Blackjack has been around the table for many centuries. The game has stolen the hearts of many players. As much as it is enchanting and delightful to play blackjack, it is a mystery to be explored more and more. As the game unfolds itself, it reveals more and more depths that can be delved into by any player.
The more you grow in your game of blackjack, the more you will fathom how it works in subtle ways. The subtle rules and the craft that it requires to play blackjack make it a delightful adventure to range over.
Many players might be aware of its rules yet many more strategies and subtleties can be scouted. There are nuances that not everybody will be able to understand. Understanding and learning blackjack from the point of view of advanced strategies can be a game-changer.
The Basic of Blackjack
Before we start to explore the advanced strategies, we will briefly understand the basic rules so that we are on the same page.
The main goal of the game is to beat the dealer by having a hand value closest to 21. Remember, you cannot go beyond the 21 line.
Cards 2 to 10 have a value the same as the numerical value on the card. Meaning, 2 of Spades will have a value of 2 and so on. The face cards all have a value of 10. The King, Queen, and Jack will all be counted as 10. Aces on the other hand have a value of either 1 or 11.
Each player is dealt two cards initially. Once the dealing has been done, the player can choose to hit or stand. Here, hit means to receive more cards and stand means to stay on the current hand.
A set of specific rules is followed by the dealer while he plays his hand. Generally, he keeps hitting until he reaches 17 or more. An Ace paired with a card valuing 10 is called a natural blackjack.
The Concept Of Soft and Hard Hands in Blackjack
To learn advanced blackjack strategies, you first need to understand the concepts of soft and hard hands.
A soft hand has an Ace that is valued at 11. For example, an Ace and a 6 will make a soft 17. Whereas, a hard hand will lack an Ace or it will have an Ace with a value of 1 to avoid going above 21. For example, a Queen, an eight and an Ace, they add up to 19.
Blackjack Strategies for Soft Hands
As a thumb rule, If you have a hand totalling soft 17 or less, choose to hit.
With a soft 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, you should double down in case the dealer has 4, 5, or 6.
When you get a soft 19 or 20, just stand.
Blackjack Strategies for Hard Hands
Hard hands totalling 11 or less should be hit.
If you have a hard 11 and the dealer does not have an Ace, you should double down.
If you have a hard 17 or a higher hand, you must stand.
When to Surrender?
Not all versions of blackjack will provide you with this option. If you somehow have this available, do make use of it if you find yourself in a tight spot.
This is a good way to quit the game by surrendering your hand while also taking away half of your bet.
Two types of options for surrender are available:
You surrender before the dealer has checked for blackjack.
You surrender after the dealer has checked for blackjack.
If you use this option of surrender in the right manner, you can use it as a good strategy to minimise losses.
The Doubling Down Strategy
You can double down your original bet after receiving your initial two cards on the promise that you will stand after you get your 3rd card.
U should double down on a hard 9 when the dealer has cards 3 to 6.
You can also double down on hard 10 if the dealer has 2 to 9.
Doubling down on a hard 11 as opposed to the dealer’s 2 through 10 is also a good strategy.
Last but not least, when you have a soft 13 to 18, you can double down while the dealer holds 4 to 6.
When to Avoid Doubling Down?
You should avoid doubling down when the dealer has an Ace.
When you have a hard 12 to 16 while the dealer has 2-6.
While this is only the beginning of advanced strategies in blackjack, you can start to use it as a guide. Practising your basics and moving up one step at a time will make you a pro at your game of blackjack.
You can only manipulate the basic rules of the game to create advanced strategies.
Advancement only happens when you start to fathom the depths of a certain concept.
So keep playing, keep hitting!
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