BLACKJACK STRATEGY

Blackjack online is such a simple game to learn that new players are often surprised at how difficult mastering blackjack strategy can be. Over the years avid players have filled so many books with “winning blackjack strategies” that going beyond basic blackjack rules can be a major undertaking. Lucky for you, we here at PlayingExpert.com have found a way to cram all this time-tested knowledge into a few simple blackjack strategy rules. No doubt, new and old players alike can benefit from reading through the following blackjack tips which, when followed religiously, can actually reduce the blackjack house edge to less than 1%. If you want to win blackjack more consistently, then listen up!

The Dealer’s Face-Up Card


In blackjack online, the biggest piece of strategic information you have is the dealer’s face-up card. Some very complex and advanced blackjack strategies are built on that single card. For example:

If you have a risky hand—one with a point value of 13 through 16—and are trying to decide if you should hit or stand, pay special attention to this card as it will give you a rough idea of whether or not the dealer will bust. If the dealer is showing an iffy card (i.e. a 2 through 6), it’s usually best to stand. However, if the dealer is showing a 7 through ace he is likely to stand himself, and hitting becomes a better option.


There’s a good chance that the dealer will have a 10-point card as this is the most common card value in any shoe. If this is the case, it's safe to assume the dealer's hand is higher than 12 points and could easily be greater than 17. You’ll be able to tell if the dealer’s hand is worth 17 or more points before he shows his hole card because most casinos use a blackjack rule that requires dealers to stand on hands of 17 or more. Because the dealer is always the last to act in blackjack, you won’t be able to make your decisions based upon his, but you can still use his up card as a blackjack strategy guideline when deciding whether to hit or stand.

There are some hand totals that you should always hit or stand on:

•With a hand total of 4 through 11 you should always hit.
•With a hand total of 17 through 21 you should always stand.
It's the hands that fall between these two that are tricky, and these hands have proven to be so difficult to play correctly that casinos rake in fortunes from them.

Soft Hands

No, this isn’t an ad for moisturizer; it's a breakdown on a very important blackjack rule. You can be a little more lenient with your blackjack strategy when holding a soft hand. A “soft hand” is one that contains an ace that is being used for its 11-point value. Soft hands aren’t as risky as hard hands (hands without aces or that use the ace as a 1) because you can hit a soft hand without busting. This makes hands with point totals from 14 through 16 much more flexible. If you have a soft 12 through 16, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t hit; after all, you have the safety net of the ace to bring you back under 21 if you do overshoot your goal. Thanks to the blackjack rule for soft hands, it never hurts to try for a better hand, and if you end up hitting into a hard 15 or 16 you're no worse for wear, and you can – in some casinos – still surrender and get back half of your original bet.

When to Double Down


Sometimes it’s not enough just to win blackjack online. If you really want to beat the house, then you need to win blackjack with a double bet on a good hand, and that means knowing when to “double down.” A double down is risky because you’re doubling the money you’re betting. When it comes to common sense blackjack strategy, you generally shouldn't double down when the dealer is showing an ace or 10. Conversely, a 10 or 11 in your own hand makes doubling down a good option, especially if the dealer is showing a 3 through 6.

Doubling down with soft hands is another story altogether. Only double down with a soft 15 through 18 when the dealer’s face-up card is a 4 through 6. This is still a risky blackjack strategy, but you need to take advantage of weak dealer hands, and a double bet is the best way to maximize your winnings.



Many of the tips in this section are derived from what’s called “basic blackjack strategy.” Unlike card counting, basic blackjack strategy isn’t a honed science, but is instead a set of general guidelines developed over generations of playing. For more information on all types of blackjack strategy and how you can combine them, look for advanced blackjack strategy updates here at PlayingExpert.com where we’re constantly improving our strategy sections.