Blackjack is a challenging card game requiring both skill and luck to succeed at. While no guaranteed method exists for winning every hand, becoming familiar with its basics will increase your chances of victory dramatically and there are various strategies available that can reduce house edge while maximising profits.
Initial steps in basic blackjack strategy start by placing a bet in one of the betting areas on the table and receiving two cards from both you and the dealer, adding up to 21. If your first two cards total 21 (an ace and card worth 10), that counts as “blackjack” and you receive 1.5 times your original bet as payout.
If the sum of your first two cards equals 11 or less, it is often prudent to hit for another card as there is a greater chance that another one could help form an impressive hand or even blackjack. When your total reaches 17 or higher however, it is usually better to stand.
Splitting pairs of nines, sevens, sixes, threes, and twos should also be considered when playing blackjack in order to minimize casino advantages by creating two separate hands that you can play against the dealer directly. Doing this allows for reduced casino advantages by giving you two separate opportunities against them at the table.
As another effective strategy, counting cards as they are distributed can provide a great advantage in blackjack play. Doing this gives a running count of high cards while providing a true count of low cards – using simple counting systems such as hi-lo method can increase blackjack chances while leading the dealer into more frequent bustouts.
Once all players have made their decision in blackjack, the dealer reveals her hole card. If she holds an Ace with an Undercard of 10, this represents a blackjack and all bets will win (including insurance bets). Furthermore, her blackjack pays out 2:1 on side bets made by players.
No matter the value of your hand, taking even money when the dealer has a blackjack is always recommended regardless of its strength. Doing this will get back one time the original bet while protecting against losing all your bankroll if you happen to have one yourself. Surrender can also help recover half of initial bet lost; but only do so when dealer shows ten or ace as doing otherwise will result in your bet not being accepted and you losing it altogether. You should never exceed pocket limits when playing blackjack – this is one of the main causes why many losers lose more often than they win!