Top 10 Strategies for Winning Big in Live Blackjack

Live Blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games around. Blackjack comes with one of the lowest house edges of any table game, but that's only if you're playing the game correctly and utilizing basic strategies. What are those strategies? We're glad you asked! Today, we're going to take a look at blackjack strategy - like when to hit, stay, split and more - that will help you get the most out of your gaming experience and hopefully equal some big wins on the table. Let's dive in!

What is blackjack

Just in case we have some novice gamblers in the house let's go over the basics first. Blackjack is a table game where the player is going head to head against the dealer to see who can get closer to 21 without going over. The player is dealt two cards face up - cards 2-10 are worth their same number face, face cards are worth 10 and aces are 1 or 11 - while the dealer has one card face up and one face down. Depending on the cards dealt, the player will hit, stay, double or split their two cards in the hope of getting as close to 21 as possible. If a dealer is dealt a 21 on the first two cards that's a natural blackjack and they win with a payout of 3:2 - assuming the dealer doesn't also have a natural 21.

You'll hear phrases like a 'hard 15' or a 'soft 15'. If a player is showing a 'hard 15' that means they have two cards like a 10 and 5 or a 9 and 6. A 'soft 15' means then have an ace and a 4. It's 'soft' because the ace counts as either a 1 or 11.

If the player goes over 21 they bust and lose the hand. If the dealer busts then the player wins - as long as they don't bust as well. If the player is closer to 21 than the dealer when all cards are dealt then the player wins. Okay, now that we've gotten the basics out of the way let's take a look at some strategies!

When should a player hit

Depending on what the dealer has is going to determine how aggressive you should play your hand. Always hit when your cards add up to 11 or less. You can't bust at this point so there's no risk in taking at least one more card.

If the dealer is showing a 7 or higher, this is when you need to get aggressive. Anything below a 17 should be a hit.

When should a player stand

A lot of new gamblers automatically think they need to get as close to 21 no matter what. That's not true. It all depends on the cards showing, especially the dealer's card. The general rule here is that if the player has a hand of 17 or above, the move is to stand - even if the dealer is showing a face card or ace. The odds you're getting dealt a low card are very small.

Strategy comes into play when your hand is a 12-16 and the dealer is showing a 5-6. You might think having a low hand puts you at a disadvantage, but that's not the case. Let the dealer do the work and continue to deal themselves cards. This gives them a higher chance at busting their hand.

When should a player double down

Doubling down is a good way to boost your bankroll but it comes with some risks. A player can double down on their initial two cards but are then only dealt one more card. If you win that hand you win double your bet. So when should a player double down?

If your first two cards equal 10 or 11 you should always double down if the dealer is showing anything less than a 10. If a dealer is showing a 10 or ace then don't risk it. You can also double down on a nine if the dealer has a poor starting card like a 3, 4, 5 or 6.

When should a player split

Splitting is another way to boost your balance. This is an option when you're dealt two of the same cards. You split those and then a second bet of the came value as your original is placed on the second bet. So basically you now have two hands going at once.

You've probably heard the phrase "always split aces and eights." And that's true! Players should also think about splitting 9s, 7s, 6s, 3s and 2s if the dealer is showing anything from a 2 - 6.

Now let's take a look at some more specific scenarios players might face…

If a dealer is showing a 5 or a 6, go ahead and double down if you have a SOFT 13 - 18. You can't bust here and the dealer is in a poor position and has a high chance of busting themselves.
Never - and we mean never - split 5s or 10s. Two 5s has you at 10 so you're already in a good position. Two 10s is 20 so only a blackjack from dealer can beat you. Don't take yourself out of an advantageous position by splitting.
If the dealer is showing a 2 or 3 then hit on a hard 12. 2s for the dealer are tricky. Yes, they're low but they can easily lead to the dealer being in a good position if their second car is a 7, 8 or 9.
Do NOT split two 9s if the dealer is showing a 7. You're in good position here so let the dealer do the work.
Never buy insurance. Insurance is when a dealer is showing an ace. The reason is because the odds are slightly against you so in the long run you'll lose money.

Conclusion

There we have it! A look at some basic blackjack strategy to help maximize your game and - hopefully - wins. So the next time you sit for a live blackjack session remember to stick to basic strategy when you go up against the dealer. Good luck!