Part of the attraction of blackjack is simplicity and purity. You simply have to collect the number of cards that are better than the dealer’s. You don’t play against other players, and all you have to do is reach 21 points without going bust. Even though it’s so simple, the immense popularity of this game shows that behind this facade, blackjack can be a gripping game, and is one that is well worth trying out.

For newbies to the game, the rules are pretty simple. In blackjack, the king, queen and jack are worth 10 points, and all the number cards are worth their face value, except the ace, which is worth 1 or 11. You can ignore the card’s suit in this game. To win, you need to get a higher number of points than the dealer – you don’t need to always get 21. If both you and the dealer get 21, then you get your bet back. That’s it.

Winning at blackjack consistently takes practice and skill. You can work through the probabilities and check out each different nuance of the game, and the more you play, the greater the feel you’ll develop for what you should do in each situation. That said, if you follow the broad principles outlined below, you’ll find that you’ll be able to win more often, and this can help you gain the experience for developing your own strategies in the game.

1: Staying at 16

There is a lot of debate as to whether you stick or stay at 16. The statistics are that if you hit on 16, you’re likely to lose 69.31 percent, and only win 25.31 percent of the time; the remainder is if you push 5.46 percent of the time. This gives you a net loss of around 44 percent. If you stay on 16, you’re more likely to win; your net loss goes down to 2.1 percent. Therefore, it’s a good rule of thumb to stay at 16.

2: Knowing When to Stay at 12-16 and When to Hit

A slightly more refined approach to the above is to stay if the total value of your hand is between 12 and 16 (without pairs) and the upcard is 2-6. This means that the dealer is more likely to bust (exceed 21).

However, if the upcard is 7 through to an ace, you should hit in situations where you have 12-16. This is because it is more likely that the dealer has a stronger hand, and it means that you can make your response stronger.

 3: Knowing When to Double Down

Doubling down means that you double the bet in the middle of a hand and receive an extra card. This can be a dangerous move but it is worth doing in the following scenarios:

• If your score is 9 or 10 and you have no ace. 
• If your hand scores 11, whether or not you have an ace. In particular, when the dealer’s upcard is 2-10 , you should definitely double down. This is because you are more likely to draw a card with a value of 10 than any other card.
• You have a soft 16 or 17, which means you have a 6 or 7 with an ace.

If the dealer has an ace, don’t double down because it means that the dealer is more likely to get 21.

4: Knowing When to Split

Splitting is where you have two cards that are the same value, and you can split them into two separate hands, and then you receive an extra card for each hand. Each hand is then worth the original bet and so you can double the bet with this tactic. Splitting should take place when you have two of the following cards.

• Aces
• Eights

Do not split in situations where you have a pair of tens, fives or fours. Where you have any other value, the decision to split depends on what card is held by the dealer.

5: Avoid Progressive Betting

Progressive betting systems might seem like a good idea for blackjack, but it’s not the sort of game that really suits this approach. You will need a very long winning streak to notch up any large wins. Other betting systems, such as the martingale system might suit this game better.

6: Manage Your Budget

If you want to win at blackjack, it’s important to manage your budget for each session. Set how much you’d like to bet, and stick to it. Do not bet more than you want to lose; usually the recommended level for each bet should be limited to less than 2 percent of your overall bankroll. This means you can play for longer and keep improving your potential for winning.

7: Knowing to Avoid Insurance Bets

An insurance bet is basically a side-bet which you can take out if the dealer’s upcard is an ace. It is usually offered at odds of 2 to 1 and is paid in cases that the dealer’s second card is worth 10. So, if the dealer scores blackjack, you would receive twice the insurance bet.

There is some debate over which is the best approach concerning insurance bets. Most of the established players believe that it cannot replace solid strategy and it’s better to focus on the game in hand. The reason is that the odds of the dealer achieving blackjack are less than any other result, so over time, an insurance bet will lose money. It also means that the dealer has a greater advantage if insurance in these cases. It is best to focus on your own game, and the odds are higher of achieving wins in these situations.

8: Play Online

If you’re new to Blackjack, online casinos are a lot less intimidating compared with land-based tables. They also offer a number of advantages, such as a lower minimal bet, the fact that you can look at any notes you have made, and you can also get win bonuses automatically. So why not try Frumzi, check in to SG Casino or bank on BankonBet – all great providers of online blackjack – and try some of these tips in action.