7 Basic Blackjack Tips & Strategies for Beginners
Utilizing resources such as interactive tutorials and practice modes can provide valuable blackjack tips for beginners, helping them sharpen their skills and improve decision-making without any financial risk.
Updated November 7, 2024.
Blackjack is a game that rewards knowledge and decision-making skills. While luck plays a role, understanding the basic strategies can improve your chances of success. By mastering the art of hitting, standing, doubling down, and splitting pairs, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions and enjoy the game even more. Adding an understanding of probability in blackjack further sharpens your gameplay, helping you anticipate outcomes and enhance your strategy. Some players even use card counting to track which cards remain in the deck, giving them an additional edge in predicting the likelihood of certain hands.
Quick Reminder
The objective of blackjack is to get closer to 21 than the dealer without exceeding it. Each card in blackjack has a value, and each player starts with two cards that could carry the following values:
- Numbered (2-10) have the listed value
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) all have a value of 10
- Aces can count as 1 or 11, depending on the circumstances
On your turn, you can hit to receive additional cards or stand to keep your current value.
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Essential Blackjack Terms for Beginners
Bankroll: The total money set aside for betting. Managing your bankroll wisely helps you avoid going broke and enjoy more hands without overextending your budget.
Blackjack: The top hand, a two-card 21 (Ace + 10-value card). It pays out 3:2 unless tied with the dealer, making it the most rewarding hand to aim for in each round.
Surrender: Surrendering in blackjack allows you to forfeit half your bet and fold your hand early, usually when facing a strong dealer upcard. This strategy can help minimize your losses in unfavorable situations.
Double Down: Doubling your bet after receiving your first two cards. You get one more card only, making it a powerful move for hands like 10 or 11 when facing a weak dealer card.
Split: Dividing identical starting cards into two hands, doubling the bet. Splitting can improve your odds of winning, especially with pairs like aces or 8s, which benefit from a fresh start.
» Here are a full guide on blackjack terminology that every player should know
1. Know When to Hit or Stand
Understanding when to hit or stand is crucial in blackjack as it could mean the difference between improving a weak hand to a strong one or ruining a potential win with a bust. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- Always hit (at the very least) if your hand totals 10 or less, as there's no risk of busting.
- If your hand totals 12-16, stand if the dealer shows 2-6 as they have a risk of busting, but hit if the dealer shows 7 or higher as your hand isn't strong enough to compete.
- Always stand on 17 or higher.
2. Don't Forget to Double Down
Doubling down is a high-risk, high-reward strategy where you double your initial bet and agree to take only one more card, after which you must stand. This move is most effective when your hand totals 9, 10, or 11 and the dealer's upcard is weak (ranging from 2 to 6).
For instance, if you're holding a total of 10 and the dealer shows a 5, doubling down can significantly increase your potential for winning, especially when the chances are already in your favour.
This is a strategy beginners can employ to leverage promising situations, though it's important to proceed cautiously to minimize the risk of loss.
» See our basic blackjack strategy chart
3. Play Soft Hands Correctly
A soft hand has an ace that's counted as 11, such as an ace and a 6 together making a soft 17. Soft hands are safer than hard hands as they give you the chance to strengthen your total without the risk of an immediate bust.
Always hit on soft 17 or under to make the most of the ace's swing. If you’re holding a soft 13-17 and the dealer’s showing a 5 or 6, doubling down is smart since your odds look good. However, you shouldn't hit with a soft 18 or above as you already have a strong hand that trumps most dealer upcards.
4. Split the Right Pairs
Splitting pairs involves dividing identical cards into two separate hands, each with its own bet. It gives you a higher chance of winning and turning a potentially weak hand into two stronger ones.
This strategy isn't for all pairs, though, as some are better off as a combined hand than a split one. For example, aces or 8s are great hands to split. Splitting aces increases your chance of getting a strong hand while splitting 8s avoids a weak 16 total.
However, you should avoid splitting 10s since a 20 total is already strong, and splitting 5s is less advantageous because you're better off hitting and hoping for an 18 or higher.
» Check out this beginner's guide to the basic rules of blackjack
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5. Don't Be Afraid to Surrender
Some casinos offer the chance to surrender your hand after the dealer's upcard is revealed if you don't feel confident that you can win. You automatically lose the round, but you only forfeit half your bet instead of the whole amount.
Surrendering is best used when you have a weak opening hand, like a hard 15 or 16, and you're facing a strong dealer upcard like a 9 or 10.
6. Consider a Few Insurance Bets
Insurance in blackjack, similar to surrendering, is a strategy designed to try and minimize your losses. It's a side bet option that allows you to gamble on the chances of the dealer getting a blackjack (an ace and a 10-value card). You'll either take the bet or not once the dealer shows the potential for blackjack with their upcard.
The rules are as follows:
- You can wager up to half your original bet on insurance
- It pays 2:1 (instead of the normal 1:1 for a round win)
- It's separate from your main wager, meaning you can either win both, lose both, or win one and lose the other
If you're confident the dealer has blackjack, then insurance can be a good way to increase your potential winnings or break even after a lost round. However, you should note that insurance isn't always recommended due to the higher house edge and the low chances of a blackjack being drawn.
7. Manage Your Bankroll
Managing your bankroll effectively is key to playing blackjack responsibly and keeping it sustainable without losing more than you can afford. Here’s how you can do that:
- Before you start, decide on a budget and stick to it so you don’t end up chasing losses.
- Don’t forget to take breaks now and then. It helps you stay sharp and make smarter calls.
- Keeping bets to no more than 5% of your total bankroll on a single hand is a solid rule to minimize risk.
» Try out these practical tips in real-time blackjack games
How to Enhance Your Blackjack Learning Experience
Our platform elevates users' blackjack playing experience. We offer live-dealer blackjack games online, capturing the essence of authentic casino conditions and honing players' skills.
Engaging with strategy simulators can further enhance your learning experience as a beginner. These tools are invaluable for testing decision-making skills across various game scenarios, enabling players to learn and improve without the pressure of a live game.
Additionally, joining community forums is a great way to immerse yourself in blackjack. Sharing tips, strategies, and experiences with fellow enthusiasts can accelerate your learning.
