For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume that you’re already reasonably familiar with offline and online blackjack but aren’t quite sure how to play the game properly. To set you on your way, here are a few very, very basic strategies that should improve your understanding and increase your chances of winning.
Basic Pair Splitting Strategy
Pair splitting is one of the simplest blackjack strategies and is widely used for both bricks-and-mortar and online blackjack games. Basically, you’re allowed to split an identical pair and receive an extra two cards, thereby doubling your bet. You’ve then got an extra opportunity to beat the dealer’s hand.
Irrespective of the dealer’s hand, you’ll definitely want to split eights and aces. Splitting aces is advisable because a deck contains more 10-value cards than any other- thus you’ve got a pretty fair chance of hitting at least one 21.
Splitting eights is usually a good idea because it’s much easier to play two hands of eight as opposed to a single hand of 16.
Never, ever split tens though. This is a newbie mistake that’s the cause of silent mirth among most seasoned players. A pair of tens means you’ve got a very good hand. However, if you split them you’ll need at least an ace to better it.
Avoid splitting fives and fours – Doing so will likely leave you with a less valuable hand. This is especially the case with two fives which actually constitute a solid starting hand.
When to Hit
Should your hand have a value of 8, then hit regardless of the card shown by the dealer. Given the number of 9 and 10 value cards in the deck, you’ve got a reasonable chance of attaining a solid hand.
When to Stand
Stand on totals of 17, 19 and 20 and resist the temptation of hitting for another card – it’s just not worth the risk. And if the dealer shows a card of 6 or more and you’ve got a hand of at least 13, standing is probably the best option.
Doubling Down
Doubling down allows you to double your bet in the middle of hand in exchange for an extra card. But exercise caution before committing because should you receive a low card, you won’t be able to do so again. Aim to double down if:
- Your cards total 9 and the dealer shows cards between 2 and 6.
- You’re dealt an ace and a 5, 6 or 7 and the dealer show cards between 2 and 6.
- You’re dealt a hard 10 or 11
Insurance Side-Bet
This option is available when the dealer shows an ace. Should you choose to take insurance, you’ll have to part with half of your stake money and will be paid 2:1 if the dealer lands a blackjack. Our advice would, therefore, be to avoid this particular side-bet altogether, unless of course you’re adept at counting cards and anticipate a 10.