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15 of the Best Blackjack Strategies, Blackjack Strategy: Games With 4 To 8 Decks in Canada

Blackjack Strategy: Games With 4 To 8 Decks in Canada

Historically, a blackjack hand has always been paid at 3 to 2 odds. For example, if you bet $10 and you have an (untied) blackjack, you will be paid $15 in winnings. Nowadays, many casinos pay a winning player’s blackjack at only 6 to 5 odds. (A $10 wager would win you only $12 in a 6 to 5 game.) The house edge increases by about 1.45% in a single-deck game with 6 to 5, moreover, if 6 to 5 is offered in a double- or multi-deck game, the house edge escalates to greater than 2%. Your best strategy is to play only blackjack games that offer a 3 to 2 blackjack payoff. Always double down on hard 11 against dealer’s ace, soft 19 (A-8) against dealer’s 6, and A-7 against dealer’s 2

15 of the Best Blackjack Strategies

Blackjack Strategy: the 15 best strategies

If you’re serious about winning more when you play blackjack, then I encourage you to utilize the following Best Blackjack Strategies I’m about to share with you.

Note: The following strategies can be used in all games unless stated otherwise. The strategies discussed below also assume you are a recreational player, and not a card counter.

Abbreviations used in this article are:
S17 = Dealer must stand on soft 17
H17 = Dealer must hit soft 17
DAS = Doubling down after pair splitting is allowed
NDAS = Doubling down after pair splitting is not allowed

STRATEGY #1: ALWAYS DOUBLE DOWN ON A HARD 11

You’ll always win more money if you double down on hard 11 against any dealer’s upcard vs. hitting in all games, with one exception. If you are playing a multi-deck game where the rules specify the dealer must stand on soft 17, you are slightly better off hitting against a dealer Ace rather than doubling down.

STRATEGY #2: ALWAYS SPLIT A PAIR OF 8s AND ACES

You should always split a pair of 8s and Aces regardless of what the dealer’s upcard is. Unfortunately, many players won’t split with a pair of 8s when the dealer’s upcard is a 9, 10, or Ace. They reason that because they are a big underdog in this situation, why bet more money by splitting? What they don’t understand is that you are less of an underdog by playing two hands, each starting with an 8 (by splitting), than you are playing one hand of 16 (and hitting). In other words, you will lose less money in the long run by splitting 8s against a 9, 10, or Ace than by hitting hard 16. Bottom line: Always splitting 8s and Aces is your best strategy because in the case of Aces, it results in significant gains for the player; and for 8s, it will, based on the dealer’s upcard, allow you to cut your losses or win more money.

(Note: If surrender is offered and you are playing in a multi-deck game with H17, or a double-deck game with H17 and NDAS, your best strategy is to surrender the pair of 8s vs. the dealer’s Ace rather than splitting them.)

STRATEGY #3: NEVER SPLIT A PAIR OF 5s OR TENS

A pair of 5s is also a hard 10 and you are always better off taking a one-or-more-card draw to a 10 than splitting the 5s and playing two hands, each starting with a 5. Even though splitting 10s is much more often than not a winning play, keeping them together as 20 is an even greater winning play in all circumstances.

STRATEGY #4: ALWAYS HIT A HARD 12 AGAINST A DEALER’S 2 OR 3 UPCARD

This is a situation where most players chicken out and stand on their 12 because they fear busting. The bottom line is this: against a dealer’s 2 or 3 upcard, you will lose money in the long run whether you stand or hit; however, you will lose less money by hitting (even at the risk of busting some of the time), which is why it is the best strategy.

STRATEGY #5: ALWAYS HIT ACE-7 (SOFT 18) WHEN THE DEALER’S UPCARD IS 9, 10, OR ACE

Players mistakenly believe that a hand that totals 18 is a sure win, which is why they stand on soft 18 (A-7), especially when the dealer is showing a “strong” upcard (e.g., 9, 10, or Ace). The facts are these. When you hold an A-7 against dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace, you are the underdog whether you stand or hit; however, you are less of an underdog if you hit A-7. This is because if you draw a small card (e.g., Ace, 2, or 3) you will end up with a pat hand that’s higher than 18, which will improve your chances of winning at blackjack. And if you draw any of the four ten-valued cards, you do no harm to the hand. Bottom line: Your best strategy is to always hit A-7 when the dealer shows a 9, 10, or Ace with a goal of getting to either a soft 19–21 or a hard 17 through 21.

STRATEGY #6: ALWAYS DOUBLE DOWN ON 10 WHEN THE DEALER’S UPCARD IS 9 OR LESS

You are the favorite when you hold a two-card 10 against any dealer’s upcard of 9 or less, which is why doubling down is your best strategy. It’s a simple rule to remember: always double down on 10 when the dealer’s upcard is 9 or less.

STRATEGY #7: IF THE RULES SPECIFY THAT DEALER MUST HIT SOFT 17, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS DO THE FOLLOWING:

Always double down on hard 11 against dealer’s ace, soft 19 (A-8) against dealer’s 6, and A-7 against dealer’s 2

If you are playing an H17 game, the above are the three doubling strategy changes you should make vs. the same game with S17.

(Note: There are surrender strategy changes as well. You’ll find them in Chapter 3 of my Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide.)

STRATEGY #8: ALWAYS DOUBLE DOWN A-2 THROUGH A-7 WHEN THE DEALER’S UPCARD IS A 5 OR 6

In all games, you stand to win more if you always double down an A-2 through A-7 (i.e., soft 13 through 18) when the dealer’s upcard is a 5 or 6, making it the best strategy.

(Note: The range of dealer’s upcards where you should double down with soft 13 through 18 varies depending upon the number of decks being used and the playing rules. For example, in a double-deck game with H17, if you were dealt an A-3, you should not only double down when the dealer’s upcard is 5 or 6 but also against a 4. But in all cases when the dealer’s upcard is a 5 or 6, always double down with A-2 through A-7.)

STRATEGY #9: ALWAYS STAND WITH A PAIR OF 9s WHEN THE DEALER’S UPCARD IS A 7

Most players know to split a pair of 9s when the dealer’s upcard is 9 or less. Where they fumble the ball is when the dealer shows a 7. In this case, your best strategy is to stand because you’ll win slightly more money than splitting. One way to remember this best strategy is as follows. There is a good chance that the dealer will have a ten in the hole since there are four times as many ten-value cards in a deck than other ranks. Therefore, when the dealer’s upcard is a 7, she often has a pat 17. Your pair of 9s, which is an 18, would beat her potential 17, which makes standing the better play vs. hitting.

STRATEGY #10: ALWAYS SURRENDER HARD 16 AGAINST A DEALER’S 9, 10, OR ACE UPCARD, AND HARD 15 AGAINST DEALER’S 10 UPCARD

A hard 15 and 16 are two of the worst hands in blackjack, especially when the dealer is showing a strong upcard (e.g., 9, 10, or Ace). You are the underdog but you can minimize your losses by surrendering the above hands against the indicated dealer’s upcards. Surrender is your best strategy simply because it saves you money in the long run.

(Note: Depending on the number of decks of cards being used and the blackjack rules, there are other hands where surrender is the best strategy.)

STRATEGY #11: IN A SINGLE-DECK GAME, ALWAYS DOUBLE DOWN ON 8 AGAINST DEALER’S 5 OR 6 UPCARD

In double- and multi-deck games, you never double down with a two-card 8; however, in a single-deck game, the odds of blackjack shift to make doubling down the superior strategy over hitting.

(Note: The above best strategy includes a pair of 4s, with one exception. If the rules are DAS, you should split a pair of 4s instead of doubling down.)

STRATEGY #12: WHEN YOU ARE DEALT A PAIR OF 2s OR 3s AGAINST A DEALER’S 2 OR 3 UPCARD, SPLIT IF THE RULES ALLOW DAS, AND HIT IF THEY DON’T

The reason splitting is the better strategy with DAS is because if you split, say, a pair of 2s and draw a 9 giving you an 11, or an 8, giving you a 10, you would be able to bet more money (by doubling down) in a very favorable situation.

(Note: There is one exception to the above rule: If you are playing a single-deck game, you should always split a pair 2s when the dealer shows a 3 upcard, even if the game is NDAS.)

STRATEGY #13: NEVER MAKE THE INSURANCE BET

The insurance bet is a sucker bet, which is why your best strategy is to not take insurance when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. Yes, even when you are dealt a good hand (like a 19 or 20), don’t make the insurance bet. The reason is because the payoff for the insurance bet (2 to 1) is less than the odds that the dealer will have a blackjack, making it a sucker bet.

(Note: In most casinos, the dealer will offer you “even money” if you have a blackjack hand and she has an Ace upcard, which is the same as making an insurance bet. When you have a blackjack, it’s tempting to get paid even money before she peeks at her down card; however, don’t do it because in the long run you will win more money by declining the even money payoff.)

STRATEGY #14: STAND ON HARD 16 AGAINST A DEALER’S 10 UPCARD IF YOUR 16 IS MULTI-CARD

The traditional blackjack basic strategy takes into account only the total of the player’s hand and the dealer’s upcard. With a hard 16 against a dealer’s 10 upcard, the strategy states to hit (assuming surrender is not offered). Although this strategy is correct, you can improve your playing accuracy by taking into account whether your 16 is a multi-card 16. In the latter case (e.g., 7-5-4), your best strategy is to stand against a dealer’s 10 upcard.

STRATEGY #15: NEVER PLAY A 6 TO 5 BLACKJACK GAME

Historically, a blackjack hand has always been paid at 3 to 2 odds. For example, if you bet $10 and you have an (untied) blackjack, you will be paid $15 in winnings. Nowadays, many casinos pay a winning player’s blackjack at only 6 to 5 odds. (A $10 wager would win you only $12 in a 6 to 5 game.) The house edge increases by about 1.45% in a single-deck game with 6 to 5; moreover, if 6 to 5 is offered in a double- or multi-deck game, the house edge escalates to greater than 2%. Your best strategy is to play only blackjack games that offer a 3 to 2 blackjack payoff.

First published on: 15/8/2018

Henry Tamburin is one of world’s most respected blackjack experts and a world-class player. He is the author of the Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide, and Blackjack: Take The Money and Run. He edited the monthly Blackjack Insider Newsletter, and was a featured blackjack columnist for Casino Player magazine, Midwest Gaming and Travel magazine, Gaming South magazine, Southern Gaming magazine, New England Gaming News, Jackpot, Bingo Bugle, and Casino City Times.

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Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack Strategy – Ultimate Basic Strategy Guide with Charts, Tips, Rules

Blackjack is a game where the player’s decision directly impacts the result.

Do you hit? Or do you stand? Or should you double down? Is the hand you have the right one to split?

Or should you just surrender?

All that and more you know easily thanks to blackjack strategy.

One of the things about blackjack strategy is that it is not based on assumptions but comes with mathematical proof.

Basic Blackjack Strategy

The first step towards learning to play blackjack and winning is to learn basic blackjack strategy. Basic strategy helps in another big way: it could help bring the house edge down to 0.5% or even lower! Of course this happens with dependencies – the number of card decks, the table rules for the game, and so on. It may not be an automatic guarantee of a reduced house edge but it does help you figure out your game.

Small video showing some of the basic strategies:

The basic strategy differs depending on a number of factors. These include:

The blackjack game the player is playing.

The number of card decks in use in the game.

Basic Strategy for Single Deck Blackjack

Here are a couple of rules to follow regarding basic strategy for single-deck blackjack:

Do not opt for the insurance bet as it raises the house edge to a high 5.9% in single-deck blackjack.

If you are not able to re-split a hand treat it as a hard total hand and follow the strategy for that hand as per the tables below.

The basic strategy for single deck blackjack depends mainly on a few factors:

Whether the dealer stands or hits on a hard 17

Whether the dealer stands or hits on a soft 17.

The kind of totals the player has for the rest of the hands:
- Hard totals
- Soft totals
- Pairs (hands that can be split)

We provide below the strategy for single-deck blackjack based on the player’s hand.

In the above table, the different elements stand for the following:

H: Hit

S: Stand

P: Split

DH: Double down if permitted, else Hit

DS: Double down if permitted, else Stand

PH: Split if doubling down is permitted after splitting, else Hit

PD: Split if doubling down is permitted after splitting, else double down

RH: Surrender if the option is available, else Hit

RS: Surrender if the option is available, else Stand

Basic Strategy for Single Deck Blackjack: Dealer Hits on Soft 17

Basic Strategy for Single Deck Blackjack: Dealer Stands on Soft 17

In the tables above, we have not provided separate rows for 5- and 10-pair hands as we have taken those hands as hard 10s and hard 20s and covered them in that corresponding table for hard hands.

Basic Strategy for Blackjack Using 4 to 8 Decks

As we mentioned earlier, the house edge and the way the game plays out differs mainly depending on the number of card decks used. It is only natural, therefore, for the strategy to be different for multi-deck blackjack games compared to the strategy we provided earlier for single deck games.

Here are a couple of rules to follow as part of strategy for blackjack using 4 to 8 decks:

Do not play the insurance bet as it raises the house edge considerably.

If a player cannot re-split a hand, the best option is to treat that hand as a hard total hand.

We list below the tables for basic strategy for blackjack games using 4 to 8 decks.

H: Hit

S: Stand

P: Split

DH: Double down if permitted, else Hit

DS: Double down if permitted, else Stand

PH: Split if doubling down is permitted after splitting, else Hit

PD: Split if doubling down is permitted after splitting, else double down

RH: Surrender if the option is available, else Hit

RS: Surrender if the option is available, else Stand

Basic Strategy for 4 to 8-Deck Blackjack: Dealer Hits on Soft 17

Basic Strategy for Single Deck Blackjack: Dealer Stands on Soft 17

Wherever you do not find separate information for splitting a hand of 5-pair or 10-pair treat it as a hard hand (hard 10 and hard 20 respectively).

Blackjack Strategy FAQ

Everything You’d Like to Know

Every player that aims to be successful at Blackjack should follow the simple, yet detailed Blackjack strategy. Here you’ll find all the answers you need.

What is Blackjack basic strategy?

Blackjack basic strategy is a set of rules and guidelines which allow you to maximize your winning odds. It is very hard, if not impossible, to make a profit playing Blackjack, especially in the long term, if you’re not employing the basic strategy. The basic strategy can be displayed either as a table (multiple tables) or as text. Players with a visual memory will prefer the table(s), whereas for others it might be easier to learn the textual version. The basic strategy tells you the smartest thing to do in any given situation.

What is the Blackjack basic strategy based on?

The basic strategy is based on a computer simulation. A computer program is set to play a very large number of hands and, through trial and error, it learns what should be done in a given situation. Bear in mind that the strategy is based on statistics and it only gives you the most viable option. There is no guarantee that you are going to win in each and every hand where you apply the strategy. However, you can be certain that you are more likely to win when you apply the strategy.

How should I apply the Blackjack strategy in practice?

If you can’t memorize the table as a whole, and you have trouble recalling what you should do in a given situation, then follow the following order of operations. First, ask yourself if you should surrender in that particular situation (if that is allowed). If the answer to that question is no, then think whether you should split (if that’s an option). Then, if you are not supposed to split, you ask yourself if you should double (where applicable). And finally, if you shouldn’t double, or if that’s not an option, you ask yourself whether you should hit or stand.

Does the number of decks influence the Blackjack strategy?

Yes, it does, as the number of decks changes the house edge, it also changes the strategy. Generally, fewer decks results in a lower house edge. However, most casinos use 4-8 decks, in some cases up to 9 and the same strategy can be used regardless whether there are 4, 6 or 8 decks, as the differences are insignificant and don’t influence the outcome of every hand in that amount so that a different strategy should be employed.

Are Blackjack games where the dealer stands on soft 17 different than ones where s/he stands on hard 17?

Yes, the rule whether the dealer is supposed to hit or stand on soft 17 does change the basic strategy. If you look tables for, say a six-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17 and a one where the dealer is supposed to hit on soft 17, it might not seem like there are too many differences, but it can make a huge impact. If it is difficult for you to memorize both tables, it would be best to memorize the rules for the versions where the dealer stands on soft 17. The impact will be less negative, compared to the situation where you always apply the strategy for a game where the dealer hits on soft 17.

The Blackjack basic strategy doesn’t say anything about ‘Insurance’, why?

That is because you should never take insurance, it is a side bet that actually increases the house edge. Insurance is a bet which becomes available when the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. Basically with the insurance you get your original bet back if the dealer lands a Blackjack.

But, in order to activate it, you have to lay an additional amount, worth half your original bet. If the dealer doesn’t hit a Blackjack, you lose the additional insurance wager, but still have a chance to win the original wager. Insurance is a bad bet, because it is actually a bet that the dealer will get a Blackjack, and the odds for that to happen are 9:4 when his/her card is an ace, which means that you’ll lose more often than not.

What are the most important rules in the Blackjack strategy?

All of the rules are very important, but perhaps you should aim to learn and remember the rules that which contain the word ‘always’ or ‘never’. For instance, it is more important to remember that you should always split aces, then to remember that you should split 4’s only when the dealer has 5 or 6. The reason is simple – it is more likely for you to be dealt two aces regardless of the dealer’s card, than to be dealt two 4’s against a dealer’s 5 or 6.

So, can I start playing Blackjack after I learn at least some of the rules of the basic strategy?

It is much wiser to learn the strategy in full and to memorize all the rules and situations before you start playing. Practice at home and start playing for real money only when you’re sure that you remember the entire table and know what to do in every situation.

Is the Blackjack strategy legal? Can I use it without fear of being suspended?

The Blackjack basic strategy is completely legal and players can memorize the rules and use the strategy when they are playing Blackjack. Casinos won’t through you out or ban you from playing if they realize that you’re using the strategy. In fact, every professional Blackjack player uses the strategy, it is simply how you play Blackjack.

Is there another Blackjack strategy, a more advanced one?

There can be a range of different Blackjack strategies, depending on the Blackjack variant in question. However, all Blackjacks strategies are based on the basic strategy. You can amend the basic strategy and adjust it to any type of Blackjack. So, for example, if a new version of Blackjack is invented tomorrow, you would still be able to adjust the basic strategy and apply it to it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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In terms of casino sites, there is no one reigning online blackjack champion. Instead there are several top sites with very large customer bases. But because the best casino sites all use one or more of the industry standard casino software providers, there isn't that much to set their blackjack games apart from one another.

At the time of writing, there are well over 1,000 online casino sites making their services available to players based in Canada. Of course, not all of these use the best, most up to date software or offer top real cash bonuses, so you can take around 90% out of the running for your attention.

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Yes, in standard blackjack online you're looking to do exactly the same thing as when you play the game in an offline casino:

Beat the dealer, either by getting closer to 21 without going over than their hand and/or forcing them to go bust by hitting their hand until they go over 21.

However, there are many more variations of the game available online, including Triple 7s, Super Fun 21 and Spanish blackjack to name just a few. These variations are clearly marked, so you're unlikely to confuse them with the standard game, but it's worth double-checking the rules to make sure you're playing the version of the game you're used to. Find out more about the rules of the game here.

Online blackjack is played with between 1 and 8 decks of cards. The number of decks used affects the house edge, a number that refers to the advantage the casino has over players, with a larger number of decks increasing the casino's house edge.

When only one deck is used, the casino's house edge is negative. This means that the player has the edge. For that reason, you'll almost never find a casino on the web using a single deck. Generally speaking, most online blackjack casinos use between 4 and 8 decks of cards and shuffle them between every hand

You can find promotions like matchup deposit bonuses and reload bonuses at most online blackjack casino sites. However, the value of these bonuses can vary wildly from casino to casino. Things like wagering requirements, which may not always be obvious without reading the fine print, can have an impact on how valuable a bonus is to players.

We take several different factors into account, from the value of the bonus to wagering requirements and the frequency of other promotional offers, when we rate and review online casinos so you can be sure that you're getting a great bonus.

There are plenty of betting systems, card counting techniques and strategy guides that tell you which move to make depending on the hand you have, but none of them can claim to help you win 100% of the time. If they could, then everyone in the world would be using them and casinos everywhere would be going bankrupt.

Winning at online blackjack is really about careful bankroll management:

Don't bet too high and spend all your money before you can get a lucky break. Making silly moves based on gut feeling is not advised. Trying to win back big losses in one sitting never works out well. Beyond tips like these, blackjack online is all about the luck of the draw.

Bet small until you learn the ropes. Playing any of the Gold series games offered by casinos or multi-hand variations isn't advised until you've spent some time playing the game and are reasonably confident in your skills.

The most popular way to play online blackjack is using a laptop or desktop computer to access the games. However, it's also possible to use a smartphone or tablet to partake in mobile betting. This is something that's becoming more and more popular in Canada, and the rest of the world, and accounts for an increasing percentage of online gambling revenue every year.

The small screen size and fiddly nature of these devices means that it's not always possible to replicate the most popular casino games. Fortunately, because mobile blackjack is one of the less complicated games to port to a smartphone or tablet , you'll find it in all of our recommended online casinos.

No. We understand that it might feel that way sometimes, but online casinos have no more advantage than any land-based venue. The fact that everything is done using random number generators, so there are no real cards being dealt, can be unsettling to new players. But think of it this way, if no-one ever won playing blackjack online then casino sites would surely go out of business pretty quickly.

All reputable online casinos, including those that offer their services to Canadian players, are subject to third party inspections and audits by impartial companies like eCOGRA. If a casino doesn't pass these checks, they can be fined, shut down and have all of their profits seized. An online casino scam might seem like a lucrative idea, but the prohibitive cost of applying for licenses, purchasing casino software and so on means that it's actually extremely rare.

Is 8 decks worth playing at all ?

ycming

Well-Known Member

Just been reading the Bj attack book. And he mentioned the 8 deck is just not worth playing at all .

My friend is currently playing in canada with 8decks- hole cards, spilt up to 4 hands, double after spilt, insurance offered but no respilt aces.

With a 1-8 spread a unit of $10, is that game worth spending time on it at all ?

could some shread some light on this?

Automatic Monkey

Banned

My friend is currently playing in canada with 8decks- hole cards, spilt up to 4 hands, double after spilt, insurance offered but no respilt aces.

With a 1-8 spread a unit of $10, is that game worth spending time on it at all ?

Blue Efficacy

Well-Known Member

creeping panther

Banned

Absolutely not so. Most of the games in Canada have very bad penetration, and that coupled with a 1-8 spread makes them a waste of time. The 8D shoes are the least of his problems. If he must play those games, he must backcount and/or use a very large spread (think 1-20) to make them worthwhile.

It's all in the spread man, all in the spread. 1-20, hell. 1-40, that outa get it:laugh:

Thunder

Well-Known Member

ycming

Well-Known Member

thanks guys should of asked this well in advance! he just hit a 250 unit down swing that's 2500 CAD.

FLASH1296

Well-Known Member

Of importance here is the fact that the Canadian games are normally H17, that is, the dealer Hits his Soft 17.

Unless the casino is dealing 7 of 8 decks, that game is a waste of time and money.

I have never heard of a Canadian casino anywhere dealing better than 6 of 8 decks or 4 of 6 decks.

On the other hand, the 8 deck game, (at a casino like Foxwoods in Connecticut), is certainly quite playable, as many dealers cut off no more than 1.3 to 1.5 decks, AND the dealers STANDS on Soft 17 AND, Late Surrender is offered.

That game is a very reasonable profitable venture.

The Canadian game has a house advantage that is nearly D O U B L E that of the Connecticut game; even before we consider the crucial factor of penetration.

Note : Feel free to ponder the meaning of "double", as in " Hey Hazel, the interest rate on that credit card just doubled again, eh !"

In Blackjack the House Edge must overcome in order to generate an advantage.

Card Counting is a "Hard way to make an easy leaving."
Counting overcomes that House Advantage when it is reasonable,
like the game at Foxwoods, mentioned above.

That Foxwoods game is .36%

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me . than a frontal lobotomy

Blackjack - No Hole Card / No Peek

Darrell from Coos Bay, U.S.

It doesn't matter which card the dealer takes. What is important is whether the player can lose more than their original wager if the dealer has a blackjack. For example, at Starnet casinos, if the dealer has a ten up, and the player has an 11 and doubles, then the dealer can draw an ace afterward, for a blackjack, and the player will lose both the original bet and the double. To adjust for this European no-peek rule, the player should be more conservative about doubling and splitting when the dealer has a potential blackjack.

For more information on the European no-hole-card rules, please see my European blackjack basic strategy.

Jesse from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I just commented on this in my last newsletter. Two weeks ago I was playing blackjack in Germany where they also do not take a hole card. In this event the player loses the total bet if the dealer gets a blackjack, including the additional money bet after doubling or splitting. Basic strategy changes are to hit 11 against a 10, hit two 8's against a 10 or ace, and hit two aces against an ace.

William from Pittsburgh, USA

I’ve been questioned about this several times and continue to maintain that despite losing the total bet the option to draw to split aces overcomes the European no-peek rule, thus splitting is the better play. Based on one deck the expected value of each hand (considering the possibility of a dealer blackjack) is -0.532849 for hitting and -0.223277 for splitting. So splitting is better by about 31% of a unit. Splitting is also better for the 4-deck game, which no Microgaming player should be playing since a 1-deck game with the same rules is available.

Thanks. Payout percentages such as this are historical. For example King Neptune's casino posts their June 2006 report on their web site. The 96.78% for table games means that in June 2006 the ratio of money returned to money bet was 96.78%. In other words an actual house edge of 3.22%. Your own results will depend on the game rules, your skill (in games of decision making), and luck. In most games the odds are quantifiable so payout reports are not useful. It shouldn't matter to you how badly other players have played or the mix of games they chose. Where these reports are very useful is in evaluating the slots. No casino that I know of volunteers how loose their slots are theoretically set, but such payout reports gives the user a good idea. If looking at other months you see that King Neptune's pays about 96% in slots. I also think it is a good sign of a good operation to have return percentages independently verified. It shows the casino has nothing to hide.

Multiple Deck Blackjack Rules & Odds

In the old days, Blackjack was a simple game that utilized a single, 52-card deck of playing cards. In modern times, the most common versions of blackjack are played with 6 or 8 decks of cards.

In Las Vegas, for example, 6-deck Blackjack is most common (though…more and more are starting to use 8 decks). Atlantic City casinos also offer 6 Deck Blackjack, as well as 8-Deck Blackjack. Another blackjack variation known as Spanish 21 often includes the use of 8 decks of cards and a much wider range of rule variations.

Of course, there are also many other variants of Blackjack you can find online. Most Microgaming casinos, such as Royal Vegas, will offer additional types such as Multi-hand blackjack. So read on for our focus on the basic games of Blackjack.

Vegas Strip 6-Deck Blackjack Rules

All standard rules apply

Dealer Hits Soft 17: Yes

Double any two cards: Yes

Double after Split: Yes

Resplit: Yes (up to 4 hands)

Surrender: Varies

Atlantic City 6-Deck Blackjack Rules

All standard rules apply

Dealer Hits Soft 17: No

Double any two cards: Yes

Double after Split: Yes

Resplit: Yes (up to 4 hands)

Surrender: Varies

Spanish 21 8-Deck Blackjack Rules

All standard rules apply

Dealer Hits Soft 17: Yes

Double any two cards: Yes

Double after Split: Yes

Resplit: No

Surrender: Yes

Surrender after Doubling: Yes

5+ Card 21: Yes, bonus payouts for 5, 6 and 7 card 21, only before Double/Split.

All 10’s removed from decks (not Face Cards, just 10’s).

Conclusion

There is little practical difference in 6 and 8 Deck Blackjack games. Be sure to check the rules of various Blackjack games, noting in particular whether the dealer Hits or Stands on soft 17. When the Dealer Hits Soft 17 (bad for the player), the house edge is higher; when the Dealer Stands on Soft 17 (good for the player), the house edge is lower.

Understanding Blackjack Strategy

Ever since its invention, Blackjack has grown in popularity, with so many players coming up with a specific Blackjack strategy. In fact, Blackjack has grown to become one of the most loved online casino games all over the world. Hundreds of thousands of players play Blackjack online every day, earning and losing thousands of dollars.

For the first-time online Blackjack player, the game might seem a bit intimidating. In actual fact, they may find Blackjack rules a bit tricky. However, as soon as you learn the game, you will realize that the online table game is so easy to play and understand. Also, it’s one of the most loved games because it’s easy to win, with one of the highest winning odds.

Here, on this page, you will find all the information that you need to know about online blackjack. This information includes how to play Blackjack, rules of Blackjack and basic Blackjack strategies. In fact, this guide is dedicated to helping you understand how the game is played, teach you how to make bets, as well as how to hit, stand and double down.

First thing is first, you must know that the aim of the game remains the same whether you are playing online or at a land-based casino. That said, you need to know that in order to win a hand, you must get more points than the dealer. However, you must never get a number that’s above 21. By the way, 21 is another name for the game. Getting a number that exceeds 21 is called ‘Busting’ and this makes you lose.

Online Blackjack Basic Gameplay

Let us explain a few things that you must know before playing a game of blackjack online. In order to be able to count your points, you must know the card values first. The card values are so easy to remember. This is because all the cards count their face values.

This is with the exception of the cards with pictures. All the pictures cards (J, Q, and K) count 10. The Ace, depending on what’s more profitable to you, can count either 1 or 11.

To illustrate what we have just explained above, here’s an example: if you are playing a game of Blackjack and you get 5+7+Q, that makes your total 22 and that means you are busted. In other words, you lose. On the other hand, if you get 4+8+8, your total will be 18 and as long as the dealer’s total is below 18, you win.

What Kind Of Blackjack Hand Is That?

Online casino Blackjack rules state that there are only 2 types of hands in online Blackjack, these are hard hand and soft hand. The hard hand doesn’t have an Ace in it or if it does, the Ace counts as 1. On the other hand, the soft hand has an Ace that counts as 11.

It is very important that you know this information beforehand. This is because you are going to use this very information in Blackjack strategies. In fact, if ever you are going to win at blackjack, you will need to know which hand is important as the two hands are treated differently.

How the Blackjack Cards Are Dealt

Now that we have talked about the aim of Blackjack as well as the 2 types of Blackjack hands, we can move on and talk about the betting process as well as gameplay. Blackjack is played with 4, 6 or 8 decks of cards. These decks are mixed together.

However, you should know that some online casinos use just 2 decks of cards. Because each online casino has its own rules, it’s important that you carefully check this information and read the Blackjack rules that apply at that particular casino.

Moving on to bets, it’s important that you know that all bets are made before the cards are dealt. The bets are stated in the table rules, from the minimum bet to the maximum bet. Here, at Top 10 Canada Casinos, we suggest that when you are still new to the game of Blackjack, choose a table with minimum bets and only raise your bet when your skills level up.

As soon as all the players have made their bets, the dealer will go ahead and deal the cards. Each player will be dealt 2 cards each, face down. Only your cards are dealt face up. After all of the cards have been dealt and their values have been counted, you have several possible ways that you can choose to continue the game.

We strongly suggest that you learn all the Blackjack rules and gameplay so that at this point, you can make a well-informed decision quickly. Read below to find out all the available options to you at this point in the game.

Blackjack Strategy Options

You can choose to hit. This simply means that you ask the dealer to give you one more card. You do this only when you think that the 2 cards which you were dealt with earlier are not enough for you to win.

You can decide to stand. In simpler terms, this means that you consider the total of your previously dealt cards enough to win and so, don’t wish to get another card.

You can choose to split your cards. This decision is only applicable when your hand has a pair of 2 equal cards e.g. two Qs or 2 Ks. In this case, you can split your cards and make another bet. When you have done that, each card will then become a separate hand, meaning you can draw extra cards for the 2 separate hands.

You can also choose to double down. When you choose this option, you double your bet and will then get an additional card from the dealer.

Finally, you can choose to surrender. Before doing so, you must understand that this is optional. In fact, it’s not all online casinos that will allow you to surrender. However, if your casino offers this option, then you can stop the game. As a result, you will only lose just half of your bet. Also, surrendering is allowed only before the third card is dealt to the player.

Additional Useful Information about Blackjack Strategy

It’s important that you know where you’ve won or lost. Let us explain both situations so that you understand better before you begin to play Blackjack for free or for real money.

If you have a hand that exceeds the dealer’s total while at the same time it doesn’t exceed 21, then you have a winning hand. On the other hand, if you have a hand that exceeds 21, then you have a losing hand. Also, you will lose if your cards total is below that of the dealer. If it so happens that you and the dealer have the same total, it means that it’s a tie. In that case, you will get your bet amount back.

There is also something very important that you need to understand if you should win. In Blackjack, there is what’s called an Insurance Wager. This wager can be made if the dealer gets an Ace as the face card. In this case, you will have the option of making an additional bet.

In the case that the dealer gets a 21, this bet will be returned. However, if it happens that the dealer gets an Ace and you have a 21, the dealer can offer to play for real money. This means that he will pay 1:1 to you before he checks the second card.

So, above we have listed what we consider the Blackjack rules for dummies. Read the above information carefully so that you learn and understand all you have to know before deciding to play online Blackjack real money. Now, we would like to move on to the most popular blackjack strategies, as well as useful Blackjack tips and tricks that you can actually make use of in order to increase your winning odds.

Online Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack strategy should always be implemented right after you are dealt your first two cards. There are different Blackjack strategies that you can implement. Below, we will look closely at each of the most popular Blackjack strategies so that we help you make the best decision every time.

Yes, we know that for first-timers, these strategies will be difficult to remember. For that reason, we suggest that you come up with a Blackjack cheat sheet that you can use as you play Blackjack for real money.

Splitting Blackjack Strategy

This is one of the most used strategies all over the world because it works, leaving you with some extra money in your account. Below we list the Blackjack tips concerning cards splitting.

Don’t split 4s or 5s

Split 2s and 3s only when the dealer has from 4 to 7

Always make sure that you Split 8s and Aces

Split 6s when the dealer has from 3 to 6

Always split two 9s except for the cases when the dealer has 7

Split 7s when the dealer has from 2 to 7

Insurance Strategy

We have already mentioned what happens with the insurance wager. However, the insurance strategy can only be used when playing at a land-based casino. This is because only at a land-based casino are you able to count cards. Obviously, you cannot count cards when you play Blackjack online.

This is why we recommend that you don’t use this strategy at all when playing at an online casino. Because you are not able to count cards online, it means that you can’t possibly predict if the dealer will get blackjack or not. Inevitably, you will lose a lot of money on insurance, especially if you’ve been playing for a long time.

Surrender Strategy

We seriously think that this strategy is for cowards although we recommend that you use it now and again as it can actually save you half of your bet. Why don’t we like this strategy? Well, in the long run, it will take a lot of money from you and you will also lose a chance to get a winning hand.

Before you implement this strategy, we need to remind you that the situation can turn in your favor within seconds even if it looks like there’s no chance of success. Remember, Blackjack is a game of skill and not chance, which means a game can turn to your favor if you know the rules and strategies.

Doubling Down Strategy

In the doubling down strategy, you will double your bet in exchange for one more extra card. Below, we share a few tips that you can consider when making use of this strategy.

Remember, we told you earlier that you must know about both soft hands and hard hands. If you know these, you will implement this strategy successfully.

When you have hard 9, 10 or 11, you must always double down

If you happen to have 11, always double down unless if the dealer has an Ace

When you have 10, also always double down. However, you shouldn’t double down when the dealer has an Ace or 10

As mentioned earlier, always double down when you have 9. However, always make sure that the dealer has from 3 to 6 first before doing so

Card Counting Strategy

Remember what we said when we talked about the Surrender Strategy? This strategy can only be used at a brick and mortar casino in order to increase your chances of winning. This strategy is completely useless when playing online Blackjack.

Using the card counting strategy, you can determine whether the next hand will be a winning one or a losing one. You do this by using mathematics, as well as a good memory to remember the cards that have already been played and which ones are still to come. Most casinos worldwide prohibit card counting because it gives the player a higher edge against the house.

The information that is contained on this page is enough to get you started on your first game of Blackjack. We always suggest that you play casino games for free first before you play for real money. This gives you the chance to familiarise yourself with the game first before wagering real money.

Not only that, but it allows you to improve your skills, as well as come up with a strategy that works for you.

Labouchere Strategy

Labouchere betting system is in the negative progression category of betting systems. It was created by Henry Labourchere which is where the name of the system originated from. It has other names, some call it the martingale, the cancellation system, and many other names.

The whole idea is to be able to regain all the losses from losing bets. The Labouchere does not attempt to recover any losses with one win.

Best Blackjack Betting Strategies

For centuries, the strategic potential of blackjack has defied the chances and reduced the house edge to the point of complete elimination. The advanced card counting strategies were fought off by the casino operators through a gradual increase of the card decks inside the shoe.

Nowadays, it is next to impossible to find a live blackjack variant played with 1, 2, or even 4 decks; instead, 6 and 8-deck blackjack games are dominating the market, thwarting the beginner-level card counters. This, along with the RNG (Random Number Generator) blackjack, has created the need for alternative solutions, and a number of players resorted to blackjack betting strategies that exploit the winning and losing streaks, focusing on money management rather than trying to predict the next card. At the same time, these are much easier to master than some of the advanced blackjack techniques, such as Shuffle Tracking, Zen, or Omega 2.

Where to Start – The Most Popular Blackjack Betting Strategies

The complexity and dedication are not the only reasons people shy away from card counting techniques. Casino operators frown upon any skill that will give you an unfair advantage over other players (and the house), which is why advanced budget management methods are your safest resorts. They can also be arranged according to the difficulty level, starting with the simplest form of betting (flat) and gradually advancing to the complex patterns used by experienced players (Labouchere):

Flat Betting

Martingale

1-3-2-6 System

Paroli

D’ Alembert

Oscar’s Grind

Labouchere

Apart from the complexity level, each of the systems can also be classified according to the risk degree and the type of progression it entails – negative or positive.

Flat betting

Flat betting is somewhat of an exception, and many do not even consider it a strategy at all. The only requirement of this “system” is to remain in the game by constantly submitting the same size bet. Ideally, the player needs to establish a budget and divide it into equal portions of up to 5% of the total balance. Clearly, flat betting will not make you rich, but the strategy is deemed successful if you manage to generate around 10-20% profit.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Flat Betting

Apart from the extreme simplicity, the strongest suit of flat betting is the damage control it delivers. The fixed stakes will prevent you from suffering a sudden, substantial loss that some of the other methods are prone to.

On the other hand, the results that flat betting can produce are modest and rest on the assumption that you will win more than 50% of the time. This is why most players outgrow this strategy fairly quickly. The monotony makes it quite easy to abandon this process and move onto potentially more profitable (and riskier) blackjack betting strategies described below.

Risk Rate: Low

Positive Progressive Betting Systems – Definition and Popular Variants

Positive progressive betting systems are designed to get the most of the players’ winning streak, commanding a bet increase every time you score a winning blackjack hand. The stakes are raised systematically and lowered after the first losing hand. The most popular representatives of positive progressive strategies are Paroli and Oscar’s Grind.

Paroli

Paroli is often defined as a reversed Martingale system, prompting the players to top the stake after every winning hand. Every next bet should be doubled and re-set after three consecutive winning rounds. For example, if we are to start our betting session with a $1 stake, the next two stakes should be increased by 2:

For the sake of illustration, let us assume that you have placed a $10 bet and your hand trumped the dealer’s, resulting in an even money payout. Your next bet should, therefore, be $20, which is your base bet + $10 that you have won in the previous round. If you manage to win that hand as well, the follow-up stake should amount to $40 – again, the $10 base stake, plus the winnings from the previous rounds. The third win will result in an $80 bet, after which you will need to go back to the initial $10 bet, regardless of the outcome. Looking at the starting point, we can easily deduce that a $10 starting bet generated a total of $160.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Introducing Paroli Betting System to Your Gameplay

As you can see, the Reversed Martingale is very easy to use, as it requires the player to press the bet only 3 times and revert to the original wager in two cases – after a loss or when a series of three winning hands in a row is completed.

An added value of Paroli is that you do not need to have a substantial budget to implement this strategy, which is the main drawback of some other progressive betting patterns.

On the downside, three linked winning hands are not that easy to land, and the players may find themselves operating at a loss before long.

Risk Rate: Medium

Oscars Grind

A medium complexity system with a low-risk rate, Oscars Grind (aka Hoyle’s Press) starts off with a single unit bet and aims at generating an equivalent profit amount. The losing hands will follow the flat betting pattern whereas the winning hands will be followed by the bet increase – but only if it will result in the desired profit of one unit. Otherwise, the bet size is decreased to assure that the accurate amount is acquired, as shown in the table below:

Bet	Outcome	Return	Your next move
$1	Loss	-1	No change in bet
$1	Loss	-2	No change in bet
$1	Loss	-3	No change in bet
$1	Loss	-4	No change in bet
$1	Loss	-5	No change in bet
$1	Win	-4	Next bet increases by 1 unit
$2	Loss	-6	Bet remains the same (2 units)
$2	Win	-4	Next bet increased to 3 units
$3	Win	-1	Next bet adjusted to 2 units needed for a single unit profit
$2	Win	1	Round completed

The desired result is a single unit win on every session as well as the increased damage control during the losing streaks.

Pros and Cons of Oscars Grind

The method is not aggressive which means that you will be able to sustain longer losing streaks without suffering irreparable damage to your finances. The proceeds, although modest, will gradually accumulate, recuperating the losses incurred across ten rounds in no more than 4 wins.

At the same time, you may find the system frustrating as it requires a lot of self-discipline and restraint.

Risk Rate: Low

What Are Negative Progressive Betting Systems?

As opposed to the progressive betting methods, the negative strategies demand that the bets are increased during the losing streaks; the idea is to recover all that you have previously lost and to gain a profit. By default, negative progressions are more aggressive than their counterparts and they carry a somewhat higher risk rate. The representatives of this methodology are Martingale, D’Alembert, and Laboucher systems.

Martingale Betting System

When you first come across to Martingale, it may seem like a heaven-sent system that simply cannot fail. You will soon discover that not all share your initial enthusiasm; there will be those who might urge you to avoid this strategy, especially if your gambling budget is limited.

As a negative progression system, Martingale mandates that you double the stake after every losing hand and go back to flat betting after a win. In the perfect world, this should generate a series of cumulative winnings and recuperate the losses in a course of a single losing streak.

But what happens if the streak prolongs and you budget dries out? Even if you start wagering with the betting minimum, you are running a risk of leaving the table empty-handed. To illustrate, let us assume that you begin the session with a $5 wager and start losing. To get back on the track, you will now need to double every next wager, which means that it will take no more than 8 consecutive losses to find yourself short of $1,275:

Bet	Outcome	Total in Losses
$5	Loss	$5
$10	Loss	$10
$20	Loss	$35
$40	Loss	$75
$80	Loss	$155
$160	Loss	$315
$320	Loss	$635
$640	Loss	$1,275

If the trend keeps up, you can soon end up with a considerable debt, which is probably not what you have signed up for when joining the blackjack table and introducing a betting structure to your game. High rollers will, of course, be able to disregard the elevated risk rate of the Martingale system, but average online or land-based casino visitors will probably need to adjust their strategy to the amount of money they can afford to lose. For most of them, this means that Martingale is off the limits.

The benefit of using Martingale is that it can produce excellent results in a relatively short time span.

Uncomfortably risky

More suitable for high rollers

Possibility of the stake amount exceeding the payout rate

Table limits can easily stop the progression

As you can see, the cons, in this case, outweigh the pros, which means that you may want to leave the strategy to those with more money to waste.

Risk Rate: Extremely High

D’Alembert

D’Alembert is a great alternative to Martingale, since it offers a reduced risk rate but has the same complexity level, which makes it suitable for beginners. The system has an alternating pattern, urging the players to increase the stakes by a single unit after a loss or deduct one unit from the follow-up wager after a win. So, if you should happen to lose $5 bet, the next amount that you need to wager is $10 and the one after that $15 (as $5 is considered a single unit). Should the $15 result in a win, the subsequent bet should be re-set to $10. Example:

Bet	Outcome	The follow-up bet	Total Balance
$1	Loss	$2	$99
$2	Loss	$3	$97
$3	Win	$2	$100
$2	Loss	$3	$98
$3	Loss	$4	$95
$4	Win	$3	$99
$3	Win	$2	$102

Pros of D’Alembert Betting System

The entire scheme is very easy to follow through – all you need to do is remember your previous bet and act accordingly. Also, since the increase is moderate, you will not risk losing a large portion of your budget. Last but not least, thanks to the controlled variations in bet size, you are less likely to hit the table limits.

Cons of D’Alembert

The main defect of this system is that it’ll take forever to recover the lost bets, not to mention the perils of the long losing streaks that are likely to severely affect your balance.

Risk Rate: Medium High

Labouchere Betting System

In Laboucher, the players start with any sequence of numbers, where the first and the last number in the chain determine the bet total. Let’s say that you select the following string:

When you add up the first and the last number, you will get a total of 11, which should be the initial bet. If you happen to win, the relevant numbers should be eliminated from the sequence, leaving you with 3 – 4 – 6.

Assuming that you win again, the remaining number (4) should be doubled.

If, on the other hand, you lose the initial bet, the total must be added to the chain:

The bet will now amount to $13 (2 + 11), adding the number $13 to the string if the player loses again, or removing both 2 and 11 if the outcome is favorable.

The sequence total will depend on the target amount, which means that the players whose objective is to make a profit of $20 will create any sequence that can add up to that sum.

Pros of Laboucher

The increased control of both the budget and the progression of your bets is the main perk of Laboucher, but the players should make sure to use it at high limit tables.

Cons of Laboucher

Just like Martingale, this system threatens to hit the table limits, although, not as fast.

Risk Rate: Medium

The “In-Between” Split System: 1-3-2-6 Blackjack Betting System

Seemingly complicated, the 1-3-2-6 blackjack betting strategy is actually much simpler than it looks at first glance. After deciding on the betting unit, the players will just need to make sure that the system is executed correctly, in accordance with the 1-3-2-6 sequence. On a $5 unit bet, the process would look like this:

Step 1: bet the single $5 unit. If you lose, repeat. If you win, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: bet 3 units ($15). If you lose, start over. If you win, proceed to Step 3

Step 3: bet 2 units ($10). If you lose, start over. If you win, proceed to Step 4

Step 4: bet 6 units ($30)

Pros of 1-3-2-6 System

The upside of this betting pattern is that you will have no difficulties mastering it – the formula is in the name itself, so it does not get any easier than that. The losses will not be severe, and you will be quite happy with the results this system provides in the short-run.

Cons of 1-3-2-6 System

You might not need a huge bankroll to execute the 1-3-2-6 betting scheme but bear in mind that the system’s “expiration date” is just around the corner. While the maneuver is efficient enough to be included in the list of the best blackjack betting strategies, it will not eliminate the house edge and provide lasting results.

Risk Rate: Low to Medium

Conclusion on the most successful Blackjack betting strategies

Adding some structure and limitation to your gambling routine might be just what you need to handle your money more efficiently. Still, you will need to remember that these systems are flawed, especially in the long run. As they have zero effect on the house edge, the end results they produce will be modest, but some of the low-risk systems mentioned above will prove quite handy in cutting down the unwanted losses.

So, let's define, what was the most valuable conclusion of this review: The following strategies can be used in all games unless stated otherwise. The strategies discussed below also assume you are a recreational player, and not a card counter. at Blackjack Strategy: Games With 4 To 8 Decks in Canada