Guide to Blackjack Betting Strategies

On this page you find details about the most popular blackjack betting strategies, tips and tricks to win, and best blackjack betting systems.

What is The Value of Cards in Blackjack

In Blackjack, the player’s goal is to have cards in his hand whose total value is greater than the dealer’s cards, but not more than 21 (Blackjack). The value of the cards varies:

• Each Ace has two values — 11 before the sum exceeds 21 and 1 after that.
• Value of every card between 2 and T is equal to its denomination.
• Jack, Queen and King have values of 10 each.

The dealt cards affect how to choose the best Blackjack strategy for each game.

Top Blackjack Betting Strategies to Win

If you want to become a successful blackjack player, you need to know how to use betting strategies in blackjack of different kind:

• Flat betting in Blackjack is the simplest and safest strategy, where the player bets the same amount on every hand regardless of previous wins or losses. This best betting system for blackjack minimizes risk but doesn’t capitalize on winning streaks or provide much opportunity for significant profit.
• Martingale betting system in Blackjack is a progressive betting system. In this strategy, the player doubles their bet after each loss, aiming to recover all previous losses and gain a profit when they eventually win. While it can be effective, it’s risky and requires a large bankroll to handle potential losing streaks.
• Paroli betting system in Blackjack is another progressive advanced blackjack betting strategy, but unlike the Martingale, the player increases their bet after a win rather than a loss. The goal is to take advantage of winning streaks while limiting potential losses during losing streaks.
• Fibonacci betting strategy in Blackjack is based on the Fibonacci sequence — 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc, where each following number is a sum of two previous. Following this strategy, after a loss players increase their bet by moving to the next number in the sequence. After a win, they move two steps back. This system aims to recover losses gradually without the large swings associated with the Martingale.

Blackjack Strategies to Win

There are only two effective blackjack strategies that can increase chances of winning in Blackjack.

Note: Casinos do not like strategists at the blackjack tables and are very careful to ensure that players do not use strategies that give them an advantage during the game. So be prepared to be banned immediately for using any of them.

Blackjack strategy for beginners

This basic strategy requires the player having or memorizing a chart of the mathematically correct decisions for every possible hand combination and decisions you need to make with them. This chart should include information when to hit, stand, split, or double down to help you make the most profitable decisions. By using this strategy you will not always win, but you will significantly reduce the number of losses.

Blackjack strategy for advanced players

Card counting in Blackjack is the most profitable advanced strategy that requires the player to be able to keep track of the cards dealt and quickly calculate how many cards are left in the deck and what their value is. By using this strategy you will greatly increase your chances of winning every game, but you will put yourself at serious risk of being banned from the casino.

How to Bet in Blackjack

Card game Blackjack has only one mandatory round of betting — before cards are dealt. However, they also have an extra round of betting after they are dealt their first two cards — here they can optionally:

• Double down their first bet in exchange for receiving only one additional card.
• Triple their first bet in exchange for receiving only one additional card. This type of bet is a rare option in casinos.
• Split their hand if they have two cards of the same value. Some casinos allow you to split cards without limitation if you are dealt cards of the same value and others only allow you to split once. Before splitting, you should read the rules.. 
• Take Insurance against Blackjack from the dealer in the form of an additional bet, allowed when the dealer’s first card is an Ace. Rarely available in casinos and varies greatly in terms between them.
• Surrender and leave the game, taking back half of the first bet. Rarely available in casinos and governed by widely varying rules.

The sizing of bets is usually predetermined by the casino: It can be either fixed as table limits, or be in the range preset for your table.

How to choose the best betting strategies to minimize risk in Blackjack? Well, you should evaluate first how high your tolerance to risk is and which strategy is the most comfortable for you personally. 

When to Double Down in Blackjack

One of the important blackjack betting tips is doubling at the right time, which can help you win more money. It can only be used when you have a visible advantage over the dealer or a good potential for improvement, such as:

1. When you have a 9 and no Ace, and the dealer has a low card between 3 and 6.
2. When you have a hand with a total value of 10 or 11 without an Ace.
3. When you have a hand with a total value of 16, 17 or 18 with an Ace (A5, A6, A7) and the dealer has a low card between 3 and 6.

However, there are cases when you must not double down no matter what:

• When the dealer has an Ace or any card worth 10.
• When you have a hand with a total value less than 9.

Remember that doubling down is a very aggressive move that can cost you a lot of money if you don’t use it correctly.

Note: Before applying this betting strategy to your game, study the rules of the specific casino. Different casinos have different rules regarding doubling the bet. Some do not allow players to double the bet. Others do not allow doubling after splitting. Some only allow a player to double when the player already has a certain amount in hand — such as 9, 10 or 11. These special rules can make doubling down less profitable and even more unprofitable for the player.

Blackjack Bankroll Management Tips

1. Learn the basic strategies for betting and playing blackjack, choose the ones that are comfortable for you and stick to them.
2. Monitor your emotions: don’t let them control your actions, stop playing on tilt and don’t try to win back until you regain your mental balance.
3. Set aside a bankroll from your budget for playing blackjack and stick to it.
4. Bet amounts that you can afford to lose without damaging your well-being.
5. Stick to percentage-based betting systems to prevent a quick waste of your bankroll and stretch it over a larger number of games.