Card Values In Blackjack

There are different theories regarding the origin of blackjack. Despite this, however, the game has hit different countries around the world by storm. Blackjack is one of the most sought after card games in the industry, available across both online and land-based casinos.

The best Blackjack hand he can obtain is a natural Blackjack - an ace and a ten-value card. In this case, the player wins automatically and enjoys an exciting payout of 3 to 2, unless the dealer also has a natural Blackjack. The following menu is for tables that list the expected value for every initial hand in blackjack. The values in the table are 'composition dependent', meaning at every point the best decision was made according to the exact cards held in the players hand, as opposed to just the total points.

Blackjack’s fast-paced gameplay and massive winning opportunities – especially when using a blackjack strategy – is what draws more players to it.

As you play blackjack, your main goal, like the majority of other online casino games, is to help you win! And while the majority of the other online casino games are left to chance, blackjack stands out. With a good blackjack strategy guide, it’s easy to greatly reduce the house edge and increase your winning opportunities.

We’ve included several online blackjack strategies, explaining each one of them in detail. Our main objective is to ensure that even the newest of gamers can play like professionals. The strategies include:

  • Blackjack basic strategy
  • Blackjack strategy chart
  • The famous blackjack card counting strategy
  • Martingale blackjack strategy
  • Splitting and doubling down

The strategies above can be implemented at either land-based or online casinos. It may take some time and practice for you to fully execute them with perfection. Also, it’s necessary to know the basic blackjack rules before using any strategies.

  • Want more knowledge on casino game strategies? Find out in our Best Roulette Strategies article.

Blackjack Basic Strategy

Before we look into the more complicated strategies, it’s important to review some basic ones. These are what we’d like to refer to as industry standards, as they are widely used by players worldwide:

  • If the first two cards give you a hand value of 16, it’s best you surrender
  • Remember when to split a hand
  • Know when to double a hard hand
  • See what is the right time to hit

Blackjack Strategy Chart

Blackjack strategy chart might be a little confusing at first. As we’ve already stated, these strategies take time but with practice every day, you’ll soon be playing like a pro. In fact, after using this blackjack strategy chart, you’ll start observing a pattern, linking the gameplay with certain parts of the chart.

A small blackjack strategy chart will help the players decide when to split, stand or double down.

Include Blackjack Strategy Chart in your Blog

Make sure to use the embed code below to include this strategy chart in your blog post:

Using the Strategy Chart for Blackjack in Four Easy To Follow Steps>

  • Look at the dealer’s up card value and that of your hand.
  • On the blackjack table, identify the cells where these two values coincide.
  • Use the keys at the bottom of the blackjack strategy chart to determine the move you should make.

*Note the blackjack strategy chart is not a sure way of winning. It only represents the best course of action that you should take as you play blackjack. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the ins and outs of the blackjack strategy chart, you’ll realize you are winning more often!

In some instances, it’s best you combine the use of this strategy chart for blackjack with a blackjack hand calculator. This is meant to give you a quantifiable amount that you stand to lose at any particular instance.

Card Counting Strategy

Card counting is perhaps one of the most known forms of blackjack strategy card. So popular is Blackjack card counting that it’s banned across most of the land-based casinos across the world. The majority of people, especially the newbies, believe that it’s sophisticated. However, all one needs to do is practise it a few times to remember it.

Casinos, both the land-based and online ones, have ways of making sure you don’t win at the tables. At the end of it all, they are a business and all they want is to maximize the profits. And in order to render or make card counting blackjack strategy difficult, they are adding multiple decks to the game.

But despite the number of decks they add to their blackjack games, with card counting, you can always win. What you, however, need to remember is you should always factor in the house edge before making any move. You also need to know you’ll have to learn blackjack strategy and perfect it by practicing it severally. You won’t just execute it perfectly from the get-go, but continuous practice will help you get it right and simplify the whole process.

Card values in blackjack

In order to learn the blackjack strategy, you’ll have to follow these three steps below.

How Do You Count Cards In Blackjack

Step 1: You’ll have to assign different cards categories to different values. The first category is the group 2-6. The second category is the group 7-9 and the last category is the group 10-A (high-value cards). As they appear, you’ll have to assign them the following values.

  • Group 2-6: Assign them +1
  • Group 7-9: Assign them 0
  • The 10-A group: Assign them -1

Step 2: This step involves accounting for the cards. You’ll have to keep a total based on the cards drawn by the dealer and the player

Step 3: The last step is referred to as True Count (Doing the actual card counting). To do this, you’ll have to number the decks involved in dealing. They’ll tell you the best time to raise a bet as well as give you an indication of when the dealer will cards in your favour.

Should you need more info on how card counting in blackjack works, here’s Mike Aponte of the famous MIT Blackjack team breaking it down:

If you require more information on counting cards when playing against dealers online, check out our article on counting cards at live casinos.

A More Conservative Blackjack Strategy Guide

If the strategy above seems to be a little more overwhelming to you, then you can always try out the more conservative blackjack gambling strategy. This is especially very important and easy to use for those of you looking to try out blackjack. You can execute it as you try to build your bankroll gradually instead of doing it all at once.

The whole procedure involves staking small amounts while taking fewer risks, being very keen on when to surrender, hit or stand.

We know it might be very boring to do this, especially if you are a thrill seeker searching for the elusive once-in-a-lifetime win. However, over an extended period of time, this blackjack gambling strategy will ease you in with the game, enabling you to understand both the rules and the strategy.

Without wasting much time, let’s get down to these two popular conservative blackjack gambling strategy.

Martingale Blackjack Gambling Strategy

The martingale blackjack gambling strategy is the least conservative form of blackjack strategy, while a different form of the same strategy is used in roulette. It dictates that your bet is doubled every time you lose your bet. Should you lose the bet again, you double it again. This continues until you lock in a win.

It’s not only a crazy strategy, but it’s also a risky one, as you can easily get your bankroll depleted within no time, especially if you are staking huge sums of money. However, once you land a win, you’ll not only recover all the amount that you’ve staked over time, but you’ll also be able to lock in a win equivalent to the initial amount you’d wagered.

For instance:

  • Your initial stake is €50 – result; lose
  • According to the Martingale gambling strategy, your next stake should be €100 – result; lose
  • On the third stake, it should be €200 – result; lose
  • On the fourth stake, it should be €400 – result; win

When you do your calculation, amount lost = €(50+100+200) = €350.

Amount won = €400.

Net Profit = €400 – €350 = €50 (which is equivalent to your initial €50 wager).

1-3-2-6 Strategy

The 1-3-2-6 blackjack strategy is slightly less risky than the outgoing strategy. It has found popularity among some of the professional blackjack players because it offers a much better way of managing funds. It’s a systematic form of betting and usually requires you to follow the trail above after your initial win. For instance:

  • The first bet is equivalent to €100. If it results in a win, continue to the second bet.
  • On your second bet, wager €300.
  • If you won the previous bet, wager €200 on your third bet.
  • On your fourth bet, wager €600, if the previous was won.
  • If you won, wager €100 on the fifth bet.

As soon as you’ve recorded the loss, you are required to go back to the initial wager of €100 and start all over again until you record a win.

*The 1-3-2-6 blackjack strategy is highly dependent on the luck of the draw more than any other strategies listed above. Yet despite this, it’s the best way of keeping track of the bets you make, hence enabling you to play for longer.

Splitting and Doubling Down Blackjack Game Strategy

Splitting and doubling down are some of the most common actions taken while playing the game of blackjack.

  • In the simplest definition, splitting means you are simply ‘splitting’ a hand with a pair into two new hands. The new hand will require you to stake a hand that’s equivalent to the first hand, which in turn doubles your winning chances.
  • In some instances, you can opt to double down your initial wager. Once you’ve doubled down your bet, you’ll be dealt one more card after which you are required to stand. Doubling down is usually highly recommended, especially when you know you have a strong hand over the dealer.

When Is The Best Time To Split or Double Down?

Splitting and doubling down Blackjack game strategy is meant to tell you when is the right time to hit or stand. This section of the blackjack strategy guide is to highlight this!

When you’ve been dealt a pair of Aces, the best move is to split irrespective of the situation. It’s the blackjack community consensus that it’s the most effective way of playing a split hand. Generally, you can split as many times as possible. However, there are online casinos that limit the number of times you can split a hand.

If you’ve been dealt a pair of 8s, you should split the hand automatically. This is the best move because a score of 16 is a very weak hand, especially when you’ll be coming up against the dealer’s strong hand. Therefore, instead of hitting and eventually busting, split the pair and play it as new hands. This is the best strategy!

The only time you can split a pair of 7s, 3s or 2s, is when you the dealer’s up-card is 7. Any other card is too risky and you should avoid it at all costs!

Unless this is your first time playing online blackjack, it should be common sense that splitting a pair of 10s is a suicidal move. Having a hand of 20 is a risky starting point unless you are 100% certain that the next cards to be dealt with will be low-value cards. Instead of splitting a pair of 10s, always stand!

In short:

  • Never split a pair of 6s, 5s or 4s
  • Never split a pair of 10s and 9s, not unless the dealer’s hand is a 3 or 2
  • Only split 7s, 3s, and 2s when observing the soft 17 rule
  • You can split and re-split 8s
  • Never hesitate to split aces

Check out our splitting in blackjack guide to find out more about it!

When Is The Right Time To Double Down?

Blackjack

Doubling down in blackjack is dependent on two factors:

  • The dealer’s up-card
  • The value of your two cards

If the value of your hand is either 11 or 10, then you should double down. However, if the dealer’s up-card is a 10 or 9, then you should proceed and hit as normal

If the dealer’s up-card is a low-value card such as a 4, 3 or 2, then doubling down is the best move if you also happen to be having a low-value card. Why? There’s a high chance that the dealer will bust with such cards

Blackjack Card Worth

You should never double down if your hand value is anything above 11. Should you choose to double down and bust, it will be equivalent to losing twice your bet

What’s The Best Starting Point

All you’ve read can be a little overwhelming, more so if you are new to playing this beautiful card game. So, before you can start playing the game, it’s important you are a little bit comfortable with the blackjack numbers as well as familiarizing yourself with the blackjack strategy chart above. After that, you can always proceed and play blackjack online at recommended online casinos.

Card Values In Blackjack

Why should you learn how to play blackjack strategy at the online casinos? Well, in addition to playing the majority of the blackjack games for free, you can also receive help whenever you need it. The majority of the online casinos recommended are also optimized fully for mobile play, which means you can always take the game with you whenever you feel like.

Once you are full of confidence and wouldn’t mind switching the play, you can always play the real money live blackjack games. The live dealer platform is energetic, fun and full of players with different characters. When playing the game here, and you implement the best blackjack strategy you’ve perfected, there are very fewer chances you won’t win!

Closing Thoughts on Blackjack Strategy

Above all, it’s important to remind you that there are several other blackjack strategies online. However, regardless of the strategy chart for blackjack you choose, the MOST IMPORTANT rule is to have clear limits from the get-go. This ensures you won’t lose all your bankroll in one sitting (check out our other bankroll management tips).

Also, while the strategies above are sure to improve your blackjack play online, sadly, there isn’t a sure way of winning at every hand that you play. This is because, from the start, the odds are stacked against you all due to the dealer’s experience, the number of decks employed and the casino’s edge.

If you’ve read this far, we would like to believe that the information listed above is sufficient enough to see you off on your quest to becoming a proficient blackjack player.

All the best!

Want to use these strategies straight away? Make sure to play online Blackjack games on CasinoChan to practice the chart above and win!

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The whole point of the card game known as “Blackjack” is to attain a “hand value” of twenty-one, or as near to that figure as possible without going over (“bust”). In order to reach twenty-one the players and dealer all follow the same set of card values that can add up to the winning figure.

Standard values in a game of Blackjack are:

  • Face cards of the Jack, Queen and King are worth ten
  • Cards two through ten are worth their face value
  • The Ace has two possible values of either one or eleven depending upon the effect it will have on the player’s hand

Each player begins a hand of Blackjack by receiving two cards. There are various rules and methods of receiving and handling cards, but each game always begins with two cards to the player.

From this point a player must assess the value of their initial hand in order to know how to proceed. While there are dozens of techniques, strategies and methods of play, a player must do some quick analysis about their hand.

For example, a player who is dealt a four and a five understands that they can take at least one more card without going “bust”, or exceeding twenty-one, while a player who has a Queen and a Jack knows that their hand value of twenty will go bust unless they get an Ace.

Standard Blackjack strategy states that most players, and dealers, should look to “stand” on a hand of seventeen or higher. While some tables have rules that oblige a dealer to stand on a certain hand value, others do not, and most players and dealers do follow some basic strategic maneuvers, such as holding at set amounts.

Counting Cards In Blackjack Strategy

Aces can change how a player acts because of their flexible value. When a player has an Ace in their hand that can be valued at one or eleven, that player is said to have a “soft” hand. All hands that can have more than a single value are called “soft”.

A player who holds an Ace that can only be valued at one, otherwise it will cause the player to “bust”, is said to have a “hard” hand. All hands that have only a single value are referred to as “hard”.

Blackjack Card Counting Techniques

While the Ace is beneficial to a hand’s value, most players desire a “ten” card of one kind or another. It is important to remember that there are more “ten” cards in the game than any other. This is because there are the four standard cards with a face value of ten, and there are the twelve face cards valued at ten each. The main reason a player wants a ten card is because of the probability that they can reach “blackjack” as well. Either through an Ace and their “ten” card (any two card “blackjack” is referred to as a “natural”) or by accumulating cards of lower values along with their “ten”.