Do you want to get better results when you visit a casino or play blackjack online? Check out our blackjack guide to get our tips to help you win and profit. Whether you’re just looking to kill a few hours at a conference in Las Vegas or are a seasoned online player, we’ve got a few strategies that you may not have thought of. From knowing when to double down to decisions against the dealer’s hand, we’ve got a few strategies you’ll want to play.
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Blackjack Guide: Strategies to help you win and profit
Always Split Eights & Aces
If you get dealt a pair of aces or eights, always split them. Don’t worry about what the dealer has. Just split your eights or aces.
Splitting eights keeps you from having a hard 16. It is possible to turn one hard 16 into two bad hands, but it’s still an advantage to get out of the hard 16.
The benefit of splitting aces is obvious. Catching back-to-back face cards or 10s sets you up to maximize profit.
Never Split fives or 10s
Splitting fives will turn one good hand into two bad hands. Don’t do it. Consider doubling down if you see the dealer with an up card that’s an eight or lower.
When it comes to 10’s, you likely already have a winning hand, so why turn it into two hands that aren’t as good? You might catch an ace. It’s also possible you catch another 10 or a face card, but you already do. Stick with the one good hand and take the win instead of potentially turning a win into two losses.
Always hit a Soft-18 against a 9, 10 or Ace
If you have a soft 18, you’ve got a hand that’s likely to lose. According to recent data, the average dealer hand on hands that don’t bust is 18.5. If you stand on a soft 18, you’re hoping a dealer busts.
However, data shows that the dealer has a 42% bust rate. That can go higher depending on their up card. Believe it or not, but a dealer showing a two, three, four, five, or six has a greater chance of busting than a seven or higher.
Let’s get back to our soft 18. You’ve got worse than a coin flip of winning with a soft 18 up against a 9, 10 or an ace. Hit the soft 18 and see what happens. Even catching another ace puts you in a better position than staying and hoping the dealer busts.
Double down on a 10 if you see an up card of 9 or less
If you’re combined hand is a 10, you’ll want to double down if the dealer is showing a nine or less. Again, the thought process here is simple. If the dealer is showing a nine, you know that they likely have 19 or less. You’ve already got 10, so all you have to do is catch a 10 or a face card, and you’ve got a winning hand with a doubled bet. Over time, this will put you in more profitable positions, even if it occasionally results in a loss.
Double Down on Soft 13 to Soft 18 if a dealer is showing a 5 or 6
The bust rates for a dealer showing a five or six are among the highest odds a dealer faces. Keep in mind, dealers have to hit hard 15s and 16s. Any hand dealer hand that has a five or six often ends up in a bust. This is why you want to double down if you have a soft 13 through soft 18.
First, there’s no risk of you busting if you hit a soft hand. You can either improve your position and double your bet, or double your bet against a dealer’s hand that often ends up in a bust. This is another strategy that may result in an occasional loss, but will pay off over time.
Stand with 9s against a dealer’s 7
You get dealt a pair of nines and see that the dealer has a seven. Your 18 will either win against the dealer’s 17, or the dealer will need to hit and potentially bust.
Splitting nines against a seven is getting cute. You’re turning a well-positioned hand into two hands that may end up in a bust or loss. Stay well-positioned and take the win.
Avoid doubling down if you have 12 or higher
It doesn’t matter how great you feel about doubling down with a 12 or higher or what the dealer has. Don’t do this. First, you already have a bad hand. Don’t throw good money after bad. Second, you bust if you catch a 10 or a face card. Just take a regular hit, and avoid trying to double up here. Over time, you’ll end up losing more than you make. Follow the blackjack guide and play this scenario as safe as possible.
Never take insurance
There’s a guy at every table who will insist you want to insure a 20 against a dealer’s ace up card. Don’t do it. Please, don’t listen to that guy at the table. Insurance may pay 2-to-1 if the dealer has blackjack, but you also lose your original bet. You can also only insure half your original bet.
You’re better off taking the loss on a good hand than paying for insurance and losing. Over the long run, it’s actually slightly in your favor not to take insurance.
Keep in mind, it’s possible to lose your insurance bet, and also lose the original bet if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack and still catches a 21. There’s also the possibility of the dealer not getting blackjack, catching a 20, and pushing.
Enjoy your time playing
Lastly, blackjack is meant to be fun. Your time online or at a table shouldn’t cause additional stress. You get enough of that from work, family, and sports gambling. If you find your blood pressure rising, get up, take a walk, throw on your earphones, and listen to the latest episode of the Sports Gambling Podcast.
