Blackjack Expert Strategy Tips

Reconsidering Insurance

You have most likely heard that it is never a good idea to take insurance when playing Blackjack. However, there may actually be some instances when it can be to your advantage. If the dealer is showing an Ace, you have been counting cards and the total tells you that there are numerous 10 value cards left in the shoe, then it may well be worth taking a risk on insurance. This becomes particularly true when the count reaches +4 and above.

16 Against 10: The Rule of 45

There are some scenarios where basic blackjack strategies fall apart such as if you are holding three or more cards that total 15 or 16 and the dealer has 10. Your hand consists mainly of low value cards and you need more low value cards to hit successfully, otherwise you risk going bust. The dealer though cannot go bust. In this scenario, it is always better to stand, even if it goes against your better judgement. This is very similar to The Rule of 45. It is the same principle but with a hand worth 16 containing a 4 or 5, against a dealer’s 10.

Consider Betting on Other Players’ Hands

This is not always possible, but some casinos do allow it. It involves buying the other player’s hand, and it is only advised if the player has blackjack and the dealer is showing an ace. Once you have bought the hand, you need to ensure that the dealer does not have blackjack, but following the basic strategy chart should allow you to profit from the hand.

Be Careful with Card Counting

First, you need to be aware of when card counting can be beneficial. Remember, it doesn’t work with games where the cards are shuffled between each round or in casinos that use continuous shuffling machines. When you do find a table where card counting can help, make sure that you have practised the technique first; otherwise, you could make some very expensive mistakes.

Combine Card Counting with Basic Strategy

A truly expert blackjack player will understand when they should break with the strategy charts. For example, basic strategy tells you not to split a pair of 10s as you will have an 84% to 85% chance of winning when keeping the hand as a 20. However, if you have been card counting and you know there are numerous 10s left in the deck, then there is a good chance that after a split at least one of your hands will end up with another 10. As such, it may be better to split. This is particularly true if the dealer also has a high hand, as they have a higher chance of busting.

Exploiting Splitting and Re-splitting

One of the problems with basic strategy charts is that it only tells you what to do with two cards against the dealer’s up card. If you split and re-split there is no advice. However, if you split a pair of cards and end up with the chance to re-split, then it is always advantageous to do so (when allowed). Most games will not allow the re-splitting of aces.

Knowing When to Hit with Multiple Cards

Some fairly complicated situations can arise when playing blackjack and it is not always easy to know when to hit. One such situation is when you have an ace and a low value card. If you then hit, receive more low value cards, and end up with Soft 18 against a dealer 10 card, then you may be tempted to stand. However, statistics show that standing on a Soft 18 with multiple cards in the hand can give the house an edge of 1% to 3%, so it is better to hit.

Use Multi-Hand Play with Care

Playing more than one hand at once can be a lot of fun and of course, gives you more chances to win. However, you should be careful when doing so. Card counting is already tricky and having to make decisions for multiple hands will only complicate things further. In addition, playing multiple hands costs more, so if you make mistakes it becomes even more costly.

Keep an Eye Out for Low Cards

If you are playing at a table, you are dealt low cards and the dealer is showing a low value card, then there is a good chance that many 10-value cards remain in the shoe, and as you know, 10 cards are some of the strongest. Therefore, when walking around a casino floor looking for a table to play at, it may be worth trying to spot one where there are already numerous low value cards on the table.

Make Use of Betting Systems

It is possible to use both positive and negative progression betting systems when playing blackjack. A positive system requires you to increase your bet when you win and reduce it when you lose. A negative system is the opposite of this, so you increase your bet when you lose and lower it when you win.

A betting system cannot guarantee that you will make a profit. However, it will help you reduce your losses, allowing your bankroll to go further and you to play for longer. There are many betting systems that can be applied to blackjack and it is worthwhile adopting one together with the basic strategy and more advanced strategies.

Take Time to Research

You should never join a blackjack game until you have carefully checked the table rules. You should be aware of which version of blackjack is being played, the house edge, and the table limits. This way you can identify if your preferred blackjack strategies are applicable to that table and if your bankroll is a suitable size for the table.

The Doctor Pepper Rule

The Doctor Pepper Rule is rarely explained in basic strategy guides. If the player has 12 and the dealer has 4, then the player 12 can be made up of four possible card combinations, 10 and 2, 9 and 3, 8 and 4, or 7 and 5.

If you hold a 12 that does not include a 10 card, then it means that there are a large number of 10s in the shoe and an increased chance of busting. As such, if you are holding a 10 and 2, then you can hit with a lower risk of drawing a 10 than if you have one of the other three combos.

Use the Surrender Option

Many versions of Blackjack allow players to surrender hands and only lose half of their bet. Sometimes this is the best possible option and it is important to know when. Normally, if the dealer shows an ace or ten and the player has 16, then surrendering is advisable. However, you should check the best strategy for the specific version of blackjack that you are playing.