Blackjack remains one of the most popular casino table games in the Western world predominantly because of the ability to apply the principles of probability to try to get an edge. It’s a unique phenomenon, but one that’s vaunted blackjack into the mainstream as a game for people who can outwit the house. Very much romanticised as a chance for the little guy to beat the big guy, it’s widely accepted that those who play will be deploying a strategy.
Now, there are many ways to get to grips with the various strategies of blackjack. All of them are based on the principles of probability, but as online blackjack can be played at your own pace and you can use whatever tools are available to you, putting strategy and skill into practice has become a lot easier. With so much access available now, these are the essential tools that can help you to beat the dealer.
Establishing yourself in probability
To truly embed yourself in blackjack strategy as a player who can understand why you’re making certain plays and how they’re strategic, you need to get to grips with probability. Working out probability is a relatively simple sum. You need to divide the number of positive outcomes by how many total outcomes there are, and then multiply that number by 100 to see probability as a percentage. In blackjack, the primary area you’ll be looking to apply this equation is when you get your hand.
Once you’re dealt two cards, you can make one of several decisions, which is where the skill and strategy come into play. You need to run the numbers on bust probability, which is easy enough to remember. Anything value of 11 or below, you can’t go bust by hitting. At 12, the bust probability increased to 31 per cent, all the way to 92 per cent for 20. This is the core principle behind basic strategy.
You will have likely seen blackjack strategy charts around, with each of them having a colour and letter in each box stating your perfect play in each situation of hand value against the dealer’s up card. Luckily, there are helpful simplified versions of these charts. These are much easier to remember, showing the strategic place for showings of two to six and seven to ace, but the full charts are more useful when you have time or the internet on your side.
A digital tool that applies basic strategy for you
Charts make basic strategy quite easy to see and apply when you’ve got the time to review them, but what makes the process even quicker and more applicable to games on a timer – like live blackjack – is a tool that runs the numbers for you in an instant. The blackjack calculator shows the play you should make for whatever card the dealer’s showing and for what’s in your hand.
For example, you can click on the nine for the dealer’s up card and then a ten and five for your hand. Probability says that you have a 58 per cent chance of going bust in this situation, but the strength of the dealer’s card makes the call tricky. The blackjack calculator says that you should hit. Draw a two to six, and it’ll say that your next play should be to stand.
Basic strategy lets you play the optimal moves in every blackjack situation to cut the house edge to as low as one or two per cent. Now, with the tools to maximise basic strategy being readily available online, it’s much easier to get this leverage at the digital or live table.
