Blackjack is a popular casino game that has evolved with the modern casino system, and learning about betting strategies can help you play more methodically.
This article will walk you through five betting strategies you could explore for Blackjack. Let’s dive in!
1. Martingale System (Negative Progression)
This betting strategy is based on the assumption that the more you wager, the higher the odds of winning are.
Here’s how it works: each time you lose a hand, the betting system attempts to offset the losing streak by doubling the wagering amount. While the stake tends to be high and risk higher, winning a hand can make up for these losses. The best part is you can utilise this betting strategy for other casino games.
For example, if a Blackjack game starts with a £10 bet, you will double the stake each time you lose a hand. So when you do lose, the subsequent rounds will be £20, £40, and £80 respectively. If you eventually win the 4th round, that means a higher payout of £160.
Contrary to popular opinion, the outcome of a Blackjack game is based on chance. So, the idea of an eventual win after a losing streak is not guaranteed, and you may never recover from your losses.
2. Card Splitting Strategy
Splitting in blackjack is a popular choice and can maximise your winning chances by dividing a pair of cards with the same values into two hands.
If you have a pair of 8s or 6s and decide to split them, these cards turn into two separate hands. The card-splitting strategy gives players the chance to get a strong hand.
It’s crucial to know when to split your card. Splitting at the wrong time can result in enormous losses. You should only consider splitting when you have Aces 8s, Aces, 2s, 3s, 6s, and 7s. In contrast, it’s not advisable to split yours when you have 4s, 5s, 10s, and Faces.
If you are new to casino games, a card-splitting strategy might not fit because it involves managing multiple hands, which can be a handful.
Card-splitting requires doubling your initial bet, which increases the risk of losing a lot of money when the split hands don’t win.
3. Winning Streak Strategy (Positive Progression)
The Blackjack betting strategy is everything the Martingale system is not. When you place a bet in a casino, your wagering amount only doubles after each win.
For instance, if you wager with £15 and win, your bet for the next round will be £0. However, when you lose the next round, the wagering amount will still be £30 till you win again. It’s advisable to know when to call it when you are on a hot streak. This helps mitigate risk and lets you bet responsibly.
The betting strategy also requires a large bankroll and could put low rollers in a deep financial mess. It is also premised on the continuity of a winning streak, which makes it flawed and unreliable.
4. Counting Card System
The counting card system determines whether the player or the dealer has an edge on the next hand. The Blackjack betting strategy assigns values to cards, here’s their breakdown:
| Cards | Assigned value |
| 2-6 | +1 |
| 10, J, Q, and K | -1 |
As a player, maintaining these counts lets you estimate the proportion of high to low cards left on the deck. Players have an edge if there’s a positive count, as it indicates a higher proportion of high cards —
which is the perfect time for players to increase their bets as the odds are in their favour. However, you should minimise your bets when the count is zero or negative.
In contrast, a negative count implies that high cards have been moved from the deck, which is advantageous to the dealers.
The card-counting betting strategy requires a steep learning curve and may not be ideal for new players: it centres on counting cards, which are prone to error. Even the slightest error can impact the count’s accuracy, resulting in losses.
5. Flat Betting Strategy
This betting system lets you wager a certain amount on every hand, making it easy to set a budget and stick with it. For this strategy to work well, choose a casino platform with multiple payment options to ensure smooth transactions throughout your gaming session. An ideal casino platform should have different payment options, such as credit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrency, and bank transfers.
While this strategy effectively minimises financial losses, it means you won’t increase your wagers during winning streaks — which means you could miss out on a big payout, especially when on a long winning streak.
