Blackjack may be a simple casino table game to play, but it is not just a game based on luck that you should take for granted. Oftentimes, a Blackjack game is also about making the correct mathematical decisions. You can definitely exercise your skills in Blackjack to gain an advantage over the casino. With strategy and knowledge combined, you can further lower the casino house edge.
Odds works differently in Blackjack. The outcome of Blackjack usually depends on the previous rounds unlike some casino games like Roulette where the odds stay the same for every spin. In Blackjack, the cards are discarded after they’ve been distributed accordingly. The composition of the card deck changes, as well as the odds.
The house edge or casino advantage is the small percentage of all bets the casino expects to win from the player’s bankroll. The casino establishes certain rules to give itself an advantage over the players.
Gamblers would typically use strategies to lower the casino advantage. Some strategies are effective if they are used and applied correctly in the game. Here are some of the basic tips and strategies you need to remember every time you play Blackjack at an online casino:
Is it said that gamblers typically have a 44% to 48% chance of winning almost every hand or table of Blackjack they choose to play. Every time you have a hand that’s a Blackjack, the payout is usually 3:2 that is about double the amount you wagered. However, this estimate doesn’t only depend on the online casino. Your edge against the casino will also vary based on how you play and apply different strategies that you know in Blackjack. The odds of hitting a particular card aside from a ten-value card are typically 7.7%, and 31% for ten-value cards. Players can expect to hit a Blackjack once every 21 hands they are dealt with.
Before you decide to play at a Blackjack table, always make sure you read the rules of the Blackjack game variant and table first. Here is a list of some of the rules that may vary from casino to casino:
The Blackjack dealer will typically either stand or hit on soft seventeen. This can increase the house edge by 0.2%. If the dealer decides to hit, his or her hand could either result in Blackjack or bust. To protect your bankroll profits, it is recommended that you look for Blackjack tables that require dealers to stand on seventeen.
The number of decks used at a Blackjack table can affect the table’s odds. Most Blackjack tables typically use six or eight decks. If you are able to apply a Blackjack strategy accurately, such as the running count strategy, a shoe with six or eight deck of cards will maintain the house advantage at 0.5%.
You might even encounter a table that uses only one deck when you look for Blackjack games on online casinos. It is recommended that you stay away from tables that use single decks.
Know more about Casino Tips here
Your hand will result in a bust when the value of your cards in Blackjack go over 21. When you bust, you automatically lose all your bets for that round. It should be a big deal for you to know the odds of your own cards.
Here is a table of a player’s probability to bust on the next card drawn:
Hand Value | Probability of Busting |
11 or lower | 0% |
12 | 31% |
13 | 39% |
14 | 56% |
15 | 58% |
16 | 62% |
17 | 69% |
18 | 77% |
19 | 85% |
20 | 92% |
21 | 100% |
The importance of being aware of your odds increases significantly when you look at the probability of the dealer to bust.
Here is a chart of the dealer’s probability to bust:
Dealer’s Card | Probability to bust when standing on a soft seventeen | Probability to bust when hitting on a soft seventeen |
Ace | 17% | 20% |
Two | 35% | 36% |
Three | 37% | 38% |
Four | 40% | 40% |
Five | 42% | 42% |
Six | 26% | 44% |
Seven | 24% | 26% |
Eight | 23% | 24% |
Nine | 20% | 23% |
Ten / Queen, King, Jack | 23% | 23% |
The Blackjack payout odds at the table have the biggest impact. A Blackjack’s table is usually presented in ratios. The most rewarding payout you can achieve in a classic Blackjack game at an online casino would be 3:2. On the other hand, the least favourable payout you might encounter is 6:5.
The payout ratio informs you how much your potential winnings will be. If a Blackjack table has a payout of 3:2, it means you could get 55.05د.إ if you place a 36.73د.إ bet when you hit a natural Blackjack.
To effectively lower the house advantage, it is recommended that you equip yourself with some strategies used in Blackjack. If you are able to apply a perfect blackjack strategy, you can keep the casino’s edge at only 0.403%. Even if you do commit a few mistakes during your rounds, the house advantage should still be at just 0.426%. This means that the house will keep only 15.63د.إ for every 3,670د.إ that you will bet.
Blackjack is a game of both luck and skills combined, so your odds of winning will depend on how you play with the cards you will be dealt with in each round. Now that you know your odds in Blackjack, you can try to apply what you learned from this guide by playing Blackjack for free at an online casino of your choice.