The Best Blackjack Strategies To Try Out in 2024

Are you a regular on the top real-money blackjack sites? If you’re looking to refine your game plan, find new ways to lower the house edge, or even use suboptimal hands to your advantage, you're on the right page. Here, we cover everything you need to know about the basic blackjack strategy, provide you with in-depth charts, and provide other tips to turn you into a pro!

Getting Started: Why Use Blackjack Strategies?

In blackjack, most game variables are controlled entirely by luck because there’s no way to accurately predict which cards will be drawn by the dealer or the RNG software beforehand.

However, this beloved card game is a hybrid title that also involves elements of skill, knowledge of probability, and mathematics. As such, depending on how much time and effort you’re willing to invest into applying new blackjack tactics and strategies, you could optimise your game play.

A sound blackjack strategy can deliver results for both beginners and veterans. The goal is to help you make smarter decisions with the cards you’re dealt while guiding you on when to be aggressive or conservative, depending on the dealer’s hand. Applied correctly, some blackjack strategies can lower the house edge down to 0.5%, give you a predictable betting system to remember, and even help with bankroll management.

Blackjack Strategies Are Never 100% Effective

Whether you swear by a blackjack basic strategy or have even compiled your own cheat sheet for the game, you must know that there’s no magic tactic in existence that can ensure a win every time.

Although it’s possible to lower it, the house edge will always exist, meaning that strategies can only boost your winning odds and help you avoid losses. In addition, over the years, casinos have become increasingly aware of the most popular blackjack strategies. In fact, they actively discourage players from using them or deem them illegal altogether (e.g. card counting).

How To Play Blackjack

Blackjack, also known as 21, is the most played card game in the world, appealing to novice and seasoned gamblers alike due to its straightforward rules and simplicity. Because it’s a comparing card game, whether you play online or with a live dealer, your goal remains the same: win by creating a card total higher than the dealer’s hand, without exceeding 21.

If you wish to learn more about how to play blackjack, we have a dedicated article where we break down the core game principles in easy terms.

The Blackjack Basic Strategy

Before you can compile and master any casino games strategy, you have to gain a thorough understanding of the rules and possible outcomes. With blackjack specifically, first familiarise yourself with the decisions you can make depending on the cards you’re dealt, namely:

• Double down — You place another bet equal to the original one and receive an additional card. It’s only possible to double down once you’re dealt the initial two cards. After taking another card, you’re not allowed to hit, so you’ll have to stand. Only double down when you have a strong hand, like a card total of 9, 10, or 11 without an Ace. Never do it if the dealer has an Ace, because they’ll have higher chances of winning and the risk is not worth it.
• Hit — Ask for another card.
• Push — In this instance, you and the dealer have hands of equal value. Because there’s a tie, your bet will be returned to you.
• Split — If you have two cards of the same value, you can choose to split them into two separate hands by making another bet equal to the original one.
• Stand — Stick to your hand by not asking for additional cards.
• Surrender — Abandon your hand before the dealer reveals theirs, and get half of your wager back.

Now, your next step is to learn how to read a blackjack strategy table or chart. It’s important to mention that a basic blackjack strategy doesn’t require card counting, but you will have to put your memorisation skills to good use. If you have difficulties remembering everything, you can print the chart or open it in another browser tab when playing online.

A basic blackjack strategy is designed to prepare you for every possible outcome that may occur at the table. It involves a careful evaluation of the cards you hold, looking at the dealer’s upcard and trying to gauge the odds of either you or the dealer busting.

Because blackjack uses a standard deck of 52 cards, you can use this to your advantage, knowing that only 16 out of the total will be worth 10. As such, based on the face-up card the dealer receives at the beginning that the player knows the value of, you can make strategic moves.

Here are some tried-and-tested examples you can implement successfully on your next session, covering each possible game decision:

Our final piece of advice for you is to always avoid using the insurance bet, even if you have a strong hand of 19 or 20. This is an optional blackjack side bet you can use if the dealer receives an Ace as the upcard. The payout ratio for the insurance bet will be 2:1. However, over the long-haul, it’s a losing bet that can reduce your bankroll, as the payout is smaller than the likelihood of the dealer getting 21 or blackjack.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Charts

A blackjack strategy chart or cheat sheet is designed to give you a visual representation of the concepts we explained above. Furthermore, it will advise you in real time about the right move to make, depending on your hand and the dealer’s upcard.

On this page, we’ve included several blackjack cheat sheets that you can consult, which are quite easy to interpret. On the left column, you’ll find the total value of your hand. This can either refer to your two starting cards or any other combination you make along the way.

On the right, you’ll see the various possible values of the dealer’s upcard. You’ll find a corresponding position on the chart for each situation, so you always know when to hit, stand, split, double down, or surrender.

How To Master the Basic Strategy for Blackjack

It’s not enough to be well-versed in blackjack theory, have a deep understanding of the core game principles, or know the best card combos. The ultimate challenge that stands between you and becoming an expert at the basic blackjack strategy is the ability to learn it by heart.

Furthermore, you have to maintain self-control and discipline so you can apply it flawlessly despite the inherent pressure of the game. We’ve prepared some tips and tricks to aid with learning and remembering your chosen blackjack strategy.

• Play free blackjack first — It goes without saying: a risk-free environment is always the most appropriate to fine-tune any blackjack strategy. Playing in a demo format means you’ll have no time limits or financial pressure to worry about, so there’s no risk of incurring losses. Furthermore, the free-play version is compatible with a host of blackjack types, like Single-Deck Blackjack, Multi-hand Blackjack, Vegas Strip Blackjack, and many others. You’ll have plenty of time to consult your chart, and, as a bonus, you can also employ more advanced betting strategies such as the Martingale, 1-3-2-6, or card counting.
• Have the cheat sheet at the ready — Depending on your learning style, you can either print a paper copy of it, keep it on your phone, or open it in a separate browser tab. Whenever you’re not sure of your next move, you can then take a quick peek.
• Test your memory — You can create a small game for yourself, for example, write different blackjack hands for you and the dealer on flash cards and draw them out at random. Then, for each, mention the most appropriate strategy to see if your knowledge is up to par or if you need to re-check your chart.
• Use blackjack software to your advantage — You can use the various types of blackjack software available online as an additional training tool. These simulators are designed by professionals to train you on basic strategy, card counting, and even playing deviations. They’re also compatible with both web and mobile devices, so you can work on your skills from anywhere.
• If you’re still a beginner, don’t deviate from the chart — While you’re still learning, it’s best to stick to the blackjack strategy chart to a tee, and not let your emotions steer you away from it or determine your next move. Play deviations have a time and place, but they’re usually best used by pros. For instance, you may alter the basic blackjack strategy if the true count has changed (you calculate this by dividing the running count by the number of decks that haven’t been dealt yet).
• Don’t neglect the importance of bankroll management — If you’ve run into a winning streak playing blackjack on the top online casinos or hit a desired target profit, end the session and cash out. Always stick to a fixed budget whether you win or lose. Don’t let ambition get the best of you and, if your hand is weak with less than a 50% chance of winning against the dealer, it’s best to surrender. This way, you can at least keep half your wager.

Card Counting in Blackjack

Card counting is a relatively controversial blackjack strategy that’s more suitable for the pros, because it involves impeccable attention to detail and good memorisation skills.

The basic idea is to try to overcome the house edge by keeping a mental note of all low and high valued cards being dealt. Depending on the variation and format you’re playing (e.g. online blackjack or live blackjack), the house edge typically ranges between 1 and 2%. Whenever the player has the upper hand, he must bet more, and when the dealer does, he must do the opposite.

High-value cards such as 10, J, Q, K, and Ace are better for the player, so they provide you with an advantage, while low-value cards such as 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are better for the dealer. Then you have neutrals or cards with 0 values — 7, 8, and 9.

In card counting, you must assign a particular point value to each card. For example, because they’re fewer and get depleted faster, the cards that favour the player get assigned as ‘-1’. Those that favour the dealer get a value of ‘+1’, while neutrals get a ‘0’.

If the session begins and cards from 2 to 6 get dealt, you add +1 for each one to the total count. If neutrals are dealt (7, 8, or 9), the count doesn’t change. If 10, J, Q, K, and Ace are handed out, the count goes down by one for each.

The idea is to keep an accurate score of the cards dealt to calculate which are likely to follow, but also the remaining decks on the table. The remaining decks are called the running count. Then, you can calculate the true count by using a simple formula, namely divide the running count by the number of decks that haven’t yet been dealt. All the above is essential to lower the house edge.

To discourage card counters from achieving this purpose, however, many casinos either use multiple decks or even ban these players from their platforms. Theoretically, card counting is not illegal, but online casinos don’t want to lose money, so they will find ways to discourage it.

Combining the Basic Blackjack Strategy & Card Counting

If you have the right technical skills and want to improve your odds even more, you can implement a hybrid model and mix up the basic blackjack strategy with card counting. However, there are some important steps to follow to avoid making common beginner mistakes and be successful:

• Don’t start too soon — For this combination to work, you must know the basic blackjack strategy like the back of your hand first. It needs to truly become second nature. If a friend quizzes you on it, you need to answer correctly every single time without having to pause to think about it. If you’re not at this stage yet, keep grinding until you have all your bases covered. Otherwise, implementing this combo strategy too soon can lead to losses.
• Work your way up to it — Initially, you can try to keep your chart close and repeat the count in your head to see whether you can do both at the same time. Then, gradually increase the pressure. You can first try this with free blackjack and then move to a real-money casino because you need to be able to handle any distractions.

4-8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

The four-to- eight-deck blackjack strategy is quite different from the basic one we’ve expanded upon previously. It’s exemplified by two charts in which the top row of numbers corresponds to the dealer’s upcard, while the left column shows the total of your cards (hard totals, soft totals, pairs). All you have to do to apply it is find your hand on the left side, compare it with the dealer’s card, then see which action you should take.

There will be two charts to explore: one that applies if the dealer stands on a soft 17, and one if they hit on a soft 17. For each one, you’re directed on the appropriate move to make.

How To Win at Blackjack

In addition to the blackjack strategies we’ve already presented, we have even more tips to share that will help you prepare in advance, boost your chances of winning, and avoid common beginners’ errors.

1. Learn the blackjack rules — The goal of the game is to have a better card combination than the dealer’s, without busting. That means you don’t always need to hit 21 to win, just get as close to this number as possible before the dealer. If there’s a tie, you get your bet back.
2. Know the card values to perfection — In blackjack, the card values of K, Q, and J are always 10; Ace can be worth 1 or 11 points; and the rest of the cards have the numerical value listed on them. Suits don’t matter, nor do they have any bearing on the total score.
3. Progressive and negative betting systems both have risks — Although some players swear by the Martingale for blackjack just as much as they do for roulette, do remember that this system can deplete your bankroll incredibly quickly, because you need to double your bet after each loss. Other systems like Oscar’s Grind also have their shortcomings, because you do the opposite (double your bet after each win). That means you need a long, uninterrupted, and guaranteed winning streak for it to produce the kind of results you want.
4. Don’t use side bets — Depending on the blackjack table, it may allow different kinds of side bets like Insurance, 21-3 or Dealer Match. We advise you to avoid all of them, as they generally have a higher house edge than standard blackjack bets.
5. Online blackjack is better — Choosing an online casino for your blackjack needs as opposed to a land-based one can give you many additional advantages as a player. For instance, you may tap into game-specific promos like free chips or deposit bonuses. In addition, virtual tables have much lower limits, so they are accessible to budget players, too. However, most importantly, you can use cheat sheets and even custom blackjack charts much more easily.
6. Basic blackjack strategy is your friend — It can help you study probabilities and know how to play certain hands to your advantage. Using any sort of strategic play is much better than letting everything be at the mercy of Lady Luck. While you could struggle to remember every details from your chart at first, the more you play, the better you’ll become.
7. Ignore what others are doing — As opposed to poker, where it’s crucial to follow the non-verbal cues of the other participants to gain an advantage, with blackjack, we advise you to do the complete opposite. Stick to your strategy and don’t be swayed or influenced by how the other participants play their hands.
8. Don’t follow winning or losing streaks — All card deals are independent of each other and 100% random. Trying to find the logic or a connection between rounds on luck-based games like blackjack is a recipe for failure. Even if you’ve had a positive streak, don’t assume the next round will perpetuate this. Instead, take your profit when you’ve reached your target, or you risk giving it all back to the house.
9. Manage your bankroll effectively — We suggest keeping the bet amount at roughly 5% of your total allocated bankroll for that session. In general, opting for modest wagers can extend your sessions and better shelter you from losses.
10. Loyalty programmes can also benefit blackjack players — Many online casinos have loyalty programmes and VIP schemes based on points accumulation. Usually, table game bets also qualify, so you could earn passively playing your favourite blackjack variations. These points can be exchanged in the casino’s store for various bonuses (free spins, live casino offers, and so on), or help you achieve a higher tier.

Best Blackjack Strategy — Our Verdict

Blackjack is a truly unique addition to online casinos, appreciated by table game enthusiasts everywhere as it involves both luck and skill. This gives participants more wiggle room to optimise their play than online slots. It’s also entirely possible to improve your odds of winning if you study the outcomes and know how to play your hand effectively.

As a final takeaway point, successful blackjack strategies should always align with your budget and play style, but remember not a single one can ever guarantee a win on each session!

Blackjack Betting Strategy Sources

• How Stuff Works — Launched in 1998 by a college professor, the website aims to explain key concepts from science, technology, and entertainment, using in-depth guides.
• Quora — A knowledge sharing platform with millions of contributors, following a simple concept of user questions and community answers.
• Wikihow — This famous website provides its community with step-by-step guides to learning anything, including casino games and strategies.