Mastering 12bet Blackjack Strategy: Beat the Dealer
After learning how to play blackjack as a whole, the next step is learning how to win through blackjack strategies. Mastering blackjack strategies, from Basic Strategy to more advanced strategies building up from Basic Strategy. This article will guide you through the different strategies, tricks and tips to boost your winning odds.
Blackjack is one of the popular card games that involves game strategy and luck. If you are a beginner, you must learn first learn Basic Strategy to improve your winning chances. The basic rules of the Blackjack are simple and will help in playing the game but to master it, you will require the advanced techniques and strategies to follow. In this article, we will walk you through various advanced tricks and tips to elevate your game and maximize your winnings.
What is the Basic Blackjack Strategy?
The very first thing to keep in mind is the bankroll management in all gambling games because it is the money for which you are betting. Once you manage your bankroll, you need to learn or know how to bet including how much to bet. If you cover these aspects, then you can move on to learn the basic Blackjack strategy and learn to invest your money once the dealer gives you the two cards.
Suppose you have sat on the table and the game has begun. The basic Blackjack strategy includes what to do in all the situations that can arise at the Blackjack table like how to play soft and hard hands, when to split etc. To understand these strategies, you need to remember a lot and hence we have simplified the process and created charts to explain how to play soft hands and hard hands, when to split and surrender.
Hard Hands Chart
Provided below is a Basic Strategy chart focusing on hard hands and what the player must do when they’re dealt that hand against a dealer’s upcard. The meaning of the letters in the table below are the following:
Player Totals | Dealer Up Card | |||||||||
Hard Hands | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace |
17 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
16 – 13 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
12 | H | H | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
11 | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H |
10 | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | H | H |
9 | H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | H | H | H | H | H |
8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Soft Hands Chart
Provided below is a Basic Strategy chart focusing on soft hands and what the player must do when they’re dealt that hand against a dealer’s upcard. The meaning of the letters in the table below are the following:
Player Totals | Dealer Up Card | |||||||||
Soft Hands | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace |
A & 9 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A & 8 | S | S | S | S | DD/S | S | S | S | S | S |
A & 7 | DD/S | DD/S | DD/S | DD/S | DD/S | S | S | H | H | H |
A & 6 | H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | H | H | H | H | H |
A & 5 | H | H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | H | H | H | H | H |
A & 4 | H | H | DD/H | DD/H | DD/H | H | H | H | H | H |
A & 3 | H | H | H | DD/H | DD/H | H | H | H | H | H |
A & 2 | H | H | H | DD/H | DD/H | H | H | H | H | H |
Splitting Pairs Chart
Provided below is a Basic Strategy chart focusing on when players must split. The meaning of the letters in the table below are the following:
Dealer Up Card | ||||||||||
Player’s Hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace |
A & A | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT |
10 & 10 | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT |
9 & 9 | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | DSPLT | SPLT | SPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT |
8 & 8 | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT |
7 & 7 | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT |
6 & 6 | SPLT DAS | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT |
5 & 5 | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT |
4 & 4 | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | SPLT DAS | SPLT DAS | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT |
3 & 3 | SPLT DAS | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT |
2 & 2 | SPLT DAS | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | SPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT | DSPLT |
Surrender Chart
Provided below is a Basic Strategy chart focusing on when to surrender. The meaning of the letters in the table below are the following:
Dealer Up Card | ||||||||||
Player’s Hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace |
16 | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | SUR | SUR | SUR |
15 | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | SUR | D SUR |
14 | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR | D SUR |
If you wish to learn them in statements, then we have simplified it in this form also. These statements will help you to understand when to hit, stand, split, surrender and take insurance.
Always Hit
Always Stand
Always Double Down
Always Split
Always Surrender
Take Insurance
Betting on insurance can be risky, offering only even money payout for a side bet equal to half of your initial wager.
Keep in mind that basic strategy doesn’t guarantee immediate or long-term profits in Blackjack. Instead, it reduces the casino’s advantage, increasing your chances of minimizing losses. Luck remains a significant factor in the game, and short-term outcomes can be unpredictable, regardless of the low house edge.
Exploring Advanced Blackjack Strategies to Increase Winnings
It is important to note that the basic strategy helps to reduce the house edge and increase your winning chances while advanced strategies can elevate your game to the next level and help you win more. These strategies will help you to play for the long term and thereby increase your profit.
Card Counting
It involves tracking of the cards dealt from the shoe which helps the player to calculate what cards are more likely to follow. The player can change or adjust the betting strategies. Having more high cards like picture cards (J, Q, K) and Aces in the deck is advantageous in Blackjack. When this occurs, players have a higher edge, making it beneficial to increase bets. Moreover, additional doubling-down opportunities become available, enhancing the potential for higher winnings.
It is very difficult to keep a mental count of the cards but if you do, it would raise your chances of winning. However, casinos have been active these days and if a player gets caught, casinos may ask him to leave or ban him. Mastering card counting requires a lot of practice and mental concentration.
Shuffle Tracking
Shuffle tracking is an advanced blackjack strategy that involves carefully observing the dealer’s shuffling patterns to gain an edge over the casino. Skilled players can predict the positions of certain cards in the deck, allowing them to make more informed decisions during the game. By knowing the likely location of specific cards, players can adjust their bets accordingly to increase their winning opportunities.
However, mastering shuffle tracking requires a high level of skill and practice. Moreover, it’s important to emphasize that using any electronic device or aid for shuffle tracking is strictly prohibited and considered illegal in most casinos. Players should exercise caution and adhere to the casino’s rules and regulations while employing any blackjack strategy.
Bet Sizing
To optimize your betting decisions, consider factors like your hand strength and the dealer’s upcard. By placing the right wagers, you can enhance your winning potential and minimize losses effectively.
One effective bet-sizing technique involves increasing your bets when the deck favors you. With more high-value cards left in the deck, your chances of securing a blackjack or a strong hand improve. Conversely, when the deck contains more low-value cards, the dealer’s odds of winning increase, prompting you to reduce your bet size accordingly.
Players can also use progressive betting systems like the Martingale system, Labouchere system etc. to increase their bets after a loss and get back to the original bet after a win. However, these systems carry risks and players need to be cautious about them.
Ace Tracking
It is similar to shuffle tracking where skilled players attempt to keep track of specific Aces as they are dealt and played throughout the shoe. The goal of ace tracking is to gain an advantage by knowing when and where Aces are likely to appear in the deck.
To track Aces effectively, players observe the dealer’s shuffling habits and pay close attention to the cards dealt during the game. By keeping a mental count of the Aces that have been played and estimating the number of Aces left in the shoe, players can adjust their betting and playing strategies accordingly.
Hole Carding
Hole carding is an advanced Blackjack technique used by skilled players to gain an advantage over the dealer by spotting the dealer’s face-down card, known as the hole card. This is achieved by closely observing the dealer’s actions, posture and the size of the hole card.
Once the player identifies the dealer’s hole card, they can adjust their playing strategy accordingly. For instance, if the hole card is a ten, the player may choose to be less aggressive in hitting to avoid busting, knowing the dealer is likely to have a strong hand.
It is crucial to understand that hole carding is considered a form of cheating in most casinos and is strictly prohibited. If caught, players may face serious consequences, including legal action and being banned from the casino.
FAQs
Conclusion
Learning the basic strategies will help you in playing the game effectively thereby increasing the winning odds. Beginners should adhere to the basic strategies before playing the game. Advanced strategies take your game to the next level and help you to win more money. To master advanced strategies, players require high concentration and mental effort. However, they must be cautious about the areas of jurisdiction of some casinos where these practices are banned or prohibited to prevent any form of ban or legal consequences.
Start testing out everything that you’ve learned in this strategy guide by playing live blackjack at 12Bet today.