How to Boost Your Odds in Online Blackjack With Basic Strategy

If you’re just starting as a blackjack player, one thing is for sure: you definitely want to boost your odds in this online gambling game and increase your chances of winning. And that’s where basic strategy comes in. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the ins and outs of basic strategy and how it can give you an edge in your online blackjack games.

Hard Hands: With No Aces or an Ace, Counted as 1

When it comes to hard hands in online blackjack, things can get a little tricky. A hard hand is any hand that does not contain an Ace or has an Ace counted as 1 rather than 11. These types of hands require careful decision-making to maximize your chances of winning. The first thing you need to know about playing hard hands is that it’s all about the total value of your cards. Your goal is to get as close to 21 without going over while also considering the dealer’s up card. One strategy for playing hard hands is always to hit if the dealer has a strong up card, such as a 7 or higher. This increases your chances of improving your hand and beating the dealer.

Soft Hands: With an Ace Counted as 11

When playing online blackjack, be familiar with how to play soft hands. A soft hand is a hand that contains an Ace counted as 11. This gives you more flexibility and options during the game. One strategy for playing soft hands is to double down every time the dealer has a weak upcard, such as 4, 5, or 6. By doubling your bet in this situation, you increase your potential winnings if you end up with a strong hand. Another option is to hit if the dealer has a strong upcard, like a face card or an Ace. Since your hand can’t bust by taking another card, it’s worth trying to improve it further.

Pairs

Pairs are an interesting aspect of blackjack that can either make or break your game. When you receive a pair of cards, it means you have two cards of the same rank, such as two 8s or two Jacks. This gives you the option to split your hand into two separate hands and play them individually. Splitting pairs can be a great strategy if done correctly. For example, always split Aces and 8s. Aces should be split because they give you a chance to create two strong hands with the potential for blackjack. Splitting 8s is important because having a hand value of 16 is not ideal, but splitting gives you an opportunity to improve odds. However, there are some pairs that should never be split. These include pairs of 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings. The reason behind this is simple – these pairs already have a high value, and splitting them would only decrease the strength of both hands.

Insurance and Even Money

When playing online blackjack, you may come across the options of insurance and even money. These choices can be tempting, but are they really worth it? Let’s take a closer look. Insurance is often offered every time the dealer has an Ace as their upcard. It allows you to place a side bet in case the dealer ends up with a natural blackjack. While it may seem like a good idea to protect yourself from potential losses, statistically speaking, taking insurance is not advantageous for players in the long run.

In fact, experts suggest avoiding insurance altogether. The reason behind this recommendation is simple – the odds are against you. The payout for insurance bets is 2:1 if the dealer indeed has a blackjack, but considering that there are only four possible cards (10-value cards) that would give them that hand out of thirteen remaining unseen cards at this point in time, your chances of winning this bet are quite slim.…