Blackjack Excellence: Canadian Strategies Revealed

In the 20th century, a new board game called Blackjack appeared in European and American casinos. Simple rules and the ability to quickly increase your bankroll have made this discipline popular and put it on a par with roulette and poker. It is based on mathematical principles. In theory, profitable decisions can be made in any situation. 

When reading this material, you will learn about the basic rules of this game, strategies and get useful recommendations in order to have an advantage. 

Blackjack 

This is the name of a gambling card game popular in online casinos around the world. The rules of blackjack are simple, and the possible winnings are large. The guest always opposes the dealer, that is, against the casino, and not against other players. This greatly reduces the chance of gaining an advantage, since the organizer will never remain in the red at a distance.

However, skilled blackjack players know a way to beat the casino or at least lose minimally.

The rules of the game

To organize a blackjack game in an online casino, you will need a classic 52-card virtual deck. Jokers are not used. The table consists of seven boxes, while one player is allowed to occupy several places, paying for participation in the game.

The cards for the game have the following meaning:

• From 2 to 9 — at face value: two — two, three — three and the like;
• Tens, jacks, queens, kings — 10 points each. These cards are called “tens”;
• The ace can take two values at the player’s request — 1 or 11 points.

Suits don’t matter. The task is to collect maximum points. The best combination is the number 21. If you score more points, it is considered overkill, which leads to instant defeat. The combination of an ace and any “ten” has the name Nats. It is a blackjack and is paid 3 to 2.

The game is not played against other participants, but against the casino, that is, each box separately competes with the dealer’s combination. The dealer gives each of them two cards in the open. The dealer also deals two cards to himself, showing everyone the value of only the first one, since one remains hidden.

The game is played at pre—determined rates – you choose them yourself. Each online table has its own betting range, for example, from 10€ to 200€. You deposit the chips and the dealer deals the cards. Next, after evaluating the strength of your combination, a decision is made: take more cards, stop or give up. The latter option is not always available, as everything depends on the rules of a particular casino. 

Blackjack Strategies

This game has a long history. Since it became popular, players have started thinking about the best strategy. Edward O. Thorpe, a professor of mathematics from the United States, was the first to present its optimal version in 1962. It has hardly changed since then. The strategy is summarized in a clear table containing a column with the player’s hand, the dealer’s card, as well as options for action. You can familiarize yourself with it yourself using online resources.

We recommend that you read the article about Video Poker in Canada.

To read the table of optimal solutions for blackjack, you need to figure out the decoding of the letters. They are located at the intersections of rows and columns and give recommendations on how to act during the release of a particular card:

• H (Hit) — take a new card;
• S (Stay) — do not take more;
• D (Double) — the bet must be doubled;
• Ds (Double or Stay) — double if the rules allow, if not, then stop;
• P (Split) — split the pair and continue the purchase;
• H/P (Hit or Split) — split the cards if the rules allow you to double the bet after the split, if not, you should take more;
• S/P (Stay or Split) — if the rules allow doubling the bet after splitting, it is recommended to split. Otherwise, you need to stop;
• D/P (Split or Double) — if the rules allow doubling the bet after splitting, you need to split, otherwise you need to double the bet;
• H/R (Hit or Surrender) — it is recommended to give up part-time, if allowed by the rules. Otherwise, it is better to take another card;
• S/R (Stay or Surrender) — you should give up for half-time, if it is permissible according to the rules, otherwise you need to stop.

Scoring a game using a table is not the only way to win at blackjack. You can also count the cards.

Counting of issued cards

The principle of calculation is simple — you need to assign a value of -1 to low cards, and + to high ones1. High cards increase the player’s chance of winning. If, after calculating, a person concludes that there are still many high cards in the deck, then you can continue to increase the bets in order to win as much as possible in case of victory.

Combining a card counting strategy and a decision table helps you win more often. It is also important to eliminate the main mistakes that almost all beginners make.

Common mistakes made by players

Usually people do not rely on serious mathematical calculations, but are guided by intuition. Let’s list the main mistakes of blackjack players:

• Refusal of kindness. Many players are too cautious. When they have 12-16 points on their hands, they stop getting, fearing overkill. This is a negative tactic. It increases the casino’s advantage to 4%;
• An attempt to copy the dealer’s playing style. It’s not worth doing this, because he works for the casino and receives a salary. The dealer does not lose or win at blackjack. A player who tries to copy the dealer’s behavior deprives himself of the opportunity to double and split the cards. Because of this, the casino’s advantage increases to 5.5%;
• Permanent consent to insurance. The dealer offers players to insure against blackjack every time they receive an ace with the first card. Insurance is beneficial to the casino, its advantage increases to 7.5%;
• Fear of a hidden ten at the dealer. People tend to be afraid that the dealer’s hidden cards will certainly contain a dozen (in blackjack, 10 points are given by T, J, Q and K). Therefore, players often make risky purchases to 17-18 points and overdo it. This unfounded fear increases the casino’s advantage to a record 10%.

Tips for a successful blackjack game

One of the first and most important tips for gaining a winning advantage is to practice effective bankroll management. This means that you have to set a budget for your gaming activities and stick to it. It is important never to gamble with money that you cannot afford to lose. By setting a clear budget and sticking to it, you can avoid the temptation of chasing losses.

Effective bankroll management provides several advantages when playing blackjack:

• Firstly, it allows you to play with a certain limit and ensures that you don’t risk losing more than you can afford;
• Secondly, it helps to avoid impulsive and emotional decisions that can lead to losses. With a budget, you can make rational decisions based on logic and strategy, not emotions. 

Here are some tips for effective bankroll management that you should use:

• Set a clear budget before starting the game and stick to it;
• Divide your budget into smaller sessions to avoid overspending at one time;
• Never borrow money or use credit cards for gambling.

Another important aspect of gaining a winning advantage is understanding the odds and probabilities associated with the game. Each game has its own set of rules and probabilities, and knowing them can help you make informed decisions and maximize your chances of winning.

By understanding the odds and probabilities in blackjack, you can make more strategic decisions based on mathematical calculations rather than guesswork. That is, you can choose the bets that offer the best chance of winning, and avoid bets with unfavorable odds. It will also help you manage your expectations and approach the game with a realistic mindset.

Here are some tips for understanding the odds and probabilities:

• Learn the rules and payouts of the game before you start playing;
• Check out the different betting options and related odds;
• Consider using strategic tables, graphs, or calculators to help you make optimal decisions.