Best Online Blackjack Strategy
Good blackjack strategy is not simply playing by the book or counting cards – it is a firm understanding of how to play, and how to carry yourself at the table. We here at Best Blackjack Online give you every tool that you will need to increase your chances of being successful and enjoy this great table game as much as possible. Read our Gambling Guides as many times as you need to in order to fully memorize all of the important information. How To Win Online Blackjack, General Strategy: Double, Split and Surrender. Everything that we have described so far with the identification of strong and weak dealer cards is the basis of knowing how to deal with the special options, which are all of your options in the game that are not hitting or standing.
The worst blackjack strategy of all is the one where you assume the dealer is holding a 10 as their hole card. This pessimistic form of blackjack means you’re going to be wrong about 70% of the time. While a.300 percentage would make you a Hall of Fame baseball hitter, in blackjack, the assume-10 strategy produces a house edge of 10.03%. Look online under “blackjack strategy” or “basic strategy” and you’ll find endless charts and tables you can study. To become a better blackjack gambler, find a printable basic strategy chart of the game you play and memorize that card. If you can find a basic strategy chart which is color-coded, this is even better.
Since blackjack is the one casino game where skill truly matters, it’s important for players to test different strategies and start incorporating them into their gameplay. But before you test any of the blackjack systems out there, there’s a simple truth you must realise – every valid blackjack strategy is based on logic and maths. Therefore, the best strategy you can adopt right away would be to leave your superstitions behind, forget about your ‘winning rituals’ and trust only the numbers. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s take a look at the best tactics you can adopt to help you win at online blackjack every time you play.
Tip #1: Pick the Right Casino
Players often ignore this all-important step, so I decided to start precisely with it. I cannot emphasise enough how big of a factor picking a good casino site is for your future success at beating the game. And that process is not even that hard – the trick is to pick a reputable, well-known casino that features a lot of blackjack games and generous bonuses that you can use on them. Here are three stellar examples:
Blackjack Site | Rating | Highlights | Welcome Bonus | Trusted Site | Terms and Conditions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
888 Casino | 7 RNG Games , 36 Live Tables | Up to £100 + £88 | Get Bonus! | Full T&Cs apply. 1st deposit only • £20 min deposit with code • Valid for selected games only • Bonus wins capped at £500 • 30x wagering – req. vary by game - in 90 days • UK - deposit balance available for withdrawal at any time • Withdrawal terms & T&Cs apply. | |
Ladbrokes Casino | 15 RNG Games, 10 Live Tables | £50 Welcome Bonus | Get Bonus! | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New Casino players only. Deposit required. Min stake £10 on qualifying games. 40x wager reqs (bonus only) on selected games. 24hrs to accept. Bonus valid for 48hrs. Certain deposit types excluded. Bets covering >70% of Roulette table excluded. | |
Betway | 17 RNG Games, 30 Live Tables | 100% up to £250 | Get Bonus! | Full T&Cs apply. * New customers only. Opt-in required. 100% Match Bonus up to £250 on 1st deposit of £20+. 50x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Irregular gameplay may invalidate your bonus. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. |
But how in fact does your choice of casino impact your winning chances? Truth is that not all online casinos are safe and trustworthy. Moreover, even if you have won fair and square, some of them might refuse to pay out your winnings. By choosing a licensed and regulated casino, such as the ones we recommend, you secure yourself a fair chance at winning and, most importantly, guaranteed payouts.
Tip #2: Pick the Right Blackjack Variant
Picking the right game variant is yet another important part of an all-encompassing blackjack strategy. The most important detail about each game is undoubtedly the house edge – the lower it is, the better. Here is a comparison between the house edges of some of the most popular online blackjack games in the UK:
As you can see, the house edge of these games is already quite low (just for reference, most slot games have a house edge of 4%-6%). Still, this is the first thing you should check before trying a new blackjack game. There are, in fact, some online blackjack games that have a house edge over 1% and even over 2%. If your goal is to win and not just to have fun, then you should definitely stay clear of those.
Tip #3: Know Your Game Inside Out
Not all blackjack games are made from the same mold. In fact, there are hardly any two blackjack variations that have exactly the same rules. Therefore, applying the same basic strategy for different games simply won’t work. Every little detail about the game matters as it affects the house edge. You can learn about the specific rules of each variant from the help section of the game. Here is what information you should be looking for if you want to find the best blackjack strategy for the game you’ve chosen.
- How much does a blackjack pay?
- How many decks are in the shoe?
- Can you double on any two cards or only with specific total?
- When can you split your hand and up to how many times?
- Are you allowed to double after splitting a hand?
- Are you allowed to hit split aces?
- Do you have the option to surrender and in which cases?
- Does the dealer hit a soft seventeen?
- Is there a 5-, 6- or a 7-card Charlie?
Another particularity you should be aware of when searching for a suitable online blackjack strategy is that there are some blackjack games that bear the same name but have different rules and, consequently, different house edge. This is due to the fact that the games are provided by different software developers. For example, Classic Blackjack by Microgaming has a house edge of merely 0.13% while the game of the same name developed by NetEnt has a house edge of 0.35%. A big difference, indeed.
Tip #4: Use a Basic Blackjack Strategy Card
Hopefully, you’ve followed our tips for playing blackjack and have already chosen a specific game to play, where to play it and you’ve familiarised yourself with all its rules. Now it’s time to find a basic blackjack strategy card specific to your game of choice which will help you make the right decision in any situation.
Below, you can see an example of a strategy card that’s especially created for Playtech’s Blackjack Pro. The image clearly shows how you should play against any given dealer upcard according to the hand you’re holding. The complete strategy chart for each different blackjack variation should consist of three parts – one for hard hands, one for soft hands and one for pairs.
The easiest way to find an optimal blackjack strategy chart for the game you want to try is to generate it yourself using one of the many blackjack basic strategy calculators you can find online. Using these strategy cards is very suitable for beginners since they are extremely easy to read and at the same time they are math-based. Still, there are some things that these cards don’t cover. They don’t tell you what to do with the side bets, how much to bet and whether card counting could help you. Those are exactly the topics that we’re going to cover next.
The Perfect Blackjack Strategy for Side Bets
As we have already established in the previous paragraphs, strategy cards can be very useful when playing most blackjack games, especially for the beginners. Yet, as you may have noticed, they don’t cover any side bets whatsoever. After all, the perfect blackjack strategy is the one that takes into account all aspects of the game and this includes whether or not to place bonus bets and if yes – how much to bet.
The truth is that blackjack is a casino game with an extremely low house edge. On top of that, skilled players are able to reduce this minimal advantage even further by adopting various blackjack strategies. This is why, in the hopes to increase the house edge and, consequently, the revenues, the casinos started adding extra decks to the different blackjack variations and came up with different side bets. And while these side bets definitely add fun and variety to te game, they make players lose money, slowly but surely.
So, it’s easy to see that the best strategy for blackjack side bets is actually not to place any! Just stick to the strategy cards until you’ve gained enough experience to start testing more advanced tactics.
What About Card Counting?
When most new players hear the words ‘blackjack strategies’, they immediately think of card counting. While this strategy may still be possible in some brick-and-mortar casinos (although, in general, it’s against the house rules or at least it’s frowned upon), it is virtually unfeasible in online casinos where the deck is shuffled after each hand. The only exception to this rule is live dealer blackjack. So, if you want to try some card counting techniques while playing online, your only option is to play live blackjack games.
But what actually is card counting and can it really help you beat the casino? Card counting is a blackjack technique that helps you follow the number of high and low cards in the shoe thus giving you some insight as to what type of card might come next – a bit of knowledge that can, indeed, tip the scales in your direction. The easiest card counting system in blackjack is called Hi-Lo and works like this: for each low card (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) you see you add one point and for each high card (10, J, Q, K, A) you deduct one. The higher the count, the bigger the chances to get 10-valued cards, which are generally considered ‘good’ for the player (and bad for the dealer).
Which Is the Best Blackjack Betting System?
As we have already established, using a blackjack strategy card can help you make the right decision in any given situation, but it doesn’t answer the important question players always ask themselves ‘How much should I bet?’ As you probably already know, there are many betting systems out there, many of which claim to be a sure way to beat any online blackjack game. A huge part of those systems are progressive betting systems which are based on the idea that if you’ve lost a number of times, you’re bound to win soon. This, of course, is not true and is often referred to as gambler’s fallacy – a mistaken notion that has claimed many victims through the ages.
The plain and simple truth is that no betting system on its own can help you beat the house, but some can help you improve your odds even more when combined with other blackjack strategies. For example, when using card counting and basic strategy, you can allow yourself to increase the bet amount when the count is high, as then the strategy cards are considered to be ‘more correct’ and your chances at winning are higher. But, as we already said, this can only work if you’re playing live dealer games. The best betting strategy for RNG games, on the other hand, is to simply bet the same amount over and over again while wagering some convenient casino bonus – a topic that we’re going to discuss a little bit further down the page.
Tip #5: Test in Demo Mode
Now that you have a complete overview of an all-encompassing online blackjack strategy, you probably feel ready to finally start playing. But before you go and bet real money, it’s highly recommended that you first test your skills with play money. Going back to our example with Blackjack Pro by Playtech, we’ve prepared a demo version of the game below that you can try for free. Don’t forget to use the strategy card that we presented to you to secure yourself the best odds.
Something else that you can do while playing in demo mode is to practice your card-counting skills, even though in all RNG games the shoe is virtually shuffled after each hand. After all, there are no demo versions of live blackjack, so your only option is to practice on their computerised versions.
Tip #6: Sync Your Bonus and Blackjack Strategies
Some of the biggest advantages of playing on the Internet vs playing at land-based casinos are undoubtedly the generous bonus opportunities that online casinos offer. Even if the casino has a slight advantage in any given game, playing with extra money that isn’t actually yours and being allowed to keep the winnings surely gives the players some edge. When it comes to blackjack, combining the already low house edge of the game with a solid math-based strategy and a suitable bonus is the most certain way to beat the casino. Of course, every bonus comes with its terms and conditions that are sometimes favourable but other times – not so much.
First of all, there’s always a wagering requirement that you have to fulfil before you can withdraw the winnings generated from the bonus. This requirement in most cases is set at 20 to 40 times the bonus plus the deposit amount. Furthermore, it’s important to take into account the fact that blackjack games don’t contribute at 100% toward the wagering requirement due to the fact that they have a pretty low house edge and give the players great winning odds. Usually, the wagering contribution for the game is set anywhere between 5% and 10%, the higher it is, of course, the better. Other important details you should take into account are the validity period of the bonus and the minimum deposit required to claim it.
All that said, let us present to you an easy-to-claim bonus that is perfect for beginners and offered by a casino that has a great array of blackjack games with both classic and innovative variants – Ladbrokes. At the moment, they offer a 100% bonus up to £500 to all new players that make minimum deposit of £20 at the casino – a pretty sweet deal, if you ask me. If you agree with me and are ready to start playing for real money, then click the link below and you’ll be safely redirected to the official website of the operator:
Sure enough, this is not the only available bonus offer that is suitable for playing blackjack online, in fact, most UK casino sites give you the opportunity to wager bonus money on all their blackjack games. So, if you want to find more great opportunities to play blackjack with bonus money, then make sure you also check out our dedicated bonus page.
Final Thoughts and Advice for Long-Term Success
In conclusion, the best blackjack strategy you can adopt is the one that fully corresponds to the game variation you’ve chosen to play. Be careful to only use a game plan that has been created for the particular type of blackjack you’re playing. Otherwise, you won’t be able to achieve the results you expect.
Beginners, find yourselves a strategy card for the variation you play and stick with it. Combine it with a good bonus and you can expect a moderate return in the long run. Your number one priority should be to practice and learn. The more experienced players can, on the other hand, test their card counting skills against some unsuspecting dealer at a live casino of their choice – remember, you can see them, but they cannot see you! Furthermore, to make sure that you get the whole picture as to how to beat this game, you can also take a look at some game strategies analysed.
Last but not least, don’t forget to have fun! After all, it’s a game and its main purpose is to entertain you. Not getting too stressed about winning is a good tactic as it will help you keep a cool head and make better decisions while playing.
Learning blackjack strategies and tips will give you the best chance of coming away with a profit when playing the game online. There are some easy online blackjack tips you can gather that will get you moving in the right direction. You can also go as you deep as you want into more complex strategies to learn to win at blackjack online.
In the world of online casinos, the game of blackjack stands as one of the most popular around. After all, many people have either played it in casinos or have watched others do it. As a result, there’s a comfort level to playing blackjack online that might not exist with other casino games.
But it’s important that you think of your gambling as a form of investment. To protect that investment, you need to learn the proper online blackjack strategies and tips that will help you improve play. Just a little bit of study and practice make a huge bit of difference.
This article will provide you with some of the best blackjack strategies and tips to help you with your play. We’ll talk about how you can make the right decisions in every situation. And we’ll also get into bankroll management and advanced strategy while also answering some of your top questions about the game.
Using Blackjack Strategy Charts Online
The good news about online blackjack is that there is no shortage of available advice on how to play the game. Strategy charts are everywhere online, as apps, or even in books. You just have to find the one that works for you.
Strategy charts work by giving you the proper play for every possible deal that you receive and every possible card that the dealer has showing. For example, you might see something like this as just a small portion of one of these charts.
Your Hand | Dealer Card: 2 | Dealer Card: 3 | Dealer Card: 4 |
---|---|---|---|
Hard 12 | Hit | Hit | Stand |
Hard 13 | Stand | Stand | Stand |
Hard 14 | Stand | Stand | Stand |
This shows you that, for example, if you receive a 12 with your first two cards with no ace involved (hence a “hard 12”) and the dealer is showing a 2, you should hit. If, however, you have a hard 13 and the dealer holds a 2, you should stand.
You might be able to get this information in list form, which can make it easier for you to digest. In either case, if you can manage to memorize this information, you’ll be well ahead of the game in terms of online blackjack tips and tricks.
Easy Beginning Blackjack Strategy
One simple strategy you can use when you’re just learning to play blackjack online is one where you assume that the card the dealer has face down has a value of 10. It will remove the need for you to have to memorize strategies. You can just decide based on simple math whether you’re ahead or behind in the hand and act accordingly.
The problem with this strategy is that it’s an extremely conservative way to play. Most expert players realize that playing this way will cost them in terms of payback. But, for beginners, this isn’t a bad way to go if you haven’t yet done any memorization.
Advanced Online Blackjack Strategies
What you’ll find when you’re trying to learn how to win at blackjack online is that there are basic strategies and advanced strategies. The distinction between them can sometimes be hard to tell.
For example, a basic strategy might ask you to learn seven rules. An advanced online blackjack strategy might require you to learn much more than that.
In general, advanced strategies will improve your overall payback percentage ever so slightly. That can be worth it if you’re going to be the type of online blackjack player who plays with regularity.
Card-Specific Online Blackjack Strategy
In most basic strategies, you are told to hit, stand, double, surrender or take insurance based on the total value of the cards that you have. For example, if you have 13, it doesn’t matter if you have a seven and a six or a jack and a three in your hand. You just commit to your action based on the total.
But a card-specific strategy might change depending on which cards are involved. The idea behind this is that having certain cards in play changes the odds slightly and affects the strategy somewhat on some occasions.
Online Blackjack Card Counting
Card counting is of limited use to you when it comes down to online blackjack play. Many online blackjack games employ an automatic dealer. This means that the deck gets reshuffled every time and renders card counting useless.
Best Online Craps Strategy
If that’s the case, you might be able to gain an advantage from card counting in online blackjack. Card counting allows you to know if the current advantage going into a hand belongs to you or the dealer. You can bet accordingly, either higher or lower than your normal amount, with this knowledge in place.
Online Blackjack Bankroll Management
Bankroll management is an underrated part of playing blackjack online. You should always be aware of what your bankroll is compared to your goals.
Best Strategy For Online Blackjack
Here are some factors you should take into consideration when it comes to your bankroll management:
- How much you can afford to lose in a single session
- How long you’re hoping to play
- How much volatility is involved in the style of video poker you’re playing
- How much you’re hoping to win
Best Online Blackjack Strategy
Experienced players know how to factor all of this into the size of their original bankroll. If you’re just starting out in the world of online blackjack, try to give yourself a bankroll that allows the chance to enjoy yourself.
Adjusting Your Online Blackjack Strategy
One common mistake that beginning online blackjack players make is that they use the same strategy no matter what type of blackjack they’re playing. All of the work that you do learning how to play certain hands can backfire if you’re playing a game with different rules than the style that your instruction was teaching you to perfect.
There are certain factors that will cause the strategy to change slightly. Check them out below.
- Whether or not a dealer has to hit on a soft 17. By “soft 17,” we mean a hand like ace-six, where the ace, in the player’s hands, can be valued at 1 or 11. Some games allow the dealer to keep hitting at this point, while other online blackjack variations insist that they have to stand.
- Splitting rules. The standby in blackjack is that a player can continue splitting cards until they have four hands. But some online blackjack games only allow three or ever two hands after splitting.
- Doubling limitations. If you can find a game which allows you to double no matter what you have, you’ll have to learn plays for potential doubles that you wouldn’t otherwise. Many games limit your chances to double when you have certain cards on the deal.
- Insurance and surrender. Surrendering can be an effective option for players to cut their losses when they’re behind the dealer. Insurance is less valuable, but there might be occasions where it makes sense. In any case, your strategy will have to include these options if the version of blackjack you’re playing online includes them.
Strategy for Special Blackjack Variations
If you seek out blackjack online games, you’re likely to find some unfamiliar titles listed among the options. Games like Spanish 21, Blackjack Switch, European Blackjack, or Pontoon might pop up. Each of these games contain little twists that change up game play a little bit.
The first thing you should do to learn strategy for these blackjack games is to learn what makes them different. You should first decide if the game is worth playing based on these changes, since some of these games can actually lower online blackjack odds for the player overall.
FAQ About Online Blackjack Strategy
Should I Adjust My Strategy Based on How My Session Is Going?
When you’re playing online blackjack with an automatic dealer, each deal is a fresh one. As a result, it bears no relation to any hands that have come before it. Any hot or cold streaks you might be having are purely due to luck.
Your strategy for online blackjack should be the same for the thousandth hand that you play as it was for the first. Don’t play based on guesses or hunches. Stick to the online blackjack strategy with which you began.
How Much Time Should I Take to Learn Blackjack Strategy?
Part of this is based on what you want out of the game. Do you want to be an expert player who makes the most possible money? If so, then you should take as much time as possible to get your strategy airtight.
In addition, you have to base it on how well you take the instruction. Some people can memorize quicker than others. If memorization is burdensome, just try to take some basic online blackjack tips with you into your session.
Can I Consult My Strategy Tips While Playing Blackjack Online?
This is one of the biggest advantages to playing online. There is nobody watching you to say what you can or can’t do. If you’re a beginner and want to get things just right on each hand, you can feel free to have your online blackjack strategy information right by your side.
There may be exceptions to this. You might get in a game with other players where you have to decide on a play in a certain time. Also, you might want to learn strategy without having to consult a chart if only to speed up your play and give you more chances to win.
Try These Online Blackjack Tips and Strategies Yourself
Best Betting Strategy For Online Blackjack
With the right online blackjack strategy and tips at your disposal, you can play blackjack online for real money at a high level. Make sure to find the right type of strategy for your skill level and your needs to get the possible online blackjack results.