Winning with a Blackjack Strategy

Unlike other gambling games, in Blackjack the advantage that the house has over the player is small. This game is all about skill and playing with a good strategy. A foolproof strategy can bring the house edge down to zero. When creating your own strategy there are a lot of things to think of, but everybody must begin from the basic strategy that is shown here. Basic strategy is the starting point for all more complex winning Blackjack strategies. I have also pointed out some other things to take into consideration while coming up with a winning Blackjack strategy.

Seating Position
Before beginning to play you must first pick a seat at the Blackjack table. The seat you pick may make the difference between winning and losing. The first base seat is the one on the far left of the dealer and is the first seat to be dealt to. The third base seat is the one on the far right of the dealer and is the last seat to be dealt to.

This is the seat to pick as it gives you the most control over the game. The player that sits there can influence the result of a game. A poor player can lose the game for all the other players, but a good player can win the game for all the players at the table. This is also the best seat if you can count cards. Because this is the last seat to get cards you can see what cards are dealt out and what cards are still in the game.

Basic Blackjack Strategy
The charts below will help you in your decision making. It will tell you when to hit, stand, double down or split your hand. The letters in the charts have the following meanings:

• S=stand,
• H=hit,
• D=double down,
• DS=double down if possible or stand

Basic strategy is a good starting point. Winning is not a guarantee if you only use basic strategy. There are a few other things that you can add to your basic strategy in order to get an advantage.

Card counting is the foremost strategy to use next to your basic strategy. The MIT Blackjack team won millions by card counting.

So you are on a winning streak. Do you usually keep track of these things? If you do, then place large wagers. If not, do not get carried away and forget about basic strategy. Betting high in this case will only increase the house's edge.

Cards in Blackjack are sorted in two categories: high cards (10's, Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces) and low cards (all cards form 2's to 9's). A deck in which the low cards have been dealt out is favorable for the player, as his chances to get a Blackjack are high. A deck in which low cards have been dealt out is more favorable for the dealer, as the player has more chances to bust.

There are several difficult hands in Blackjack. For example what should you do when your card total is 16, and the dealer's face up card is a ten or a ten valued one? In order to win you need to get a 4 or a 5. So if your total of 16 contains 4's or 5's, hitting is not an option. The statistical chances of getting a 4 or a 5 are very low.

What do you do if the dealer's face up card is a 6? In this case his statistical chances of busting are great. All you have to do is not bust yourself. This is a good time to double down or increase your wager if you know what cards are left in the game.

What do you do if the dealer's face up card is a 7 or higher? In this case his chances of hitting an 18, 19 or even 20 are statistically high. This is not good for the player. He will feel forced to beat the dealer's hand and will probably bust while trying to get a 21. Counting cards is of great help now, but if you aren't counting cards then just play conservatively.

Betting Strategy
The Martingale strategy is a common and useful one, and it is especially effective if you are a good card reader. This strategy is rather simple. All you have to do is double your wager every time you lose a hand. The only drawbacks are that you need a big bankroll and the table must have a high betting limit. When combined with card counting this strategy is practically flawless.

Start with a small bet at first. Something like a $5 bet. Do not bet more than $100. While you play keep counting cards and make sure not to get caught. If the deck is favorable (and you know it is because you're counting cards) place large wagers. If not, then play normally. As you win and increase your bankroll you can also increase your wagers.

This strategy is especially effective as it does not give you away for a card counter. You will be barred from a casino if they realize that you are a card counter. But thanks to this strategy that is no longer an issue. The casino will think you are just playing according to a system. System players usually lose to the house, so the pit boss won't bother you. If only they knew that your constant winning is because you're card counting.