Interested in playing online Blackjack? We’re not surprised. Blackjack is easily one of the most famous and widely known casino games, if not the most popular. However, if you want this game to be both a fun time and bring you some extra cash, you need to employ a blackjack strategy that gives you an advantage. Knowing what to do with different hands in certain situations can be the difference between your bankroll staying in the black or creeping into the red. No worries, though – basic blackjack strategies are easy to learn and, well, basic. Follow these tips and not only will blackjack be easy and exciting, it’ll help you increase your chances of winning.
1. Don’t split 5’s and 10’s
Whether online or live, if you get a pair of 5’s or a pair of 10’s (including face cards), you’ll be invited to split them. While it might seem like a great idea – hey, now you have two chances to beat the dealer instead of just one! – it really isn’t.
When you have two 5’s, you’re already at ten, a little under halfway to a winning hand. There are four times the number of cards valued at ten in the deck than other cards, since the 10’s and face cards are all worth ten. This means you’ve got a higher chance of getting close to a winning hand if you keep those 5’s together.
Same thing goes with the 10’s. It’s tempting to split them and try for two winning hands. But you’re already holding the second-best hand in the game. So it’s a lot riskier to split that up and hope for the best than it is to keep them together and be almost guaranteed to win the hand.
So, whenever you have two 5’s or two 10’s don’t split them. Hit or double down on the 5’s (depending on what the dealer has) and always stand on the 10’s and you’ll have a better chance at a solid hand.
2. You don’t need insurance
Whenever the the dealer’s first up card is an ace, you can place an insurance bet. This means you’re betting an additional amount of half your original bet that the dealer will have a natural Blackjack – you’re pretty much hoping that the second card will be a face card. So if your original bet was $10, you place $5 on insurance. If the dealer does have a natural Blackjack, you get your $10 winnings, but you lose your original bet. So, you push. If the dealer doesn’t produce 21, you still have a chance to beat him with your hand. Sounds good, right?
Well, the likelihood that you win your insurance bet and the dealer has a natural Blackjack is actually 9:4. So, if you played the insurance bet 130 times, you’d win 40 times and lose the other 90. Which pretty much means losing money in the long run, which is obviously something you don’t want to do. Take our advice – don’t go for the insurance.
3. Study a basic blackjack strategy chart
I know that it sounds like a pain in the ass, but here’s my biggest recommendation: get on your computer, open online Blackjack at Planet 7 Casino online in one window and a basic blackjack strategy chart in another, and play. It’s going to be slow at first, which sounds irritating. But it will help your gameplay incredibly in the long run. Seriously. If you’re even a little serious about earning some cash while you play, you need to know what the best move is in each situation, and studying the chart while you play is the best way to do it.
You don’t have to memorize the whole thing. Because the same situations pop up continually it’s easy to get the hang of it when you’re playing. If you get a 13 or 14, just remember to stand if the dealer has lower than a 7, and hit for every other number. Easy. Obviously, this method is seriously frowned on if you’re playing live Blackjack. But if you remember the chart well enough it will come in handy even if you’re not staring at it.
The best basic blackjack strategies summarized:
- Don’t split 5’s and 10’s
- You don’t need insurance
- Study a basic blackjack strategy chart
Now, if you’re ready to put these basic Blackjack strategies into practice, we have another recommendation for success. Head over to Planet 7 Casino and play Blackjack online for free before playing for cash. That’s right – for. free. We know we’re pretty much crazy for giving you these awesome tips AND letting you test them out before laying any real money on the line, but we just roll that way. We think you’ll like it.
