How to win blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. Blackjack is known for its high payout percentages and is said to be the most profitable game.

In this article, we will discuss how to win at blackjack.

Blackjack overview

The rules of blackjack are very simple, with 52 cards excluding jokers, the total score of the dealt cards is 21 points, or the one closer to 21 points wins.

Blackjack is played one-on-one between the dealer and the player.

Blackjack is basically played using a set of 52 cards, but in online casinos there is also something called multi-hand, which uses 2 to 5 sets.

In blackjack, any face card that contains a 10 counts as "10". And an A (Ace) can be counted as either '1' or '11', which can be counted to your advantage. Other numbers are counted literally.

For example, if the dealt cards are "K" and "7", the total score is "17", and if the dealt cards are "5" and "A", the total score is "6" or "16". increase.

The number is counted in this way, and the one with the closest total to 21 points wins. And if the total number exceeds 21 points, it will be a burst, and the loss will be confirmed at that point. If both the dealer and the player burst, the dealer wins.

If the dealer's and player's hands have the same value, the game is a draw.

Overview of blackjack winning strategies

Blackjack has long been a popular game in casinos and has been studied by many mathematicians and gamblers. Therefore, there are many “strategies” that can increase the winning rate in blackjack. If you can take advantage of this, it will be easier for you to win at both land-based and online casinos.

Here we will introduce the betting methods and winning strategies actually used by professional gamblers.

And before you learn how to win blackjack, keep in mind that there is a high probability of getting a 10 in blackjack.

In blackjack, all face cards count as "10", so the probability of getting "10" is inevitably high.

The probabilities of each number in blackjack are as follows: As you can see from the table below, the probability of "10" is by far the highest.

numbers	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	A.
probability	30.7%	7.7%	7.7%	7.7%	7.7%	7.7%	7.7%	7.7%	7.7%	7.7%

Learn tactics according to the total value of cards

Depending on the total value of the cards in hand, remembering what actions are likely to win, you can maintain a certain win rate in the long run. Let's remember the actions for each case below.

If the sum of the numbers is between 17 and 21

If the total value of the cards is between 17 and 21, it is considered best to stand. If you're 17-21, you're already very close to totaling 21, so picking a hit will increase your chances of bursting.

The probability of bursting according to the total number of cards is as follows.

We can see that the burst probability exceeds 50% when the total number exceeds 15. So if you already have more than 15 total hands, don't take the risk.

total value	burst probability
12	30%
13	38%
14	46%
15	54%
16	60%
17	68%
18	76%
19	84%
20	92%

If the sum of the numbers is between 12 and 16

A total of 12 to 16 cards is a very delicate point as to whether to go on defense or offense. In this case, you can hit and have a strong hand, or you can burst. Therefore, it can be said that it is difficult to decide the next action with only your own hand.

In this case, refer to the dealer's upcard. The burst rate for each dealer's upcard is as follows:

dealer up card	Dealer burst probability
2	35%
3	38%
4	40%
5	43%
6	42%
7	26%
8	24%
9	23%
10J, Q, K	21%
A.	12%

1. If the up card is 7-10

With 7-10 upcards, the dealer has a relatively low probability of bursting at 21-26%. Therefore, the player aims for a higher number and hits.

1. If the up card is 2 to 6

If the upcard is 2-6, the dealer's burst probability is 35-42%. Assuming the dealer will burst, it's a good idea to take no risks and stand in this pattern.

If the sum of the numbers is less than or equal to 11

If your hand total is 11 or less, you will not burst no matter what cards you draw. So don't hesitate to pick hits.

After hitting here, refer to the dealer's hand and decide the next action.

When two A's are dealt

If you are dealt two A's, be sure to split.

An A can count as 11 or 1, but when there are 2 A's, both count as 1, so the total count is 2.

In this case, the probability of aiming for a higher number is higher if you split than if you hit from 2 and raise the number.

If you have 12 or more cards in your hand and 6 or less upcards, stand.

If the dealer's upcard is 2-6 and you have a hard hand of 12 or higher, make sure to stand.

The rule is that the dealer must keep hitting until the hand is 17 or higher, so if the upcard is 6 or less, the dealer will draw more cards.

In this case, even if the next card drawn is 10, the total is 16 and you will have to draw more cards. In this case, the probability of bursting is very high, so you can increase your win rate by standing.

When the up card is 7 or more, hit until the hand is 17 or more

When the dealer's upcard is 7-A, try to hit until your hand is a hard 17 or higher.

When the dealer's second card is predicted to be 10, the total number is '17'. In other words, you can't beat the dealer unless you're 17 or higher.

Since the dealer's additional card is likely to be the number 10, you have to keep hitting until you reach 17 or more to win. Therefore, you need to take the risk of bursting and win.

Double down when the cards in hand are 9, 10, J, 13-18

In blackjack, the double down pattern is fixed. In the hands below, try to double down.

① When the hand is "9"

When the hand is '9', double down if the dealer's upcard is 3-6.

If the dealer's second card is expected to be 10, the total number of upcards (3-6) will be "13-16".

In that case, the dealer must continue to hit until the number is 17 or higher, so even if the face down card is 10, he always takes the action of adding a card.

Therefore, the dealer is more likely to burst, so it is recommended to double down and attack.

② When the hand is "10"

When the hand is "10", double down if the dealer's upcard is 2-9. This is because if you add a new card, it will be "20" when you expect 10 additional cards.

If the dealer's upcard is a 9, even if the added card yields a 10, it will still be "19", and as a result the player can win.

1. If the hand is "11"

When the hand is ``11'', double down if the dealer's upcard is between 2 and 10. As already explained, in blackjack, the probability of getting a "10" is high, so in the case of this hand, the possibility of aiming for a blackjack "21" is very high.

Therefore, double down and aim for a high dividend.

④ When the hand is "13 to 18"

With hands 13 (A and 2) to 18 (A and 7), double down if the dealer's upcard is 4-6.

When the total number of hands is between 13 (A and 2) to 18 (A and 7), adding cards will not burst

Hit when 17 (A and 6) or less

A soft hand containing an ace with 17 or less will not burst even if you add more cards. This is because even if a large number appears, if A is counted as "1", there will be no burst. So if you have a soft hand and 17 or less, hit. Also, if you can double down, give priority to that.

Always split when 8 and 8

If you have two "8" cards in your hand, the total number is 16 and there is a high possibility that you will burst if you add more cards.

If you split, even if "10" comes out, the maximum number will be 18 and there will be no burst. Therefore, even if the two cards dealt are "8", be sure to split.

Do not use insurance

Blackjack has an action called insurance, but basically it is a cardinal rule not to use it.

The probability that the dealer's second card is the number '10' is approximately 30%.

If the dealer's upcard is an 'A', you must draw a '10' card to build a blackjack. In this case, there is a high possibility of drawing 10, and it is easy to get blackjack "21", so basically avoid using insurance.

If A is dealt, hit without hesitation

A is a player's advantage card that can be counted as '1' or '11'.

So if you have an A in your hand, you will not burst even if you draw a new card. So don't hesitate to hit it.

Basic strategy

If you play blackjack, make sure you know the basic strategy.

The basic strategy is a summary of which action selection has the highest probability of winning, based on the player's card total and the dealer's upcard.

Therefore, if you look at the actions according to this table, you can choose the action that is most likely to win.

H...hit D...double down S...stand P...split

1. For hard hands (not including A or counting A as 1)

opponent's hand

dealer's hand

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

A.

8 or less

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

9

H.

D.

D.

D.

D.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

10

D.

D.

D.

D.

D.

D.

D.

H.

H.

H.

11

D.

D.

D.

D.

D.

D.

D.

D.

H.

H.

12

H.

H.

S.

S.

S.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

13

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

14

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

15

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

16

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

H.

H.

H.

H.

H.

17 or more

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

S.

2. Soft hand (when A is counted as "11")

	dealer's hand
my hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A.
A.2	H.	H.	H.	D.	D.	H.	H.	H.	H.	H.
A.3	H.	H.	S.	D.	D.	H.	H.	H.	H.	H.
A.4	H.	H.	S.	S.	S.	H.	H.	H.	H.	H.
A.5	H.	H.	S.	S.	S.	H.	H.	H.	H.	H.
A.6	H.	S.	S.	S.	S.	H.	H.	H.	H.	H.
A.7	S.	D.	D.	D.	D.	S.	S.	H.	H.	H.
A.8	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.
A.9	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.

(3) Split

	dealer's hand
my hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A.
A・A	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.
10・10	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.	S.
9・9	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	S.	P.	P.	S.	S.
8・8	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	H.
7・7	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	H.	H.	H.	H.
6・6	P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	H.	H.	H.	H.	H.
5・5	D.	D.	D.	D.	P.	D.	D.	D.
4・4	H.	H.	H.	P.	P.	H.	H.	H.	H.	H.
3・2		P.	P.	P.	P.	H.	H.	H.	H.	H.
2・２		P.	P.	P.	P.	P.	H.	H.	H.	H.

Use system betting strategically

Blackjack also allows you to use system betting. There are many types of system betting, from defensive to offensive, and you can choose the best one according to your personal play style.

10% investment method

The 10% investment method is a system betting in which 10% of your own money is the bet amount for each game. It can be said that it is an easy-to-understand system betting because the bet amount is always determined based on your own funds.

Also, since you will bet the amount that matches your own funds, you will not take a big risk.

The 10% investment method is characterized by the fact that the more you win in a row, the bigger the bet amount, so the profit will increase. On the other hand, if you lose and your funds decrease, your bet amount will decrease, so you can reduce your risk.

The disadvantage of the 10% investment method is that if the odds are 50/50, there will be a loss.

Labouchere tactics

Labouchere is known as a defensive strategy in system betting. In the Labouchere method, the loss amount is set in advance, so it is characterized by being able to grasp the risk.

To start the Labouchere method, first choose 4 to 10 random numbers. In this case, the numbers do not necessarily have to be consecutive, and can be randomly selected. And the total number of this first set number will be the maximum loss amount.

When you start a game using the Labouchère system, you set your wager for the game by adding the numbers on either end of the sequence.

Then, when you win a game, add the wager for that game to the right side of the sequence.

On the other hand, if you lose the game, delete the numbers on both ends of the sequence one by one. The numbers in the sequence are increased or decreased according to the win or loss, and the game ends when the numbers in the sequence are exhausted or there is only one remaining.

The advantage of the Labouchere method is that the maximum loss amount is fixed and that if you win consecutively, you can make a big profit. However, you need to be careful, because if you don't have a winning streak, your losses will gradually increase.

martingale system

The Martingale system is very simple and the only rule is to double your bet if you lose. And keep doing this until you win.

It is known as a particularly aggressive strategy in system betting.

With the Martingale system, even if you lose, if you keep betting twice the amount you bet on the previous game, once you win, you can make up for all your losses.

However, the martingale method has the disadvantage that it is easy to get stuck in the pot because you can recover all the profits and losses with one win. It's hard to quit the game because you're dependent on one win, like ``I'll be fine if I win once''.

It is also important to gracefully quit the martingale system if you continue to lose, as your funds may run out or your bet amount may reach the table limit.

3x martingale system

As the name suggests, the 3x Martingale system is an evolution of the Martingale system.

If you continue to lose, the bet amount will triple, so it is a very risky system betting, but it is attractive that the payout is large when you win. Also, there is a feature that the longer the loss continues, the larger the profit remaining when winning.

As with the Martingale system, there are also disadvantages such as a large psychological burden to win, the possibility of running out of funds, and the possibility of reaching the table limit.

goodman method

Goodman's method, also known as the 1235 method, is system betting. It is a simple system betting that increases the bet amount in 4 stages of "1, 2, 3, 5" according to the win, and returns the bet amount to 1 when losing. The rules are very simple, so it can be said that this system betting is recommended for beginners.

Goodman's method is a low-risk system betting that is unlikely to lead to large losses. Also, if you win in a row at the beginning, there is an advantage that you can easily make a profit even if you lose in a row later. Since the bet amount does not increase suddenly, it is a recommended system betting for those who have little funds.

However, in order to be profitable with the Goodman method, you must have a winning streak. Also, even if you win in a row, the profit is often small and you cannot aim for a large dividend. Therefore, it will feel unsatisfactory for high rollers.

barnett law

The Barnett Law, also known as the 1326 Law, is a system betting. It is a simple system betting that increases the bet amount in 4 stages of "1, 3, 2, 6" according to the win, and returns the bet amount to 1 when losing.

It is very similar to the Goodman method, but there is a difference in the preset units, and the Barnett method has a larger number. Therefore, if the Goodman method is not profitable and uninteresting, it is better to use the Barnett method.

The Barnett method has the advantage that the increase in bets is gradual, so it is unlikely to lead to a large loss. Also, if you get a winning streak at the beginning, you can make a profit even if you lose in the second half.

However, if wins and losses alternate, the final balance will be negative.

pyramid method

The pyramid method is a system betting that allows you to enjoy the game for a long time because the increase and decrease of the bet amount is gradual. The rules of the pyramid system are very simple: increase your bet by $1 when you lose and decrease your bet by $1 when you win.

If you win when your bet reaches $1 (or the minimum bet), you will not be able to reduce your bet any further, in which case you will keep your bet of $1 and continue the game. In the pyramid method, there is no particular timing for the end of the game, so you can continue the game as long as you like. And the pyramid method has a gradual increase and decrease in bets, so even if you have a small amount of money, you can enjoy the game for a long time.

In the pyramid method, it is determined whether or not there is a profit depending on how you repeat winning and losing. Especially in the pattern of winning streak from losing streak, it is easy to make a profit, so it is good to continue the game. However, it is said that it is better to cut losses as soon as possible because losses increase after winning streaks, winning streaks and losing streaks, etc.

parley law

The parley system, also known as the reverse martingale system, doubles your bet when you lose, while the parley system doubles your bet when you win.

So the more you win, the more profit you can make. However, if you lose even a single loss, you lose all the profits you have made so far. Therefore, the most important thing in the parley method is when to stop.

When using the parlay method, it is a good idea to take measures such as returning the bet to the original amount after winning 〇 times, or changing the method.

If you get carried away with the success of your winning streak, you will lose all your profits in an instant because of a single loss. Therefore, when using the parley method, it is recommended not to be too greedy and to gracefully stop the game when you reach your goal.

Monte Carlo method

The Monte Carlo method is one of the most effective system betting methods, and there is even an anecdote that a player who used the Monte Carlo method in the past closed a casino because he made too much money.

Since such a Monte Carlo method is a little complicated, you will need paper and a pen when using it.

In the Monte Carlo method, we first prepare three arbitrary numbers. You can choose any number for this, but let's use the sequence (1,2,3) for simplicity.

Start the game by writing the sequence (1,2,3) on a piece of paper. At this time, the bet amount is 1 + 3 = 4 dollars, which is the sum of the numbers on both sides.

And if you lose the game, add your bet to the end of the sequence. Then the sequence will look like this:

(1,2,3,4)

In the next game, the wager is 1+4=$5.

Similarly, suppose you lose the second game as well. In that case, the wager is added to the end of the sequence and the sequence looks like this:

(1,2,3,4,5)

If you continue to lose, repeat this process.

And in the next game the bet is 1+5=$6. Let's say you win the first time here.

If you win, instead of adding your bet to the end, you remove the numbers on either end. At this time, in a game with double dividends, one number on each end is deleted, and in a game with triple dividends, two numbers on both ends are deleted.

Then the sequence will look like this:

Double dividend game…(2,3,4)

Triple dividend game…(3)

The Monte Carlo method increments or decrements the numbers in the sequence like this, depending on whether you win or lose. And the game continues until the number becomes 0 or 1. In the above example, the game ends here because there are only 3 left in the sequence in the game with 3x payouts. And in the Monte Carlo method, when the numbers in the sequence become 0 or only 1, it is the winning point, that is, the timing when profit is made.

The advantage of the Monte Carlo method is that the stakes grow slowly. If you set the first series to a small number, the numbers in the entire series will not suddenly increase, so even if you continue to lose, the increase in bets will be gradual. Therefore, even if you lose once, you will not lose a lot. Another advantage of the Monte Carlo method is that it is difficult to reach the table limit because the funds do not grow extremely large.

On the other hand, the Monte Carlo method has the disadvantage that if you continue to lose, you have to win in a row to recover all the gains and losses. The disadvantage of the Monte Carlo method is that if the number of losses is greater than the number of wins, the profit and loss will eventually swell.

Use how to win blackjack!

Blackjack is a casino game that has been studied by many mathematicians and professional gamblers, so there are many strategies. By remembering these strategies and deciding which action to take in which hand, you can increase your winning rate at once. It's hard to learn at first, but once you get used to it, anyone can master it.

By all means, let's master the strategies, basic strategies, and system betting introduced here so that you can increase your winning percentage in blackjack.