From the gaming floor: Tricks and tips to improve your chances at winning at blackjack

The US Sun

25 January 2024

From the gaming floor: Tricks and tips to improve your chances at winning at blackjack

BLACKJACK remains the most popular online casino table game in the world, and the reason is simple: it's easy to learn, fun to play, and, when done correctly, is one of the lowest casino advantage games you can play.

I'll show you some simple tricks like using the correct basic blackjack strategy chart, some simple hands that trip up the average player, how to find the tables with the best odds to start with, a simple little trick to count cards, and how to use the casino's bonuses to take that very slight house advantage and see if you can't turn it in your favor.

Before you know it, you can play Blackjack like a pro.

��‍�� Before you play blackjack at an online casino

You need to be aware of bonuses and promotions when looking at online casinos. Many online casinos offer large initial deposit bonuses. Some offer promotions where you can get a no-deposit bonus just for signing up and beginning to play, and still others provide ongoing bonuses, often for slot play but sometimes for blackjack games.

For example, when signing up to a site to play blackjack, I'll weigh these offers carefully and consider the T&Cs to see if all offers are equal. You want to make sure that these offers include blackjack play and that they don't unduly penalize blackjack players with onerous playthrough requirements.

These bonuses are very important because the house advantage at blackjack can often be around 0.2%. Odds like that are close to a flip of a coin, so these bonuses can move the odds very much in my favor when using basic strategy and staying aware of the cards on the board.

�� How to pick the right blackjack game

Not all blackjack games are created equal. The game's basic rules can sometimes alter the house advantage as much as 10x against you. You want to be playing close to a 0.2% house edge and not at a 2% house advantage.

Avoid the 6/5 payout on blackjack games like the plague they are. Only play the 3/2 payout on natural blackjack games. The fewer the number of decks, the better. It is relatively easy to find single-deck games with 3/2 blackjack. Look for those.

You will want to be able to double after any two cards, and I always prefer it if the dealer stood on soft 17, but these aren't deal breakers. You want games that offer surrender, and if you can resplit aces, that is also great.

Google is your best friend here. Simply input the name and software developer of the game you are considering, followed by RTP. (return to player) This is the amount that will be returned to you on a $100 wagered. Look for games with a RTP of at least 99.4%

Personally, I love the new live dealer blackjack games where you can play against a real person streamed right to your phone or computer just as much as the next person. Still, the blackjack rules they offer are generally not as good as you can find on other games, and often the minimum bet is much higher.

�� Using the correct blackjack basic strategy chart

The only way to get to those outstanding RTP numbers is by using the best basic strategy for your particular game. A basic strategy chart is only for a very specific rule set. As the rules change, you need to use a different blackjack strategy chart because as the rules change, what you should do in different instances also changes.

Again, Google can help you pull up the correct basic blackjack strategy charts for the rule set you will play against. Or there are Blackjack Sites that will let you input the number of decks and the rules of the game and then print out the best Blackjack strategy chart for the game you are playing.

You have to use this blackjack strategy for it to work. Please consult the chart on each and every hand and play it as written, no hunches. If it is a blackjack game, you might play in a brick-and-mortar casino try and memorize the chart, though there is no rule against using a basic strategy chart on a live dealer table.

What to be aware of when playing online blackjack

Unlike live dealer games, almost all RNG blackjack games shuffle after every hand, almost like continuous shuffler machines in a land-based casino. It may say it uses eight decks, but those eight decks are shuffled when you finish the hand.

But if you play multiple hands on a single-deck game, you can still use a quick running count of the cards to help you make playing decisions. Card Vales of 2-6 are +1, ten value cards, and Aces are -1. This can be especially helpful with hands like Insurance, 16 against a dealer 10, or a player 12 against dealer 4. These hands are very close to being able to be played either way, so just a few hands exposed can tip the decision. Use basic strategy charts with counting indices if you wish to learn more.

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�� My five tips for blackjack players

I have a few simple blackjack tips to help you remember what's important.

1. Use a blackjack strategy chart

As blackjack tips go, this is number 1. Blackjack is pure math. To play it well, you need to use that math to make the best decisions with the information available. Thus, the basic strategy chart will keep the house edge as low as possible.

2. Only play games with a high RTP

The best blackjack strategies won't protect you against a game with bad rules. Playing blackjack against a 6/5 blackjack payout can quickly take you from a 99.65% RTP to a 98.3%.

What difference does a 1% change in RTP mean in the grand scheme? It means I'll lose an additional dollar for every ten $10 bets I make. Think about that over four or five hours of play.

3. Exploit bonuses and promo offers

Even the perfect blackjack strategy can't overcome the slight house advantage on even the best of these games.

But by using promotions, earning reward points, stacking tier credits, and banking comp dollars, you can usually find a way to come out at least even.

Throw in a juicy initial deposit bonus or refund on losses, and you may find yourself ahead.

4. Blackjack bankrolls are different

Because you can keep the house edge so low by choosing the right games and by using the best blackjack strategy charts for your particular game, your bankroll requirements are different than in a game like roulette, where, from a mathematical standpoint, you are best to bet once and hope for a big win before the house edge wears you down.

In the long run, I want to play longer to meet bonus requirements and earn comp points easily. Therefore, my initial bet should be at most 1/20th of my session bankroll and probably no more than 1/100th percent of your lifetime bankroll. This is so I can get enough play in to see that I am indeed playing a very close-to-even game.

5. Don't play blackjack side bets or blackjack variations

Blackjack side bets and game variations were all invented to take the very high return to the player and water it down.

Even the insurance bet is a bad bet unless you are card counting. Side bets like Pair Square can run as low as 76.4% RTP. That means they are keeping almost $25 of every $100 wagered!

The betting strategy for any blackjack variants like Spanish Blackjack or Blackjack Switch can look very different, and all of these games have a lower house edge than Blackjack. Far better to stay with just Blackjack.

Kevin Lentz

Kevin's journey in the world of casinos began as an advantage player, giving him a unique perspective on the industry. But he eventually earned three decades of experience in casino management and has successfully overseen diverse departments, including slots, table games, poker rooms, and sportsbooks within land-based casinos. Now, he channels his passion for all things related to blackjack, card counting, advantage play, and the dynamic realm of online casinos into his writing.