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How to Improve Blackjack Odds with Perfect Strategy Techniques

Lucky Strategist Lucky Strategist
- 4 min read
How to Improve Blackjack Odds with Perfect Strategy
Blackjack table | Marvin Newman / AGF / Photononstop via AFP

Blackjack is one of the lowest house-edge games in the casino. Whether you’re playing at your local or online casino for real money, your odds of winning are higher with this game than with many others.

If you use the best blackjack betting strategy, often called basic blackjack strategy, your odds improve even further.

Understanding the Best Blackjack Betting Strategy

Ask the average person to explain the game of blackjack and they’ll probably tell you that it’s all about getting as close to 21 as possible. But the goal is just to beat the dealer. That’s it. Sure, your chances increase the closer you get to 21, but as long as you beat the dealer, then nothing else matters.

That brings us to the main focus of basic blackjack strategy — it’s as much about the dealer’s card as it is your own.

Improving Blackjack Odds with Perfect Strategy

The basic blackjack strategy focuses on the dealer’s single face-up card and plots the best moves based on the likelihood of them turning a winning card.

In the next section, you’ll find a few charts to use as a primary blackjack strategy trainer. Let’s look forward to this momentarily and suppose you have a 16 in your hand. If the dealer draws to a soft 17, as you will often see them do when you play online blackjack or offline blackjack, it means they will always hit when their score is under 17.

You stand if they have a 5, as the odds of their next card putting you in trouble are slim. After all, there are only 13 cards in the deck, and most will hurt them. Four cards have a value of 10 (10, J, Q, K), equating to a 30.7% probability that they will score 15 and a 53.9% chance of going bust on the next draw.

If their up-card is a 10, eight cards can now beat you, equating to a probability of 61.5%, so even though it seems like a losing move, the strategy recommends hitting.

In that case, there is a 38.5% chance they won’t beat you with one card and the same chance you will draw a better card. “HIT” is the best move because they still have a high chance of beating you if they don’t turn a preferred card, but the odds swing back in your favor if you don’t bust.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart

We have three blackjack perfect strategy charts to help you. The first applies when you have a pair, in which case they can be split. The other two are for soft hands (with an ace) and hard hands (without an ace). The dealer’s up-card appears along the top, with the player’s down the side.

Pairs

Dealer’s Up-card

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
A,A SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT
10,10 STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND
9,9 SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT STAND SPLIT SPLIT STAND STAND
8,8 SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT
7,7 SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
6,6 HIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
5,5 DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE HIT HIT
4,4 HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
3,3 HIT HIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
2,2 HIT HIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT SPLIT HIT HIT HIT HIT

Soft Hands

Dealer’s Up-card

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
9 STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND
8 STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND
7 STAND DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE STAND STAND HIT HIT HIT
6 HIT DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
5 HIT HIT DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
4 HIT HIT DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
3 HIT HIT HIT DOUBLE DOUBLE HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
2 HIT HIT HIT HIT DOUBLE HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT

Hard Hands

Dealer’s Up-card

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
17 STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND
16 STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
15 STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
14 STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
13 STAND STAND STAND STAND STAND HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
12 HIT HIT STAND STAND STAND HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
11 DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE HIT
10 DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE HIT HIT
9 HIT DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT
8 HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT

What About Insurance?

Insurance pays 2:1. It provides some insurance against the dealer turning a blackjack when they have an ace. But it will lose more than it wins. You will lose approximately 69% of the time, so the strategy advises against taking it.

Summary: Improving Blackjack Odds With Perfect Strategy

Learning basic blackjack strategy is a massive help. It dramatically improves your chances of winning. You should also:

With these tips on your side and our blackjack perfect strategy chart in your mind, we’re confident you’ll do well!

Blackjack Common Queries

Is basic strategy enough to win at blackjack?

There is still a house edge, but it’s the best strategy for reducing it.

What are the best odds for blackjack?

Classic Blackjack usually has the best odds.

What are the odds of getting a perfect pair in blackjack?

The odds for a perfect pair are 1.69%.

Which blackjack strategy is best?

Basic blackjack strategy is the best.

What percentage is the perfect strategy in blackjack?

If you use this strategy, it could reduce the house edge to around 0.5%.

Is blackjack really beatable?

All games are beatable, but you need luck as well as strategy.

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