How to Improve Your Odds of Winning in Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games and it is also arguably the most complex. It’s a game in which the players compete against the dealer, and winning is based on having a higher hand value than the dealer’s without going over 21. Each player is dealt two cards, and then may choose to “hit” to receive additional cards or “stand” (keep the current hand) based on predetermined rules. The game is played with one or more standard 52-card decks, and the values of cards are determined by their number, face value (e.g., a face card is worth 10), and the suit.
In addition to knowing the game’s etiquette, an experienced player will learn how to count cards and use that information to improve his or her odds of beating the dealer. This is known as card counting and requires practice and discipline. Counting cards is not as easy as it looks, but once a player becomes proficient in counting, he or she can improve the odds of winning by making more informed decisions during play.
One of the most important decisions a player makes in blackjack is whether or not to take “insurance,” a side bet that the dealer has a blackjack. This bet, which is placed on the “insurance bar” above the player’s cards, pays off 2-1 if the dealer has a blackjack. However, taking insurance is a risky proposition for the player because it increases the house edge by about 2.5%.
There are many other ways that players strive to lower the house edge in blackjack, including splitting pairs and double-downing on certain hands. But one of the most effective strategies is an early surrender, which allows a player to save half his or her original bet before the dealer checks for blackjack. The early surrender option reduces the house edge by about 0.624 percent, and it is a great way for newcomers to the game to lower their initial bet size while still enjoying a decent chance of winning.
While some players think that it is a good idea to stand on a hard 16, others know that this is a losing strategy. The reason is that the dealer will bust nearly 80 percent of the time with a face up card of 9 or higher, while a player’s hard 16 has an overall probability of winning only about 50 percent of the time.
A better strategy is to split a pair of fours or more, and then double down on each of them, if possible. This maximizes your wins and minimizes your losses, and it is especially effective when the dealer has a weak up-card like a 3 or 4. Novice players often think that the ten-ace blackjack is the best hand to make. But expert players know that the real money is made on those hands that aren’t a ten-ace but are much stronger, such as a four-pair of threes or more.