Blackjack Tips and Tricks – Play Blackjack like a Pro

Use our Blackjack tips and tricks to play like a pro. Blackjack is one of the most popular and best-known casino games in the entire world. Not only is this casino game immense fun, but a player’s skill can also make a big difference in their performance.

This means that Blackjack is not quite as simple as some other casino games, like slot machines, and can be a bit intimidating. The good news is that there are plenty of easy-to-follow strategies and tips out there to help even novice players play Blackjack like a pro.

We will walk our readers through some of these tips, tricks, and strategies. Once you’re done with our blackjack tips guide, you’ll be a pro before you know it!

Online casinos for online blackjack in the US

Beginner Blackjack Tips

If you’ve never played Blackjack before, then this is the place to start. Here we will go through the basics of Blackjack, as well as some of the most important tips for new players to understand. Once you’re comfortable with the information here, then you can move on to the more advanced sections.

Basic Blackjack Rules

• The goal of Blackjack is to get your hand as close to 21 as possible. Whoever’s hand is closer to 21, yours or the dealers, will win the round.
• Do not exceed 21. If you do so, you will go Bust and lose the hand.
• Card values are as follows:
  • 2 – 10: Face Value
  • Jack, Queen, King – Valued at 10
  • Ace – Valued at 1 or 11

Blackjack Tips for Beginners

• Know the Basics: Before you start playing Blackjack, it is important to know the basic principles behind the game How to win, the card values, and so on. Do not jump in if you don’t have a handle on this yet.
• Budget your Money: This is important for any form of gambling, including Blackjack. Keep an eye on how much money you have left in your account, do not wager more than you can afford to lose, and start small. Placing small bets initially will allow new players to stretch out their bankroll. Remember, the main goal should always be to have fun, not win money.
• Know when to Walk Away: When gambling, know when it’s time to cut your losses and call it quits. If you find yourself in a losing streak, rather take a break. Chasing your losses and trying to win the money back will likely just get you into trouble.
• Never Drink: Whenever you’re gambling for real money, never ever consume alcohol. Alcohol will impair your judgment and lead you to make poor decisions.

There are many new players, as well as causal blackjack gamblers that often request strategies and tips they could use without needing to learn how to count cards. There are plenty of these out there, but it is important to know that these tips won’t give you better odds of winning. They might help you make your bankroll last longer and have a more enjoyable experience, though. The only way to actually improve your odds is with learning how to count cards correctly.

Blackjack Tips for New Players

Now that you should be familiar with the basics of Blackjack, let’s get into our tips and tricks for new or inexperienced players.

• Tip 1 – Gambling websites will allow the player to play Blackjack for free. Use this feature! Only wager for real money when you are comfortable with the game.
• Tip 2 – Learn a basic betting strategy for Blackjack to guide you in when to hit, stand, our double.
• Tip 3 – Stay away from blackjack games that pay 6:5 on Blackjack. It is a far wiser decision to play traditional Blackjack that pays 3:2. Even a 3:2 blackjack game with eight decks of cards is statistically better than a single deck paying out 6:5.
• Tip 4 – The less decks of card a blackjack game uses, the better. Typically, games will use six or eight decks, but sometimes you can find a version that uses less.
• Tip 5 – Don’t just play the first blackjack game you come across. Look around for the game that gives you the best rules. For example, try to find a table that requires the dealer to stand on a ‘Soft 17’, or a table that allows you to surrender.
• Tip 6 – We recommend avoiding the Martingale Betting Strategy. This strategy requires players to double their bet every time they lose a hand. If you go on a bad losing streak, and you will, you could lose a lot of money
• Tip 7 – Avoid taking the insurance bet. There are only a very small number of situations where it will save you money, most of the time it will not.
• Tip 8 – If the dealer’s face-up card is a 5 or a 6, they will most likely make a hand and not go Bust. Keep this in mind and don’t go crazy doubling your 7.
• Tip 9 – Always hit or double on a ‘Soft 17’. If you take another card, you cannot go Bust. If the dealer gets a 17, it will be a draw.
• Tip 10 – If you’re playing in a land-based, always treat the dealer with respect. Remember, the dealer is not in control of if you are winning or losing; the game is random. Do not take your frustrations out on them.
• Tip 11 – Always use your head, not your gut feeling. Remember the basic rules on how to play and think logically about your bets
• Tip 12 – Play your hand and not the bet you have made. No matter how big or small your bet is, make the correct play. Even if you have placed your largest wager of the day, don’t make silly betting decisions just because you are afraid of losing the hand.
• Tip 13 – Don’t be afraid to use the surrender option, but make sure you don’t overuse it either. We only recommend surrendering on a 16 if the dealer’s face-up card is a 9, 10, or an Ace. And only surrender on 15 if the dealer is sitting on a 10.
• Tip 14 – If you have two 4s, do not double your bet. The only wise course of action is to hit. For some reason, players who would never double on a 3,5 or 6,2 seem to want to double with a 4,4. If the dealer has a 5 or a 6, then you can consider splitting, though.
• Tip 15 – Remember this is ultimately a game of chance, so just because the table has been on a winning or losing streak, doesn’t mean things will continue like that.

Blackjack Tips – To Split or Not to Split

When playing Blackjack, if a player gets two of the same cards, they have the option to split. When splitting, you will then have two separate hands that you can win on.

Sounds great, right? It can be, in the right situation. Below you’ll find our blackjack tips on when we suggest you split, and when we think it is the wrong move.

When Not to Split

• Never ever split of pair of 10s! Combined, they have a value of 20, meaning the dealer has to hit 21 to win. Is there really any reason to risk such a great hand? If you split, you could wind up with hands valued at 14 and 15. Instead, take the 20, and you’ll likely walk away with a win.
• Do not split a pair of 5s. The best option is to double down. Splitting gives you a good chance of having two hands valued at around 10. It is a better plan to stick with one average hand that you can improve, rather than two hands you cannot improve.

When to Split

• Split a pair of Aces – If you land a pair of Aces, it’s definitely a good idea to split them. This gives you a really good chance of getting a really strong hand, and possibly a win.
• Split a pair of 6s – If the dealer has a card between 3 and 6, we highly recommend splitting your 6s.
• Go ahead and split your 7s – Go ahead and split your pair of 7s if the dealer’s card is between 3 and 7.
• Split a pair of 8s – It is highly recommended you split your 8s. Together, they are valued at 16, which is considered to be the worst hand in Blackjack. If you hit again, you will likely go Bust. When you split the eights, you at least have a decent chance of landing at least one 10-value card.
• Split your 9s – If the dealer’s hand is valued between 2 and 9, we recommend splitting our 9s.

Blackjack Tips for Hard and Soft Hands

Having an Ace in your hand significantly changes the way you play the game. If your hand has an Ace, it is known as a soft hand. Because the Ace is valued at 1 or 11, the hand is known as soft because its value isn’t fixed.

Soft hands also cannot go Bust from requesting an additional card. Hard hands, without an Ace, have a fixed value and could go Bust when requesting another card. Below is our advice on how to play, depending on if you have a hard or soft hand.

Blackjack Tips for Soft Hands

• Hit when you have a Soft 17. If you have a soft 17, an Ace and a 6, it is a good idea to hit. Your chances are very good; you’ll end up with a higher value hand.
• Hit on any soft hand valued less than 17. If you stand, the dealer has a good chance of getting a higher valued hand than your own. Standing gives you a better chance of getting closer to 21
• If you have a soft 18, you can hit if the dealer’s hand is an 8, 9, or 10. However, the better option is to double down.

Hard Hand Tips

Use the following blackjack tips if your hard hand is valued at over 12.

• If your hand is valued between 12 and 16, you should stand if the dealer’s hand is sitting between 2 and 6. The dealer is starting off with a very poor hand, and their chances of winning are poor. However, you are not guaranteed a win.
• If your hand is valued between 12 and 16, hit if the dealer’s hand is valued at 7 or higher.
• Stand on a hard 17 or higher. You’re quite close to 21, so there is a good chance you will bust if you hit.

Blackjack Tips for Doubling Down

When playing Blackjack, doubling down is another option available to the player. When you double down, you double your bet, but you can only receive one additional card.

It is a good option if you are confident you are going to win. But, be careful, as you could lose a lot of money if you misuse it. Below is our list of when we think it is a good idea to double down.

• If the player has a soft 13 or 14, and the dealer has a 5 or 6, it’s a good idea to double down
• Double down on a soft 15 or 16, when the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6
• Double down on a soft 17 or 18, when the dealer’s card is between 3 and 6
• If you have a hard 9, double down when the dealer’s card is between 2 and 8
• If you have a hand with a value of 10, and the dealer has a 9 or lower
• Double down when your hand is valued at 11, if the dealer has an Ace or a card with the value of 10.

Commonly Asked Blackjack Tips Questions

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