The Ultimate Guide to Beating Online Blackjack: Rules, Strategies, and More
How to Beat Online Blackjack: What You’ll Learn
- Mastering Online Blackjack Strategies: Discover how to beat online Blackjack with detailed strategies and techniques such as card counting and betting variations to enhance your online Blackjack game.
- Minimizing the House Edge: Learn the concept of house edge and get valuable tips on how to reduce it, effectively increasing your chances of winning.
- Playing Smart: Gain insights into smart play, understanding when to make crucial game moves and efficiently manage your bankroll, alongside leveraging bonuses and promotions.
Can online Blackjack be beaten? The straight answer is: Yes!
Playing Blackjack online provides just as good of a chance of winning as if you were playing in a live casino with a deck of cards. As long as you’re gambling on a legitimate online casino, you’ll be able to use any number of strategies to lower the house edge.
Why is Blackjack so popular? It’s one of the easiest games to learn that involves skill as well as a little bit of luck. Once a player grasps the basics of Blackjack and picks up some Blackjack tips they can play in almost any casino, both online or land-based.
Overview of Online Blackjack Basics
Regardless of the table you sit at (either online or land-based) the goal of online Blackjack is pretty universal.
The Dealer deals out two cards to each player face up and one face up and one face down to themselves. The player will try to get as close to 21 as strategically possible without going over. If they exceed 21, they bust.
Depending on your two face up cards and the Dealer’s up card, you’ll want to make one of the following choices:
- Hit. You get another card
- Stand. You stay with the hand you have
- Double Down. Double your wager and get dealt one card
- Split. If you have pair, you double your wager and split your hand into two new Blackjack hands
Dealers are required to Hit if the value of their cards is lower than 17, unless indicated.
Understanding Online Blackjack Hand Values
Your Blackjack hand value is based on the cards you’re dealt.
- 2-10 cards have the same value as the number on the card
- Jack, Queen and King have a value of 10
- Aces have a value of either 1 or 11 depending on the second card
- A Soft hand is a hand in which the Ace is used as an 11. You’ll often see: Dealer’s Must Hit Soft 17. This means that if the Dealer has a 6 and an Ace, they will Hit.
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Basic Online Blackjack Strategy
For beginners, learning when to Hit or Stand can be a bit overwhelming. However, with a basic Blackjack strategy and a little understanding of the odds, you’ll be able to figure out the best time to take a card or stay with your hand’s value.
One thing you want to remember when it comes to your decisions at the table is that a Blackjack Dealer must Stand on 17 or higher.
Also, you’ll want to consider the likelihood of receiving a card with a value of ten. There are 4 types of cards with a value of ten: 10, Jack, Queen and King. Therefore, 16 out of 52 cards in a standard Blackjack deck will have a value of ten – this is nearly 30%.
General Blackjack Strategy for When to Hit and Stand
- If your total card value is 11 or less, Hit
- If your total card value is 12-16 and the Dealer’s face up card is 2-6, Stand
- The reason is that there is a high likelihood of a card valued at 10 being dealt next. If you Hit, you’re likely to Bust. Assuming the Dealer has a 10 faced down, if they Hit, they Bust and you win.
- If your total card value is 12-16 and the Dealer’s face up card is 7-10, Hit
- While it is a gamble, the likelihood of the Dealer having at least a 17 means they will stay and therefore, you would lose – you might as well go down fighting.
- If your total card value is 17 or higher, Stand
Up-to-Date Strategies on Optimal Play Decisions
Making the best decisions in the moment is hard enough, but you’ll want to consider these strategies for optimal play decisions to enhance your chances of winning more money.
- Double Down
- If your two face up cards have a value of 11, it’s best to Double Down. The likelihood of a high-number card being dealt next is high and therefore gives you the chance to get to 20 or 21 and win.
- If your two face up cards have a value of 10 and the Dealer’s cards are 2-6, a Double Down is another optimal decision.
- The Importance of Splitting Aces and Eights
- Splitting Aces: If you are dealt 2 Aces, you can Split them into two new hands and have a high likelihood of making two 21s. Otherwise the two Aces will have a value of 2 or 12.
- Splitting 8s: If you are dealt 2 8s, that’s 16 which isn’t a very good hand. However, if you split 8s, the likelihood of getting two hands worth 18 is pretty strong. On top of that, if you get an Ace on a split 8 then that’s worth 19 and if you are dealt a 2 or 3, you can even Double Down.
- Soft Blackjack Hands
- If one of your cards is an Ace, the hand is considered “soft.” If the value is 16 or lower, Hit.
Bankroll Management Techniques
Part of the fun of gambling is the possibility of winning some money. However, it’s important to only play with money that you can afford to lose.
Here are some tips for disciplined gambling and ways you can manage your bankroll and enjoy the experience of playing at a Blackjack table.
Setting a Budget for Your Play
It’s one thing to set a budget, it’s another to stick to it. With a budget, you can help keep a bad run as nothing more than a little bad luck. If you go beyond your means trying to chase a winning streak, you’re more than likely going to have a bad experience at Blackjack.
Also, make sure you’re gambling with disposable income and not using money allocated for things like utilities, rent or payments.
The Risks of Emotional Decisions
Your first card is an Ace. Will you get a Blackjack?
You have 16 and the Dealer’s face up card is a 6. Will they Bust or eke out a win?
There are a lot of emotions in Blackjack but if you put emotions into your decisions, you’re giving the house a higher edge. Try to stick to your Blackjack strategies and, if you are feeling a lot of emotions creep up, take a break and step away.
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Exploring Variations of Online Blackjack
There are several Blackjack variants out there depending on the table rules. Variants might be small such as how many decks are being used or side bets. Other variants change key parts of the game though.
Popular Blackjack Variants
- Spanish 21 is one of the most popular Blackjack variants you’ll find in a casino. The basics remain the same only all the 10s have been removed from the deck. However, there are still Jacks, Queens and Kings with a value of ten. There also tends to be more bonus payouts such as getting a 5-card 21 or three 7s
- Double Exposure Blackjack differs from classic Blackjack in that the Dealer’s cards are dealt face up. To offset this advantage, a Blackjack might pay 1:1
- Progressive Blackjack tables will offer a side bet for a jackpot which becomes part of a larger pot. Having a specific hand means players can win the jackpot!
- With European Blackjack, the Dealer only receives one face-up card when initially dealing. Only after all the players have Hit or Stand will they receive the second card.
Live Dealer vs. Automated Games
While the rules won’t necessarily change, there is a difference to playing live dealer versus online Blackjack. How to beat online Blackjack still comes down to strategy just as if you were playing in a casino.
A live Blackjack dealer will shuffle cards and deal them out. There are online Blackjack sites that will have a live dealer passing cards out like in a land-based casino and the players will see the cards they received. The game is played as normal.
With automated games, whether playing inside a casino or through an online gambling site, cards are dealt via Random Number Generator (RNG). This means that with a standard 52 card deck, any cards dealt are random as opposed to using an actual deck where the cards would be pre-determined, even if no one knows what that next card will be.
RNG also means that each new hand is completely fresh. So, unlike a casino where they would shuffle when the cards are running low, RNG sets a new deck on every hand.
A licensed online gambling site will use RNG to ensure that games are random and fair.
Is there a strategy to online Blackjack?
Any basic strategy that you would use with a live dealer or in a casino can be used with online Blackjack. What makes online Blackjack harder is the inability to count cards since each new hand is independent of the previous ones.
Some ways to maximize your playing though with online Blackjack is through side bets which are not always available in live games.
The House Edge Explained
The house edge indicates the average percentage of all money paid in by players that the casino would expect to keep. There are a lot of factors that go into determining the house edge but using a basic Blackjack strategy can bring it down from 2-3% to as low as 0.17%, although generally players will get it below 1%.
A basic online Blackjack site will have close to the same house edge as a land-based one, however, online casinos will offer more side bets. While these might be fun to play, they increase the average percentage of money the casino brings in.
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Advanced Strategies for Serious Players
Just because you may use advanced strategies, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are guaranteed to win. So, how do you beat live online Blackjack? Just like any other forms of gambling, advanced strategies only help in lowering the house edge.
An Introduction to Card Counting
Card counting involves the use of math to determine whether a hand is likely to be advantageous to the player or to the Dealer. Card counters will track the number of high and low cards dealt and use this strategy to figure out the best times raise or lower their bets and Hit or Stand on their hand.
When card counting is done right, it can decrease the house edge by as much as 1%.
Hi-Lo Card Counting Strategy
This Blackjack card counting technique works by assigning a value, or ‘tagging’ each card dealt face up with either -1, 0 or 1.
- Lo cards (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) receive a tag of +1.
- Other cards (7, 8, 9) have a tag of 0. This is because they don’t significantly impact a count.
- High cards (10s, Aces) receive a tag of -1.
The more positive the number (more lo cards removed), the better the positioned the player is. If the count is negative, the deck more likely favors the house.
Betting Systems: Martingale and Beyond
Blackjack betting systems are different than playing strategies. With a betting strategy, your betting style will be tied to the system more than how to play the game when the cards are dealt.
- Martingale
Martingale is one of the more popular types of betting systems. The idea is for the player to double their bets when they are losing. This strategy is designed to get you back on even ground with the goal of wiping out your losses with one big win. However, if you’re losing, betting more can feel risky.
- d’Alembert
When using the d’Alembert betting strategy, players raise their bets by one unit every time they lose. When they win, they lower their bet by one unit. For example, if you start with a $20 wager and lose, your next bet would be $21 (or $25 depending on how you define a unit). If you win the next hand, you lower your next bet down to $20.
- Fibonacci
Fibonacci is an aggressive Blackjack betting system based on a famous mathematical sequence called the Fibonacci sequence. The succeeding number in the sequence is the sum of the two previous numbers. The sequence goes like so: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, and so on.
The Fibonacci betting system determines a players’ bet after they lose a hand. If they win, they keep their hand as is.
- 1-3-2-6
This seemingly odd betting system is based on the randomness of Blackjack and maximizing wins while minimizing losses. Start with 1 unit (say $10 if that’s the minimum) and if you win, you multiply the original unit by the next number.
If you hit a winning streak and your betting $10, your wagering would look like this over 5 hands:
- $10
- $30
- $20
- $60
- $10
If you lose, you start back at 1 unit.
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Common Myths About How to Beat Online Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular games, but there is plenty of skepticism how to beat online Blackjack on a gambling app where hands are dealt electronically and you can’t witness the action like in a land-based casino.
Here are 4 common myths about online Blackjack.
- Online Blackjack is rigged. If you play on a licensed and regulated online casino site, you can rest assured that that cards are dealt randomly and fairly. Online casinos use a RNG when it comes to Blackjack, slots and other games of chance. They are also audited regularly.
- RNG means you can’t count cards. If you’re playing online Blackjack and there is a live Dealer dealing from a deck of cards, then the opportunity to count cards is there. However, in most cases, the randomness of online Blackjack means that a deck is “shuffled” after every round.
- Online Blackjack and Land–Based Blackjack have the same house edge. It all depends on what sites and how you play. You can always lower the house edge by using any number of strategies, however, the online casino actually can have higher payouts. They also have side bets which raise the house edge.
- Online Blackjack is programmed to make you lose over time. This also has to do with the house edge. Remember, the house edge favors the casino so technically you’re not supposed to win over the long run at a casino. It all depends on how you play and the RNG – a licensed, reputable casino ensures each hand is random and fair.
Practicing How to Beat Online Blackjack with Free Games
If you don’t practice you won’t get better. However, beginners to Blackjack or those interested in trying a new strategy might feel intimidated wagering. In this case, check out the free Blackjack games available online.
Benefits of Using Free Blackjack Apps
Free Blackjack games are great tools to help you learn the game or just practice without having to pay any money. The more you play, the better you will become at recognizing patterns, seeing what works and how various betting strategies might pay off, or not.
Most of all, if you enjoy the game, free Blackjack apps allow you to play just about anywhere you want.
Tips for Enhancing Your Blackjack Gameplay Experience
While there is never a guarantee that you will beat online Blackjack, what you can do is ensure you have a great gameplay experience.
First off, understand the basic strategy. Once you understand the ample times to Hit, Stand, Double Down and Split, you’ll enjoy playing the game because you’re lowering the house edge and opening up ways to make more money. Speaking of which, set a budget. This is important because you’ll need a red line that indicates it’s time to stop if you’re losing. This goes along with knowing when to walk away so you’re not chasing after losses or digging yourself deeper into a hole.
If you’re looking for a more realistic experience, try finding online Blackjack with live dealers. This means you’re playing in real-time with not only a live dealer, but also other players from all over the world. You can also try different strategies both in play and betting strategies.
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Choosing the Right Online Casino
For many newcomers, online gambling is still a bit scary. To make things more safe and secure, find an online casino that is licensed and regulated. A quick search can help you find reputable ones or going through our site will ensure you’ll choose the right online casino.
Some ways to ensure that an online casino is legitimate:
- Make sure it’s licensed and regulated.
- Consider the website or app design. Does it look cheap? Unprofessional?
- Read reviews from other players.
- Look for legitimate deposit and withdrawal methods, including information on how long it takes to process a withdrawal.
How Do You Win Big in Online Blackjack?
The strategies and methods outlined here will help you lower the house edge, however, there is no getting it to zero. So, if you’re asking how to beat online Blackjack, the answer is simply the same way you would beat a land-based Blackjack table – by lowering the house edge.
Paying attention to the cards that have been played and using basic strategies can provide a greater chance of winning. The key is to maximize the wins and minimize the losses.
If you’re enjoying the experience, you’ll find you’ll accept the losses with more ease and find greater satisfaction in the wins.
Title Image Credit: Neale Cousland/Shutterstock
