Do you remember the introduction to the rules of blackjack from the previous article? Now that we are familiar with the basic rules of blackjack, we can move on to learning about card counting strategies.
Many avid online blackjack players have likely come across various strategies online, but how can you execute a strategy that truly enhances your chances of winning at blackjack?
In this article, we will delve into the details of card counting strategies for blackjack, and by the time you finish reading this, you’ll be equipped to significantly increase your winning odds!
Preparation for the Game
As someone who used to be a professional dealer, I have extensive experience executing card dealing procedures at the blackjack table, and I’ve witnessed many players’ successes and failures.
When it comes to blackjack, a game that requires skill and strategy, I’ve observed that it involves less reliance on luck compared to other online games like baccarat, roulette, or sic bo.
This means that players can enhance their winning odds through their own abilities. With a reduced element of luck, there is more room for skill and strategy, and players can use the actions available to them in the game to make informed decisions.
This is the fundamental concept we need to understand before diving into the card counting strategy. To increase our chances of winning at blackjack, we must first enhance our skills. So, let’s continue and discover how to do just that.
Blackjack Card Counting (1): Basic Playing Strategy (Player's Hand)
✦ 17 Points: 17 points are a tricky total, and it’s a situation where you might be unsure whether to hit or stand. I recommend that regardless of the dealer’s upcard, you should always choose to stand.
✦ (13, 14, 15, 16) Points: If the dealer’s upcard is (2-6), stand; if it’s (7-Ace), hit.
✦ 12 Points: If the dealer’s upcard is (4-6), stand; otherwise, hit.
✦ (10, 11) Points: If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, hit; otherwise, choose to double down.
✦ 9 Points: If the dealer’s upcard is (7-Ace), hit; otherwise, choose to double down.
✦ (2-8) Points: Always choose to hit.
Blackjack Card Counting (2): Ace Combinations Strategy (Player Receives Ace Combinations)
✦ (A8, A9) Combinations: With a total of (18, 19), you are already close to 21 points. At this point, hitting may lower your total, so I recommend choosing not to hit, regardless of the dealer’s upcard.
✦ (A7) Combination: If the dealer’s upcard is (Ace, 10), hit; otherwise, choose not to hit.
✦ (A2, A3, A4, A5, A6) Combinations: Always choose to hit.
Blackjack Card Counting (3): Splitting Pairs Strategy (Player Receives a Pair)
✦ (A, A): This situation involves significant variability. I recommend always splitting.
✦ (10, 10): With a total of 20 points, your winning odds are high. I recommend never splitting.
✦ (9, 9): If the dealer’s upcard is (Ace, 8), do not split; otherwise, choose to split.
✦ (8, 8): This is an awkward total, but I still recommend splitting.
✦ (7, 7): If the dealer’s upcard is (3-8), split; if it’s (9, 10, Ace), choose not to split.
✦ (6, 6): If the dealer’s upcard is (3-7), split; if it’s (8-Ace), choose not to split.
✦ (5, 5): Even if you split, it’s difficult to gain an advantage, so I recommend never splitting.
✦ (4, 4): If the dealer’s upcard is (6, 7), split; otherwise, choose not to split.
✦ (3, 3): If the dealer’s upcard is (3-8), split; if it’s (9, 10, Ace), choose not to split.
✦ (2, 2): This pair doesn’t offer any advantage, so I recommend never splitting.
Blackjack Card Counting (3): Splitting Pairs Strategy (Player Receives a Pair)
✦ (A, A): This situation involves significant variability. I recommend always splitting.
✦ (10, 10): With a total of 20 points, your winning odds are high. I recommend never splitting.
✦ (9, 9): If the dealer’s upcard is (Ace, 8), do not split; otherwise, choose to split.
✦ (8, 8): This is an awkward total, but I still recommend splitting.
✦ (7, 7): If the dealer’s upcard is (3-8), split; if it’s (9, 10, Ace), choose not to split.
✦ (6, 6): If the dealer’s upcard is (3-7), split; if it’s (8-Ace), choose not to split.
✦ (5, 5): Even if you split, it’s difficult to gain an advantage, so I recommend never splitting.
✦ (4, 4): If the dealer’s upcard is (6, 7), split; otherwise, choose not to split.
✦ (3, 3): If the dealer’s upcard is (3-8), split; if it’s (9, 10, Ace), choose not to split.
✦ (2, 2): This pair doesn’t offer any advantage, so I recommend never splitting.
Blackjack Card Counting (4): Insurance Strategy
We all know that when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, the blackjack game activates the insurance mechanism.
This is because the probability of the dealer having a 10-point card as their face-down card is relatively high, which means there’s a significant chance of the dealer getting a blackjack.
When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, the dealer will ask each player at the table if they want to “buy insurance.” According to the rules of blackjack, players must pay half of their initial bet as an insurance wager.
If the dealer indeed gets a blackjack as expected, players will receive a payout at 2 to 1 odds. However, if the dealer doesn’t get a blackjack, the insurance wager is lost, and the game continues to the next round.
The insurance strategy in blackjack is crucial because it determines when it’s appropriate to buy insurance. It answers the question of “when should you buy insurance against an Ace?”
While every player’s choice may differ, it’s recommended to assess the situation based on probabilities and advantages. One key aspect to consider is the number of “10-point cards” or “face cards” in play.
These cards are critical in determining the outcome of a blackjack game, and this is a core concept in blackjack card counting strategy. Since forming a blackjack hand often requires the presence of 10-point cards, many hand combinations rely on them.
Therefore, when you encounter a dealer’s Ace and consider buying insurance, take a moment to think about the current count of 10-point cards in play before deciding whether to invest in insurance.
Blackjack Card Counting (5): Surrender Strategy
In the rules of blackjack, most physical locations allow players to surrender without restrictions based on their hand. This means that regardless of the situation, players can choose to surrender and take back half of their bet for that round.
Under what circumstances should you be willing to lose half of your bet by surrendering? Simply put, when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, it becomes a critical situation in the blackjack card counting strategy.
When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, only if you have “blackjack, a regular 21, or 20 points” should you choose not to surrender. For all other situations, it’s recommended to surrender.
The reason is straightforward: when an Ace pairs with a 10-point card, 9-point card, or 8-point card, the total is strong. Therefore, after the insurance stage, it’s advisable to surrender for all situations other than the three mentioned earlier.
Conclusion
The five blackjack card counting strategies discussed here revolve around understanding concepts rather than following a specific betting system like the baccarat roadmaps.
Blackjack emphasizes comprehending the game’s flow and process rather than adhering to a fixed betting pattern. If you think that improving your blackjack winning odds is complete with this knowledge, you are mistaken.
This serves as the foundation of blackjack strategy. If you want to learn more about blackjack card counting strategies or unique techniques, please continue following this series of articles.
By following my guidance, you’ll be able to raise your blackjack winning odds to a level that even you might find hard to believe. Thank you for reading patiently, and I’ll see you in the next article!
