Internet Casinos » Casino Strategy » Blackjack
Blackjack Tips
Blackjack
is a thinking man's game, as it requires the most
strategy of any
casino
game. Every time you are dealt a hand at the
blackjack table, you have to make a decision that
affects the outcome of the hand.
This is the exact opposite of, say, a slots machine, where you have no control at all after you spin the reels.
This page is going to give you some general blackjack tips, and then will provide a blackjack strategy chart that shows you exactly what to do every single hand. No matter what hand you are dealt, our chart will provide you with the best move you can make.
General Blackjack Strategy
Now we will discuss come common casino strategy that will improve your odds at the table:
Blackjack Bankroll Management
When you sit at a blackjack table, you should always have enough money to sustain your current betting patterns for as long as you plan to play. For example, if you plan to play for an hour, and are making $5 bets, you are going to need more than $25 because odds are you will have at least one five-bet downswing during your session.
We recommend using the following formula for calculating your blackjack bankroll:
So, if you were betting $5 per hand, playing at a rate of 30 hands per hour, and planned on playing for a total of three hours, you would need:
$5 x 30 x 0.2 x 3 = $90
By sitting with $90 you should be able to comfortably get through your three hour session without going bust or having to reload. Read more about casino bankroll management.
Blackjack Insurance
Players are allowed to take insurance when the dealer is showing an Ace. The insurance bet pays out 2:1, and you can only take insurance for up to 50% of your original bet. If the dealer does have a blackjack, then you break even on the hand. If the dealer doesn't have a blackjack, then you lose the insurance bet and play out the rest of the hand.
In short, insurance is a sucker bet, and you should never take it. The house edge on the insurance bet is 7.69%.
3:2 for Blackjacks
Another way to guarantee you are getting the best odds is to only play at blackjack tables that pay 3:2 for blackjacks. A lot of casinos choose to pay 6:5 for blackjacks, which drastically increases the house edge even though it only seems like a slight change.
Blackjack Strategy Chart
Now that you have our basic blackjack advice, we will provide you with our blackjack strategy chart, which teaches you how to play every single blackjack hand. This is extremely useful if you are playing online casino blackjack, because you can keep this page open and reference the chart while you play:
Simply compare your hand with the dealer's up card, then find the spot on the chart that corresponds to your situation. Then, follow the instructions listed for that situation.
By using the blackjack strategy chart above, you will reduce the house edge to under 1%.
If you would like to practice with our blackjack strategy chart, make sure to head over to Win Palace - our favorite online blackjack casino. Or, if you still would like to learn more about blackjack in general, read our blackjack rules guide.
