If you’re not sure how to play blackjack, you can follow our tips on how to stand, double down, split 8s, and surrender. These basic strategies can help you win more often in blackjack than you might think. Listed below are some of the best tips for winning in blackjack:
Doubling down
There are several situations when doubling down in blackjack is advantageous for players. In most cases, it is an excellent idea to double down when you are sure you can beat the dealer’s hand. When the dealer has a weak upcard, doubling down when you have a ten or an eleven will give you the best chance of winning the hand. This is an extremely obvious rule, but many players choose to ignore it anyway.
Insurance
Blackjack insurance sounds like a reasonable strategy if you are not an expert card counter. However, it does not protect your money and can cost you more in the long run. Blackjack insurance does not protect you from losing both your side bet and your main bet. Listed below are some ways you can win without Insurance in Blackjack. However, you should avoid insurance bets if you are not prepared for the game. For these reasons, it is best to learn effective Insurance strategy.
Splitting 8’s
While some gambling authors recommend hitting rather than splitting 8s, the inverse is true. By doubling after splitting, you will increase your action against the dealer. In blackjack, splitting 8s is particularly good when you are facing two or three strong upcards. The negative expectation of hitting after splitting an 8 is significantly lower than that of splitting against a weak dealer upcard. Regardless, you should always split an eight when it appears.
Surrendering
Blackjack surrendering is a game strategy that allows you to opt out of a blackjack hand if you feel that the odds are against you. You should only choose surrender if you are faced with a pair of eights. Splitting your cards is a better option than surrendering when you’re down to two cards of eight value. All the sites listed below allow you to play blackjack surrendering for free or for real money. Most of the sites offer only a late surrender option, but the top three have both options.
Hitting on a soft 17
There are certain situations where you should hit on a soft 17. These occur when the dealer has a hand worth less than seventeen, but not quite twenty. It is possible for the dealer to hit on a soft seventeen, but the odds are in your favor if you stand on a soft seventeen. However, if you are betting against the dealer, the house edge is two tenths of a percent higher than if you were using basic strategy.
European style blackjack rules
In European style blackjack rules, players are not allowed to split aces with their cards. The difference is significant, as splitting an ace adds to the house edge. However, a ten-value card next to an ace counts as a natural and counts as a multi-card total of 21. The player then gets even money on the split hand. The European style blackjack rules also make splitting aces more difficult.