Blackjack Basic Strategy Guide

When it comes to staples of the online casino space, one game which has stood the test of time since being created centuries ago is blackjack. This classical card game is a relatively straightforward game, something which has likely contributed to its overall popularity. However, there are actually a couple of things that could potentially help you and alter your gameplay at the table when trying your hand at blackjack. Consequently, at OddsMonkey, we have compiled all of the basics as well as some handy tips into a blackjack strategy guide, something that breaks down all the relevant intricacies of the game.

How Does Blackjack Work

Before we actually delve into any tips or blackjack strategies, we must first explain how exactly the game of blackjack works in general. The overall objective of this card game is to try and get a hand value as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. In the process, players will also aim to get a higher hand value than the dealer, with the player playing with their hand against the dealer’s.

At the beginning of each round of blackjack, the player chooses their stake, and from here, they are dealt 2 up-facing cards. The dealer also gives themselves 2 cards; however, only 1 of these is upturned. From here, the player has a number of decisions they can make in order to try and make their hand value more favourable, and if they beat the dealer, they win the round. However, if the card hand exceeds 21, the player’s initial wager will be lost.

Blackjack Betting Options 

As we have just mentioned, there are a number of different decisions a player can make when playing blackjack, with these deciding how a round plays out. These options are as follows:

• Hit: Requesting another card to add to the player’s hand.
• Stand: Refusing any additional cards, choosing to stick with the current hand.
• Double Down: Receiving one final card whilst doubling the stake in the process.
• Split: Splitting a hand into two separate hands should the first 2 dealt cards match.

There are also a number of side bets players could choose to place stakes on as well, with the most common ones featured in blackjack being referred to as ‘21+3’ and ‘Perfect Pairs’. The first of these takes the player’s 2 cards and the dealer’s 1 up-facing card to construct a 3-card poker hand, whereas the latter simply relates to whether the player’s hand contains a pair of matching cards.

Blackjack Strategy Tips 

Now that you have a basic understanding of how blackjack works and all of the betting options included in the game, it is time to get onto some blackjack strategy tips. These are relatively straightforward to understand; however, taking these into consideration could help you make more informed decisions when playing this card game.

When To Stand

Knowing when to stand is one of the key components of any blackjack strategy. The general rule of thumb when it comes to playing blackjack is to stand when your hand total is equal to 17 or higher. Most forms of blackjack force dealers to hit on 16 but to stand on 17, and bearing this fact in mind could be pivotal to your decisions.

When it comes to aces, these can either have a card value of 1 or 11. If posing as a ‘1’ in a hand, this is referred to as a soft hand. If the player’s hand is a soft 18 and the dealer’s up card is either a 9, 10 or ace, standing is more favourable. If the hand is a soft 19 or higher, though, standing should be chosen regardless.

When To Double Down 

In terms of doubling down, knowing when is optimal to do this is another important factor in your blackjack strategy. If your initial card hand is valued at 10 or 11 whilst the dealer’s hand is between 2 and 9, doubling down is optimal.

When To Split

As we have already mentioned, splitting is another betting option in blackjack, and understanding when and when not to do this also ties into your overall blackjack strategy. If dealt a pair of aces or 8’s, splitting is preferable. 

If ever dealt a pair of 10s, players should never split as the hand value of 10 is very strong. Splitting any other pairs could also be considered; however, this should only be done if the dealer’s up card is weak, valued between 2 and 7. It is worth noting when splitting that doing this also requires the player’s stake to double, with this being something you should also factor into your blackjack strategy too.

Avoiding Side Bets 

Although we mentioned that there are side bets included in blackjack, one thing you can actually incorporate into your blackjack strategy is avoiding these completely. Despite these presenting higher odds than the base game, these essentially carry a higher house edge, something which could potentially affect your more strategic approach in both the long and short run.

Learn Blackjack Strategy With OddsMonkey

If you are looking to delve deeper into blackjack strategy as a whole, we here at OddsMonkey have you covered with a collection of comprehensive resources and tools. From our dedicated blackjack cheat sheet to our blackjack strategy calculator, all of these things can be used with our basic guide in order to ensure your gameplay decisions are as informed as they can be.

Should you be someone who delves into the world of casino matched betting as well, we even have a page dedicated to matched betting casino offers and an expected value calculator that can be used hand in hand when playing blackjack. This can potentially help you get the most out of any bonuses you have at your disposal and is a more strategic approach to playing table games as a whole.