Blackjack Strategies

Blackjack Strategies Additional BenefitsBlackjack is unique in that it is a casino game where there are constant swings in the advantage the house holds over players. This is so because the game is based on dependent events, and each card that leaves the shoe has a direct impact on the outcomes of the hands to follow. By using even the simplest strategy, called basic strategy, the player can reduce the already small edge this game has to around 0.5%. In contrast, relying on instinct and hunches will further boost the house advantage by 3% to 6%.

More advanced strategies such as card counting are known to obliterate the house edge, so much so that at a certain point, it is the card counter who holds the advantage over the casino. This results in positive expected value, which is to say the player would win more often than they would lose in the long term and therefore would generate far greater profits.

Basic Strategy Additional TipsThe basic strategy chart contains the right moves players can make when facing a neutral deck. The term “neutral” here refers to the conditions players confront following the reshuffle of a deck or shoe. The rows of the chart correspond to the player’s hand total and its composition. The columns contain the values of the cards the dealer may be showing. The optimal way to play a blackjack hand is found in the squares where a row and a column intersect.

You will undoubtedly notice splits and doubling down are generally recommended when the dealer shows 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. These values are more likely to lead to a bust if the dealer flips over a high hole card and must draw to 17. With 2s through 6s, the dealer is practically forced to hit after revealing their hole card because no two-card combination containing a 6 or lower adds up to 17, save for the soft 17. This weakness should be exploited through splitting or doubling, which also helps players maximize their profits.

Players should approach the situation with more caution when the dealer shows higher-value cards like 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, or Ace. These are the dealer’s strongest up cards, as they are more likely to result in a pat hand of 17, making additional draws unnecessary.

If you want basic strategy to work to your best advantage, you need to memorize the chart to perfection, at least if you are playing in a land-based venue. The simplest way to do that is to divide it into four sections and learn one section per day before you finally string everything together.

However, if you intend to attack the game at an online casino, you can easily skip this step and consult the chart as you play. Do keep in mind that basic strategy is not universal, and there may be deviations in the optimal decisions you need to make, depending on the rules of the blackjack game you engage in.

Card Counting Systems Additional TipsRookie counters would probably be surprised to learn that the true count is not really a count at all. It denotes the correlation between two quantities: high versus low cards. Also, balanced systems derive their name from the fact that when a full deck is counted in its entirety, the result will always amount to zero.

Unbalanced systems have emerged more recently and are considered simpler since they eliminate the conversion of a running count into a true count. Because the point values of the cards differ, their total value per deck never adds up to zero, hence the name “unbalanced” systems.

The Hi-Lo System Additional TipsSince this is a balanced system, players start with a running count of zero following the shuffle. All cards are assigned a specific point value depending on their strength. Therefore, the low cards (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) are given the point value of +1, while face cards and Aces are assigned the value of -1. The 7s, 8s, and 9s are considered neutral and are assigned no point value, so they do not affect the count at all. Because there are 20 high and 20 low cards in each deck, the counter always arrives at a running count of zero.

Advantage players will start by keeping a running count after the shuffle, adding and subtracting the point values of cards as they leave the deck. In shoe games, the counter divides their running count by the number of decks that remain to be dealt to establish their true count. All decisions on hitting, standing, splitting, and so on are henceforth based on the true count. The bet size is also adjusted on this basis. Advantage players use bet ramps and increase or reduce their bets with a specific number of units as the true count rises or drops.

The Red Seven System Additional TipsThis system assigns almost the same point values to the cards in the deck: face cards and Aces are counted as -1, low cards 2 through 6 are given the value of +1, and 9s and 8s are neutral or 0. There is one peculiarity here, as 7s are assigned point values on the basis of their color. Thus, red 7s (diamonds and hearts) are counted as low cards or +1, while black 7s (clubs and spades) are ignored as neutral or 0.

The overall principle is the same as that in the Hi-Lo, except for the point values of the red 7s. This causes an imbalance in the system, so when a player uses it, they will arrive at a total count of +2 per full deck. Therefore, the running count after the shuffle starts at -2 multiplied by the number of decks in play. If you are playing a six-deck game, you would start with a count of -12, but if you are playing an eight-deck game, your count starts at -8. Players using this system are also advised to jump to higher bets whenever the count is positive or hovers around 0 because they will have a greater advantage.

The KO System Additional TipsWhen the system first gained popularity, many blackjack experts questioned its efficiency and labeled it less accurate than the widespread Hi-Lo. However, the KO quickly gained momentum, and today it is recommended to beginners as a simple yet effective card counting system. The biggest claim to fame of the KO is that it eliminates the need to convert running counts into true counts.

In this system, low cards 2 through 7 are assigned a point value of +1, the ten-value cards along with the Aces are counted as -1, and 8 and 9 are neutral or 0. The complete count of a deck or a shoe will result in +4 instead of 0 because the cards with a positive point value outnumber those with a negative point value. Players assign these values to each card dealt out of the shoe to determine their running count and then raise or lower their bets accordingly. They increase their bet size on high running counts and reduce it to the table minimum when the count drops below +2. Another recommendation for those using this system is to accept insurance at a running count of +3 or above.

Many advanced blackjack players who have adopted the KO prefer to convert their running count into a true count to gain extra accuracy, although this significantly increases the complexity of the system.

The KISS Systems Additional TipsKISS I offers the lowest level of complexity and is considered a good option for beginner card counters and recreational players, mostly because it ignores nearly half of the cards in the deck. Note that the simpler a given system is to learn and implement, the less efficient it becomes. In KISS I, face cards are counted as -1, the 4s, 5s, and 6s are given a point value of +1, and the remaining cards are all ignored as neutral.

There is a twist, though, as the 2s of clubs and spades are also assigned a positive point value of +1. This modification renders KISS I unbalanced and eliminates the need to convert running counts into true counts. This significantly decreases the efficiency of this entry-level system. As Renzey himself has determined, KISS I will give players a 0.5% edge over the casino, which is why most card counters prefer to ignore it altogether.

Once players have learned KISS I, they can move one step up the three-level ladder and master the KISS II system, which offers a higher degree of efficiency. It is quite similar to KISS I, but the difference here is that there are two more cards players need to keep track of, as the 3s are counted as +1 and the 10s are assigned point values of -1. After the shuffle, players who use this system start on a negative running count instead of 0. This is to ensure the shoe or deck is favorable as soon as the running count turns positive. Many expert blackjack players believe the second level of KISS is more efficient when used on single-deck games.

KISS III has the highest level of complexity, as more cards are added for players to track. Thus, the 7s are given a point value of +1, and the Aces are counted as -1, while the point values of all other cards coincide with those in KISS II. The third level of KISS is deemed more suitable for blackjack games involving a shoe with multiple decks.

One of the biggest positives of using KISS III is that it offers a higher betting correlation at 0.98 (out of 1.00), which is to say this system is more accurate in terms of predicting favorable betting situations and the respective bet sizes they call for. However, this higher betting correlation comes at the cost of reduced playing efficiency and insurance correlation (or the system’s efficiency at correctly predicting when to accept insurance).

The Omega II System Additional TipsCards 2, 3, and 7 are counted as +1; cards 4, 5, and 6 are counted as +2; the ten-value cards are assigned a negative point value of -2; the 9s are -1, while the Aces and the 8s are neutral or 0. Therefore, players will deduct or add one or two points from their running count for each card dealt at the table. They then divide the running count by the number of decks left to be played to arrive at their true count.

This conversion, along with the two additional point values, is what increase the system’s complexity and efficiency, respectively. Many skilled players prefer to further increase the system’s efficiency by keeping a side count of the Aces, which, as you can see, are neutral here. The Omega II requires more time to master, yet the effort is well worth it, as it is considered the most accurate card counting system in existence.

The Hi-Opt Systems Additional TipsThe Hi-Opt I is a Level I balanced system and was widely used at single-deck tables. Those who use the Hi-Opt I assign a point value of +1 to cards 3 through 6 and count face cards as -1, while the 2s, 7s, 8s, 9s, and the Aces are given a neutral value of 0. This system is highly praised for its accuracy in predicting when players need to accept insurance, as its insurance correlation is quite high at 0.85 out of 1.00. Players start at a running count of 0 and later convert it into a true count to modify their bet sizes.

Hi-Opt I laid the foundation for the more advanced Hi-Opt II, which was developed in 1970 by professional blackjack experts Lance Humble and Julian Braun. The Hi-Opt II is also balanced but falls into the category of Level 2 counting systems. As this significantly raises the complexity of the system, both its betting and insurance correlation are higher than those of Hi-Opt I.

Those who follow the Hi-Opt II system are expected to count the 2s, 3s, 6s, and 7s as +1. The 4s and the 5s are counted as +2. All face cards along with the 10s are assigned a negative point value of -2, while the Aces, 8s, and 9s are not counted at all because they are neutral. Even though the Hi-Opt II was created with single-deck play in mind, the system is highly effective when used in shoe games as well. Many proficient players prefer to incorporate side counts when using this system at the blackjack tables to further boost its accuracy.

The Zen Count System Additional TipsIn the Zen Count system, cards with face values of 2, 3, and 7 are counted as +1, the 4s, 5s, and 6s are given a point value of +2, and the ten-value cards are counted as -2. Each time an Ace leaves the shoe or deck, the player will subtract -1 from their running count. The 8s and 9s are ignored altogether.

The great thing about this system is that it works quite well on both single-deck and shoe blackjack games. To a certain extent, the Zen Count is similar to the commonly used Hi-Lo counting system. However, the Zen offers players higher insurance correlation at 0.85 out of the possible 1.00, as well as increased playing efficiency.

The strongest point of this system results from the fact that Aces are assigned a negative value of -1. As we know, tracking the Aces as they leave the shoe allows skilled players to further improve their advantage. The Zen Count reduces the amount of effort for such players because they no longer need to track the Aces on the side.

The Wong Halves System Additional TipsThe very name of the system indicates players should brace themselves for a higher degree of complexity, as Wong Halves entails calculations that involve decimal numbers. Therefore, one should be proficient in dividing decimals without breaking concentration under pressure or when exposed to the distractions of the casino.

In Wong Halves, the player adds +1 each time 3s, 4s, or 6s leave the shoe and subtracts -1 from the running count when ten-value cards and Aces are dealt. The 8s are neutral and, as such, are irrelevant to the running count. Here comes the tricky part, though. The 2s and 7s are assigned a decimal value of +0.5, while the 9s are counted as -0.5. But this is not all: the 5s are assigned the highest positive value of +1.5.

Would you be surprised to learn that this system comes with a betting correlation of 0.99 out of 1.00? It certainly makes sense given its complexity, but this system is slowly falling into disuse because it is too difficult to apply at blackjack tables. Beginners should therefore stay away from the Wong Halves. Even experienced card counters prefer to use simpler systems that offer an almost identical level of accuracy.

Blackjack Money Management Additional TipsThe question “How big should my bankroll for the session be?” arises. This has to do with the limits of the table you intend to attack. As a general rule, players are recommended to set aside at least 50 times their table minimum. So if you are joining a table with a $5 minimum, you will need at least $250, or 50 base units, for a single session. Pay attention to the word “session,” as generally a bankroll is broken down into three equal amounts for three sessions. This prevents you from losing too much money at a single table.

This ratio of session bankroll to table minimum is considered sufficient to get you through the swings you will experience. That being said, the more money you take with you, the more staying power you will have at the table.

The next question is how much a blackjack player should bet. Card counters adjust the number of betting units they stake per hand on the basis of their true count. High true counts validate betting more units. A basic strategy player, however, plays against a neutral deck.

Those who play recreationally are recommended to apply the Up and Pull method. The player begins by betting two units, or two times the table minimum. If they win, they drop to one unit on the next bet. This way, even if you lose on the next hand, you will still be a unit ahead. Each winning hand is followed by a bet increase of one unit. Whenever a loss occurs, the player should start the cycle again with a two-unit bet. This method is efficient because it enables players to make the most out of their winning streaks and reduce their losses to the minimum.

Finally, it is an absolute must to set up a win goal and a loss limit for the session, as these will serve as indicators of when you should get up and leave the table. These limits are individual, but the rule of thumb is to quit the game once you have won a net profit amounting to around 20% of your session bankroll. So your win goal with a $250 bankroll would be roughly $50. Similarly, you need to decide on a loss limit that corresponds to the maximum amount you are willing to sacrifice to the house. In blackjack, the recommended loss limit amounts to 40% of the session bankroll, or $100 in this instance.

In conclusion, being a successful blackjack player is a combination of two things: smart money management and sufficient knowledge of the game. One cannot go without the other. Even the biggest bankroll will be unable to save you if you do not understand the specifics of this fascinating game.