Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the history of gambling. Its simplicity makes it one of the easiest games to learn, while its depth offers endless possibilities for skilled players. With Hollywood films adding to it’s allure, blackjack remains a favourite for both casual players and advantage gamblers.
In this guide, we will cover:
- The Rules of Blackjack
- Why Playing Blackjack Can Give You an Edge
- How to Profit Long-Term Playing Blackjack
- The Best Betting Strategies for Blackjack
- Where to Find Advantage Play Offers
What Are The Rules Of Blackjack?
The objective of blackjack is very simple…
You must get closer to the number 21 then the dealer. If your hand goes above the number 21 then you have “bust” your hand and the dealer wins. If your total hand number is closer to 21 then the dealer, you win your bet. Less then the dealer, your bet is lost.
Card Values: Number cards are worth their face value, face cards are worth 10, and Aces can be 1 or 11.
Initial Deal: Both the player and dealer are dealt two cards. One of the dealer’s cards is face-down.
After this, you are allowed to do a few things…
- Stand – Keep your hand as it is.
- Hit – Be dealt another hand.
- Double – Double your bet and be dealt another hand.
- Split – If you hold two cards of the same number you can split your initial two cards. This doubles your bet however it is split across two pairs of hands.
Dealer Actions: After the player finalizes their hand, the dealer reveals their face-down card and plays according to house rules.
Pro Tip: Familiarise yourself with optimal blackjack strategy charts to maximise your odds. You can find a comprehensive chart here.
Why Playing Blackjack Can Give You An Edge:
Blackjack is one of the favoured casino games among sharp casino players and advantage gamblers due to its high RTP.
RTP is short for return to player. All casino games have an inbuilt probability for the amount that they will return to the player.
For example, if an online slot has a listed RTP of 95% then it will pay back to the player 95% of what it takes (on average). To simplify this for every £100 a 95% RTP slot takes from a player it will pay the player back on average £95. This is how all casino games work and why casinos make money in the long run. They have a built-in edge against the casino players.
Blackjack, when played optimally, boasts an RTP of 99.5%, meaning the casino’s edge is just 0.5%. This makes it one of the most player-friendly games. With bonuses and cashback offers, the RTP can even exceed 100%, flipping the edge in the player’s favour.
However, if a casino offers a bonus or cashback to players that RTP can go above 100%. When this happens the edge flips over to the player rather than the casino and it actually becomes profitable to play.
How You Can Profit Long Term Playing Blackjack
There are two proven ways to profit long-term playing blackjack.
- Card Counting
- Advantage Play
Card Counting…
Card counting is a technique that is used in live casinos. Out of the two blackjack betting strategies that we will discuss, card counting is the more complex one.
The premise of card counting is that high cards (Aces, 10s, and 9s) benefit the player. Low cards (2s,3s,4s,5s, etc.) benefit the dealer. Basic card counting assigns a value of positive, negative or zero to card. When a card is dealt the value adjusts. Low cards increase the count and high cards decrease the count.
When the count is high, it is more likely the player will be dealt a good card (Ace, 10s or a 9s). This is when card counters increase their bet size as the edge is on the side of the player.
Card counting is not a simple blackjack betting strategy to learn, however, if you put in the time it can be learnt. Our focus is this article will be on the second strategy. This is much easier to learn and also very profitable. It is the strategy that I would suggest learning and taking advantage of first!
Best Betting Strategies for Blackjack:
Here are two essential strategies to improve your chances of winning:
Basic Strategy
Basic strategy is a mathematically derived set of decisions that minimize the house edge. It tells you when to hit, stand, double down, or split based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard.
- Example: Always split Aces and 8s but never split 10s.
- Chart: Download a strategy chart here and keep it handy while playing.
Progressive Betting
While not a guaranteed way to win, progressive betting involves increasing your wager after wins or losses. However, this should come with a caution. Progressive systems can be risky and should only be used with a strict budget…
Examples include:
- Martingale System: Double your bet after every loss to recover previous losses.
- Paroli System: Increase your bet after every win to capitalise on winning streaks.
Advantage Play in Blackjack:
Advantage Play is my preferred method of making money from playing blackjack. This strategy involves using casino sign-up offers, cash back or recurring offers to make a long-term profit. It is a very simple process to learn and can be extremely profitable
All you have to do is find somewhere that provides optimal blackjack strategy charts and follow them. Here is a link that provides optimal blackjack strategy charts.
The easiest way to show this is with an example!
Pokerstars Casino Cashback Offer – Blackjack Strategy
- Sign Up To Pokerstars via Topcashback
- Wager £30 playing perfect blackjack strategy (expected to lose £0.15 long term at 99.5 RTP.)
- Get £25 cashback credited after you have signed up and completed wagering.
The mathematics behind this offer (Why it is profitable!)
£25 (cashback) – £0.15 (Expected Loss Wagering £30 On Blackjack) = £24.85 (Expected Profit)
This is a prime example of how easy it can be to make money playing blackjack. Using a very simple cashback offer we can expect to make close to £25 profit with very little effort and time!
The important thing to remember about advantage play is that whilst you won’t win every single time. If the mathematical edge is in your favour via some form of bonus. Then you will make money over the long run!
How To Find Advantage Play Offers
If you are looking to find similar bonus offers that can provide you with an edge against the casinos. My recommendation is to take a look at Oddsmonkey.
Oddsmonkey provide a service which focuses on all aspects of advantage gambling, including sports betting strategies such as matched betting. The service pinpoints all of the best casino offers available and gives you detailed advice on the optimal strategy to use to make the most profit.
FAQs About Blackjack Betting Strategy…
Q: What is the best betting strategy for blackjack?
A: The best strategy combines basic strategy with advantage play techniques to minimise losses and exploit bonuses.
Q: Is card counting illegal?
A: Card counting is not illegal but is frowned upon by casinos. They may ask players suspected of counting to leave or ban them from playing blackjack.
Q: Can you win consistently at blackjack?
A: Yes, with optimal strategy and advantage play offers, you can achieve long-term profitability. However, the casinos will eventually stop you from playing if you are.
Q: How does card counting work?
A: Card counting tracks the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck, allowing players to adjust bets when the deck favours them.
Q: What is the difference between basic strategy and progressive betting?
A: Basic strategy focuses on mathematically optimal moves for every hand based on your cards and the dealer’s upcard. Progressive betting, on the other hand, adjusts your bet size after wins or losses, aiming to maximise streaks or recover losses, but it doesn’t influence the house edge.
Conclusion:
Blackjack offers a unique combination of simplicity and skill, making it one of the most rewarding casino games. Whether you’re using basic strategy, card counting, or advantage play, there are countless opportunities to reduce the house edge and turn the odds in your favor.
Ready to start winning? Sign up for Oddsmonkey and discover the best blackjack offers today!