- When to Stand
- Doubling Down
- Splitting your Hand
A soft hand contains an Ace that can either be counted as 1 or 11, whereas in a hard hand, if there’s an Ace in your hand, it must be counted as 1.
Hit when your total is low and there’s room to improve. For instance, a hand totaling 8 or less should always take another card.
If you have a soft 17 (e.g., Ace and 6) and the dealer shows a strong card like a 9 or 10, hitting might be your best move in order to improve your chances.
Stand when you have a strong total, especially if the dealer shows a weak card (2-6). For example, with a total of 18 or higher, standing is safer since the dealer is more likely to bust.
You should double down when you’re in a strong position to beat the dealer with one more card. Let’s say your total is 10 or 11, and the dealer shows a weak card like 4 or 5, doubling down could maximize your payout. However, you should note that keep in mind that this move limits you to just one more card, so use it wisely.
Always split aces to give yourself 2 chances at hitting 21. It creates 2 hands starting at 11 each, which is a wonderful position to be in. Another scenario in which you should split is when you get a pair of 8s. A hard 16 is one of the worst positions in blackjack, but splitting 8s gives you a better shot at stronger hands.
On the other hand, avoid splitting 10s or face cards: 20 is already a great hand, and you’d risk spoiling it by splitting.
Top 4 Strategies to Improve Your Blackjack Game
We’ve gathered some of the best and simplest strategies that will help you come prepared to the online blackjack table. Note that some tips are tailored for live gameplay rather than virtual games.
Use a Blackjack Cheat Sheet
The most important element when playing online blackjack is to know the basic strategies that rule the game. It means being able to know what course of action to take in any given situation, depending on your hand and the dealer’s card(s). After some time, this becomes natural for most players, but beginners will benefit from using a blackjack strategy chart, also called blackjack cheat sheet (no worries, there’s no real cheating involved!).
From this chart we can take out a few general guidelines:
- With 8 or less, you should always hit, except with pairs of 2s or 3s, where you can split as well;
- If you’ve got 17 or above, you should stand;
- If you’ve got 11, double down if possible, then hit, as cards with a value of 10 will give you 21.
Other scenarios will require taking a closer look at the chart. For example, if your total is 12, and the dealer’s card is a 6, you should usually stand, as the dealer is more likely to go bust. On the other hand, if you get a total of 16 and the dealer has a 10, you might want to surrender, if possible, or hit, wishing for a low value card in order not to end up behind the dealer, while not going above 21.
Using a basic blackjack strategy card can reduce the house edge to as low as 0.5%, making it one of the best blackjack strategies for beginners and experts alike. To practice, you can find some casinos where you can play online blackjack for free with some demos.
Suitable For: Beginners looking for guidance in their gameplay.
Pros
- Perfect for beginners
- Each scenario is covered
- Reduces house edge
Cons
- Takes out spontaneity of the game
- Doesn’t necessarily fit with other strategies (e.g. card counting)
Card Counting in Blackjack
Card counting is a more advanced strategy that involves keeping track of high and low cards remaining in the deck. This information helps you determine whether the deck is favorable to the player or the house. Although card counting is commonly associated with in-person games, its application in online blackjack is limited due to automatic shuffling mechanisms, especially in virtual games.
In live blackjack games, however, where dealers use physical cards and decks aren’t shuffled after every hand, card counting becomes more viable. The most basic card counting system is the Hi-Lo method, which assigns values to cards. Players start their count at 0, and then add or subtract values depending on the card being dealt:
- Cards ranging from 2 to 6 are considered low cards: when one of those is dealt, players should add 1 to their count.
- 7, 8, and 9 are neutral cards: the count doesn’t change for those.
- 10s, face cards and Aces are high cards: when one of those is dealt, players should subtract 1 from their count.
A high count means the following cards are more likely to be high. A low/negative count means the remaining cards are likely to be low ones. Please note that this strategy works best with a small amount of decks, which means you can’t apply it to virtual games, where the amount of decks isn’t fixed.
More advanced techniques exist but require a much higher dedication and are quite complex. Keep in mind that even though card counting isn’t illegal, real casinos suspecting the use of these techniques might ask players to leave: this makes it even more fitting for playing live blackjack online!
Suitable For: Players who don’t want to let luck decide their fate.
Pros
- The Hi-Lo method is accessible to beginners
- Perfect for live games, where no one can see the player behind screen
- Gives players an advantage over the dealer
Cons
- Not suitable for virtual games (unknown amount of decks)
- More complex methods aren’t that accessible
Using Betting Systems at Online Blackjack
Betting systems can enhance the way you play blackjack online, but they’re not all benefits and might have some downsides. Some of the most popular ones are the following:
The Martingale System
The Martingale system consists of increasing your wager every time you lose. It has the potential to recover losses in a fast and effective manner, but this approach might demand a big bankroll. Players should also be aware of the table limit in terms of bet when using this method!
Let’s say you start by betting £10. If you lose, your next bet will be £20. If you lose again, you’ll bet £40. If you end up winning the £40 round, you’ll recover your losses (£10 + £20 + £40 = £70) and gain a profit equal to your original wager (£10).
Pros
- Can prove effective at recovering losses
- Simple to understand and put to use
Cons
- Can require a significant budget and stack up losses
- You may quickly reach table limits
The Paroli System
The Paroli system basically is the opposite of the Martingale. It consists of doubling your bets after a win, and provides a less risky alternative, but can put a dent in your wins.
Start by betting £10. If you win, your next bet is £20. If you win again, you bet £40. After three consecutive wins, you return to your original wager to avoid greed losses.
Pros
- Can stack up wins during hot streaks
- Limits your losses when on losing streaks
Cons
- Relies on your ability to get consecutive wins
- Your bankroll can stagnate
Flat Betting
Flat betting means consistently betting the same amount on every hand, which is a good way to maintain consistency and control losses.
You bet £10 on each hand, maintaining this amount throughout your session.
Pros
- Offers a nice stability and prevents huge losses
- Great way to extend your gameplay
Cons
- Large wins can be limited
- Can be underwhelming to high-risk players
Betting systems are a great way to structure your gameplay, but they do not alter the house edge, and obviously don’t guarantee long term success! However, by combining them with some other strategies, you can put all the odds on your side and enhance your experience.
Bankroll and Budget Management Tips
Setting up an effective bankroll management system is much needed if you’re planning on minimising your losses in the long run. The first step to a successful management is to set a fixed budget which you’re willing to lose while playing online blackjack. Keep in mind that any money played is money you might lose! Set up this budget and stick to it. It can be a weekly, monthly or yearly budget, that’s up to you!
Once this first step is done, divide your bankroll into smaller budgets for each one of your sessions. If your budget is £100, you might want to limit yourself to £20 per session. This approach not only extends your playing time but also reduces the risk of losing everything in one session. We found that a good way to increase control over our budget was to play online blackjack on mobile, with your funds just a few taps away on most apps.
You can also set up a few limits to help you know when to stop playing or cash some of your money out. For example, you can decide to cash out your wins after doubling your initial bankroll.
Being mindful of your bankroll and learning to manage it is key, so prepare a little bit before diving into some online blackjack!
Common Mistakes in Online Blackjack
Although a good strategy is essential to get some success in online blackjack, avoiding common mistakes is equally important. Things that could be avoided with greater awareness and that could put players in a difficult position. Let’s review the two most common errors players make.
Overbetting or Chasing Losses
Overbetting is one of the most damaging online blackjack habits. Players tend to wager much more when they start losing streaks, hoping that a few big wins will bring everything back in order. However, if this isn’t part of a structured betting strategy, it often leads to more losses.
Avoiding overbetting is important, which is why you should always stick to a pre-set budget and, more importantly, not take any decision based on your emotions. To avoid falling in this “trap”, set a betting limit for each session. Keep in mind that blackjack involves some skill, so following a solid betting strategy will go a lot further than blindly chasing losses. If you start losing a little too much, step away, collect your thoughts, and come back later with a clear head and your plan.
Misunderstanding House Rules
Another error is to forget reading the specific house rules for the form of blackjack you are playing. Dealer hitting or standing on soft 17, restrictions on doubling down after a split, or payout rates for blackjack make a major difference in how you will play and what your overall strategy will be.
In other words, you may presume that, since you split, you will be able to double down, and plan your play accordingly, only to be disappointed, or worse, make a fatal mistake that’ll cost you some money. For every online table you sit at, you need to double check the game rules and ensure that they will not affect your decision. Taking this easy step is all it takes to avoid losses and increase your win rate.
By avoiding these fundamental mistakes, your ability to play and enjoy online blackjack will become far easier.
Conclusion
Beating the computer or the dealer at online blackjack is, above anything, based on luck and getting the right cards. Nothing will guarantee a win, but applying tips and strategies to virtual and live blackjack can help players maximise their chances.
Those strategies go from counting cards to simple budget management and just a little training will help most players get the most out of their sessions. To get some reps without spending any real money, most online casinos offer free demos of their games, so don’t hesitate to get started!
FAQs
Can strategies guarantee wins in blackjack?
No strategy can guarantee wins in blackjack, but things like a cheat sheet and bankroll management can significantly increase your chances of success.
What’s the best betting system for blackjack?
The best betting system depends on your goals and risk tolerance. Flat betting is ideal for consistency, while the Martingale system suits players with larger bankrolls who can handle higher risks.
Is card counting effective in online blackjack?
Card counting is limited in online blackjack due to automatic shuffling mechanisms in virtual games. However, it can be effective in live dealer blackjack where physical cards are used and shuffling occurs less frequently.
How can I practice blackjack strategies for free?
Many online casinos offer demo versions of blackjack games, allowing you to practice strategies without risking real money. This is a great way to build confidence before playing for real.