To win at blackjack, a player’s hands must total more than the dealer’s hands. If the hands total more than the dealer’s, the player wins and keeps his bet. But before you can start playing blackjack, you should understand your options. This article will cover the basic strategy table and some basic blackjack betting strategies, such as insurance bets and doubling down. The goal is to win more money than the dealer, but you should always understand your options before you begin playing.
Basic strategy table for blackjack
A basic strategy table for blackjack contains 500 decision points. For instance, if your total is less than 16 against the dealer’s ten, you must decide whether to hit or stand. If you stand, you are headed to disaster, as you are assuming that the dealer is holding a ten in the hole. Thankfully, there are ways to increase your odds of success with basic card counting. Here are three ways to use the basic strategy table to your advantage.
Insurance bets
Insurance bets on blackjack come into play when the dealer has an Ace as his up card. The dealer checks the deck for blackjack, and then turns over one of the ten-value cards. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the insurance bet is paid two to one. Although insurance bets are not generally recommended for beginners, card counters may want to consider placing one. On a standard twenty-five dollar bet, it pays 2:1.
Player losing ties at blackjack
As detrimental as low pay-outs in blackjack are, player losing ties at blackjack are even worse. It occurs almost eight percent of the time and increases a player’s loss significantly. This happens even if the casino shows both dealer cards face up and allows the player to see the dealer’s full hand. When the dealer hits on soft seventeen, the house is more likely to land a higher total than the player.
Doubling-down strategy
A doubling-down blackjack strategy is a way to increase your winnings by doubling down your primary bet after your dealer has shown a low-quality upcard. This strategy is recommended in certain situations, such as when you have two bad cards. Usually, you need to make sure the dealer knows you intend to double-down your bet before making your move. To double-down, make sure you signal the dealer with a hand gesture, which will vary between hand-held and shoe blackjack.
Card counting systems
There are two major card counting systems for blackjack. The Uston Advanced Point Count and the Hi Lo Count are both complex systems. The Uston Advanced Point Count is more complex, but not nearly as difficult. In the former, the player keeps a running tally of all used cards and uses a chart below the table to calculate how many decks are left. Both systems use a chart below the table that is easy to read. The Uston Advanced Point Count is slightly more complex than the other two systems, but should be a breeze for most players.