Best Blackjack Strategies for Winning Online

One of the most popular card games in both land and online casinos, blackjack is incredibly easy to pick up.

Like most online casino table games, blackjack is largely a game of chance. There is not much you can do to control the value of the cards you get dealt. However, that doesn’t mean that strategy does not play a major role in improving your probability of winning a hand.

Unlike online poker or craps, there are no lengthy card combinations that need memorizing or complex casino tables. The goal of Blackjack is straightforward: finish closest to the value of 21 without going over, or busting.

Blackjack has been around since the 1700s, which means there has been plenty of time for casinogoers to practice and perfect their betting strategies.

Quick Blackjack Strategies to Improve Odds

Before diving into some of the more complex blackjack betting strategies, there are several simple systems you can implement into your game to improve your odds of winning hands more often. These are the fundamental strategies of the game that you should know before sitting down at an online blackjack table.

Apply these quick blackjack strategies to your game right away:

• Don’t bet more money than you can afford to lose.
• Don’t bet more than half your stack on a single wager.
• Don’t be afraid to split, especially if it is with Aces and 8s.
• Avoid using insurance and surrender due to their high house edge.
• Play blackjack online before heading to the casino.

Effective Blackjack Strategies for Winning

Due to how long the game has been around, there is no shortage of blackjack strategies that can be found online. However, five betting techniques stand above the rest when it comes to unlocking consistent winnings at the blackjack table.

Here are five effective blackjack strategies that I have used to win more often at the blackjack table.

Always Split a Pair of 8s and Aces

The first effective blackjack strategy that is worth diving into is the idea of always splitting a pair of 8s or Aces no matter what the dealer’s upcard (the card showing on the table) is.

You can “split” in blackjack when you have two cards with the same value. This allows you to play two hands at once and potentially have a larger payout. When you get dealt two 8s or two Aces, splitting is your best move.  The flexibility of Aces gives you more chances to win your hands, while 8s lets you cut your losses based on what the dealer’s upcard is.

Always Hit Ace-7 When the Dealer’s Upcard Is a 9, 10, or Ace

Classified as a blackjack strategy for soft hands, this technique says to always hit Ace-7 (soft 18) when the dealer’s upcard is a 9, 10, or Ace.

Despite soft 18 feeling like a strong hand, you are actually the underdog in this scenario when facing a 9, 10, or Ace upcard. Hitting in this scenario gives you the chance of drawing a 2, 3, or additional Ace which all but guarantees a win.

Split a Pair of 2s or 3s Against a Dealer’s 2 or 3 Upcard

Next on this list of more advanced blackjack strategies is that you should always be splitting a pair of 2s or 3s when up against a dealer 2 or 3 upcard.

In a single-deck game, splitting a pair of 2s or 3s when the dealer’s upcard is a 2/3 can dramatically increase your chances of winning.

Always Stand With a Pair of 9s Against a Dealer’s Upcard of 7

One of the common blackjack strategies is to split when you have a pair of 9s and the dealer is showing a 9 or less as their upcard. However, when the upcard is a 7, the strategy changes.

In this scenario, you want to stand pat and hold your 18. The chances of the dealer drawing a 10 as their second card is high, allowing your 18 to beat their 17. This obviously isn’t a foolproof strategy, but the odds suggest standing pat in this scenario is the most advantageous. You’ll win more money in the long term by standing pat in this situation.

Always Double Down on 10 When the Dealer’s Upcard is 9 or Less

Probably the most well-known Blackjack strategy out there, you are always supposed to double down on 10 when the dealer is showing an upcard of 9 or less. Doubling down is when you double your initial wager, greatly increasing your potential winnings should you win the blackjack hand.

According to the odds, you are the betting favorite when you hold a two-card value of ten against a dealer’s upcard of nine or less. With the odds slightly in your favor, you can take a calculated risk and double down to improve your potential winnings.

Always Double Down on a Hard 11

Last but not least on this list of simple blackjack strategies for casino play is always doubling down on a hard 11. A “hard” hand in Blackjack is any hand that does not contain an Ace. For example, a “hard 11″ would include a 5 and a 6, a 7 and a 4, etc.

As long as you are playing a single-deck game, you always win more money doubling down on a hard 11 as opposed to just hitting. The dealer’s upcard doesn’t matter in this scenario.

More Winning Blackjack Strategies for Card Players

The strategies listed above are just a small taste of the many tactics and techniques that have been developed over the years to improve one’s chances of winning at the Blackjack table.

Additional winning blackjack strategies include never playing a 6 to 5 blackjack game, standing on hard 16 against a dealer’s 10 upcard, never making the insurance bet, always doubling down on 8 against a dealer’s 5 or 6 upcard, and many more.

Continue exploring the many different online Blackjack betting techniques to maximize your chances of winning.

Blackjack Strategy Chart, Table, and Calculator

In addition to these blackjack strategies and systems, another good way to improve your chances of winning at the blackjack table is to utilize helpful resources such as charts, tables, and calculators.

Since blackjack has been around for so long, there is a “mathematically” correct move for each possible hand. These charts and tables can help show you the recommended action based on what cards are in your hand and what the dealer’s upcard is. It is not an exact science, but utilizing a chart such as this one below will give you a higher probability of winning your hand.

Refer back to this card and check out our how to play blackjack guide to feel even more confident at the blackjack table.

Combining the information on the charts provided with the strategies above is a great way to improve your odds of winning your blackjack hands more frequently.

Online Blackjack Strategy FAQs