11 Important Blackjack Tips for Beginners

Blackjack is a beloved game that is hypothesized to have begun during the 18th century in France. Since then, the game has become extremely popular in countries all across the world. 

To be good at the game, you need to know and understand how to use the key basics of blackjack tips. Below are 11 useful tips to help get you started.

1. Knowing the Game

A good place to start when learning how to play blackjack is making sure you are clear on the rules of the game. In blackjack, each player must try and get as close to 21 without going over. 

Numbered cards are worth their allotted number, face cards are worth 10 and an ace can be used as an 11 or one. The game begins with each player being dealt two face-up cards from a shoe of four, six, or eight decks. 

The dealer is also dealt two cards, one faced up and the other faced down. In general, you can win the round if your hand goes closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand or if the dealer’s hand busts (exceeds 21 points).

2. Terms and Bets

Besides gameplay, there are many terms and types of bets involved with blackjack that beginners need to know. These include:

Hits

Hits are requests made to the dealer to deal you another card. You can signal this by tapping a finger on the table. 

Stand

This term signals to the dealer that you do not want any more cards. You would usually stand once you have reached a hand totaling 17 or more. To stand, wave your hand back and forth and low to the table during your turn.

Insurance

This is a bet players make when the dealer has an ace as their face-up card. You can use insurance to bet half your bet and insure the other half towards the blackjack. In the long run, this is typically a losing bet for the player.

3. Understanding Soft Hands

When playing blackjack, players will often have soft hands as their starting hands. These are any hands that have an ace and any other numbered card. For example, a soft 17 would include an ace and a numbered card of six.

Since you can play the ace as an 11 or one, you most likely would not be at a disadvantage by taking another hit. Depending on the added card, the player could use the ace as an 11 or one and play it to their advantage. 

4. Knowing When to Double Down

Doubling down is one of those blackjack tips and tricks that will help set you apart from other players. During blackjack, you can double your bets on your hand to receive a higher score. 

For example, a good time to double down would be if you have a starting hand of 9, 10, or 11. In these cases, there is a good chance you will be hit with another high card. 

It’s recommended that you do not double down unless you are familiar with basic blackjack strategies. Playing outside of your comfort zone will often result in costly mistakes that could have otherwise been avoided.

5. Craft a Strategy 

For all blackjack beginners, it is recommended that you create a personal strategy before you learn the different types of plays. One way to learn new strategies is by using strategy charts. 

Using mathematical equations, these charts help you understand where you stand with your hand and how to play your next turn. In general, they tell you what the best possible outcome is for each play of your session.

Once you have established a strategy, you can begin playing against real players. To find players or casinos, you can use sites like Gambling.org.

6. Splitting 

When splitting in blackjack, you place a bet equal to your original one and split your cards apart face up on the table. The dealer then gives you an additional card for each split card. 

From here, each hand is used independently against the dealer. This is typically done to help your chances of winning.

One rule is that you should always split pairs of eights and aces. You can take a look at your strategy chart to see what other hands are worth splitting.

7. Bases

Players are seated in positions from left to right surrounding the dealer. These are named using bases. The person sitting to the left of the dealer is at first base and the person on their right is at third. 

For beginners, it’s recommended that you sit as close to the third base as possible. This gives you more time to decide on your turn in comparison to first or second base. 

8. Be Cautious Of Side Bets

Outside of basic blackjack gameplay, you may be tempted with side bets. These may include:

• Super sevens
• 21 + 3
• Perfect pairs
• Royal match

In general, the house has a higher advantage with side bets. You should only engage in them once you’ve mastered the basics and can understand the implications of betting on the side of blackjack.

9. Don’t Take Advice

As cynical as it sounds, you should never take advice from other players or the dealer while playing blackjack. Even if they believe they’re helping you, odds are their advice clashes with your strategy. 

In some games, players may try and intimidate you if they know you’re a beginner. For this reason, you should stick to your gameplay strategy regardless of what others are telling you. 

10. 3 to 2 vs 6 to 5

When first starting out it can be difficult to spot the difference between tables that use a 3:2 betting strategy versus a 6:5. The breakdown of these odds are as follows:

3 to 2 Bets

In a blackjack-winning hand, you receive 3 dollars for every 2 dollars bet. This equates to 1.5:1 odds. 

5 to 6 Bets

In this type of bet, you receive 6 dollars for every 5 dollars you bet. In this case, your odds are now minimized to 1.2:1. 

betting,To decrease your odds of losing, you should always seek tables that use 3:2 betting strategies. The difference between these odds may seem small but they can significantly impact your totaled take-home earnings.

11. Stick to a Budget 

One of the most important blackjack tips for beginners is to set a strict budget when playing. Since most casinos have the upper hand, you need to establish a preset bankroll and budget for your gameplay. 

A bankroll is a total amount you wish to set aside when playing. Your budget refers to the amount of money you are comfortable losing within a single session. 

Going Beyond the Basic Blackjack Tips

Before mastering the game of blackjack you must first take the time to sharpen your skills. With that said, these tips are a great starting point for helping you get there.

If you would like to go beyond these 11 blackjack tips, feel free to explore the rest of our site. Our technology and lifestyle sections feature casino-related advice for all your gambling inquiries.