Systems and Strategies for Playing Blackjack is the smart guide you’ve been waiting for! Ever since casinos opened their doors, people have been looking for ways to win at the many games offered there. Over the centuries, many have tried to improve their betting odds in blackjack, but have failed to create betting systems that can achieve repetitive winning sessions and big wins at the casinos.
Dreams of quick and easy money are common among bettors, which is why many bettors and mathematicians have tried to develop betting systems that work in blackjack. Blackjack is very attractive because it is a game that requires skill. Applying the correct strategy reduces the house edge and gives the player a better chance of winning, once you understand the basic rules of Blackjack.
However – and let us state the following very clearly – there are no betting systems in blackjack that have been proven to work all the time and always generating winning sessions. Many websites claim to offer a secure system and try to charge you money for it, while promising you big profits. These sites take advantage of people who don’t know enough about casino games in general and blackjack in particular.
Think about the following for a second: if you were to develop a betting system where you could always beat the casino, would you offer it for $29.99 or for $59.99 or would you be playing at all the casinos in the world to become a billionaire?
Many people confuse betting systems with blackjack betting strategies. The truth is that they are not the same. As a general rule, betting systems apply to the money wagered and primarily instruct players as to how much to bet on each hand. For example, a positive progression system indicates that the player must double his bet after each win and cut his bet in half after each loss.
On the other hand, betting strategies have to do with the game decisions that a player must make when faced with different situations. For example, if you hold or hit when you have an A or a 6. Betting strategies in blackjack have been proven to work by reducing the house edge and increasing the player’s probability of winning more money against the casino.
Much has been written about progressive betting systems. There are websites and books that recommend or even sell them for money. Some people on the other hand recommend avoiding them at all costs. Neither one nor the other is right. The important thing to understand is that a progressive system does not change the house edge. The only thing that affects is volatility.
There are betting systems that guarantee to win 70% of the games. A game is understood to be a more or less long succession of hands or rounds, which could be a night playing in the casino. Out of ten visits to the casino in seven of them, you are going to win you some money. The bad thing is that in the remaining three you will lose a lot or everything. Other systems work in the opposite way: they make a lot of money rarely at the cost of losing little money frequently.
In the end, it does not matter which system is played because throughout many games the player will tend to get closer to the house edge in the same way as if he had used a constant betting system. The margin remains the same, but they do not. In many cases, the bets will be higher than the minimum and then more money can be won in the long run.
Betting systems are not good for getting rich but they are not as bad as they are thought of. Their usefulness may lie in giving more excitement to the game and distributing the wagers in such a way that on many days you make some profit, at the cost of having some losses on others.
Finally, say that the betting systems are welcomed by the casinos. And they do their best to get players to use them, some even providing papers so that players can write down the results of previous hands in the game they play. The casinos know perfectly well that the systems do not work in the long term and they prefer that the players use a system that always bet the minimum. As they will bet more, they will also lose more. Without any further due, here are the most famous betting systems in the game of Blackjack:
The most famous betting system in the world is the Martingale betting system. This is a negative progression system that tells the player to double their bet after each loss. The idea behind this system is that if you double your bets after a loss when you finally win, you will end up covering your losses and also make a profit of one betting hand. For example, if the player has lost $10, their next bet should be $20. If you lose again, your next bet must be $40, and so on. In this way, you only need to win once to recover the lost money.
However, although it seems easy to put it into practice, and the truth is that it is, and although it seems that it will always end up winning or at least not losing money, it has a small problem. Well, rather, a big problem. You can perfectly lose 10 times in a row, or 20, or 30 … That is, you can lose a lot of money before winning a game and recovering it. In addition, in online casinos there is always a maximum bet limit, so sometimes the system won’t work.
Also, this system only focuses on betting, not on how to win at Blackjack or, at least, how to try to decrease the house edge. That is why it is not a widely used system in strategic games like this, but it is in games in which everything is random, such as Roulette.
The Labouchere system is one of the most popular among Blackjack players. This is a negative progression system, therefore a player will need to increase their bet after losing and decrease it when winning. To begin with, in this system the player must choose a sequence of random numbers, for example, 2-3-4. Every time the player places a bet, this must be the sum of the first and the last number. In this case, it would be $6 (2 + 4).
If the bet is a winner, the two extreme numbers will be crossed out and the remaining number must be bet on the next play (in this case $3). If the player wins again, the sequence will end and a new one must be considered. If the player loses the bet, the amount bet must be added to the end of the sequence. In this case, the sequence of numbers would look like this: 2-3-4-6.
Unlike Martingale, this system seeks to recover losses thanks to multiple gains and not just once. However, we run into the same problem as in the Martingale. You can lose many times in a row and also online casinos put limits on bets.
The Paroli system is also very common among Blackjack players. Unlike the other two systems discussed above, this one is based on positive progressions. Therefore, the player will only increase his bet after he has won. In this system when there is a profit the bet is doubled. After 3 consecutive wins the progression ends and you start over from scratch. In the case of a non-winning bet, you must re-bet the base amount with which you started playing.
This betting system is based on the idea that both wins and losses go in streaks and, therefore, it seeks to maximize profits by increasing bets during positive streaks and reduce losses by betting less during negative streaks.
This is another one of the most used betting systems since it presents very simple and clear guidelines. It uses the famous Fibonacci sequence that tells us how much to bet when losing. Now, for many experts in the game, this system is not the most preferred, since you have to know it has been designed for roulette. In any case, this has not prevented it from gaining so many followers.
The Fibonacci system is a negative sequence of numbers which works cumulatively, where each number in that sequence is equal to the sum of the 2 previous numbers, whose sequence always starts with 0 and 1 and so on towards infinity, but when it is strategy is used in the game, zero is ignored.
That is why it is not surprising that the Fibonacci system is used and is very successful in the free version of blackjack since it is a very mathematical game, where the player’s probability of winning increases depending on a part of his ability to play the game and the knowledge they have about basic math and probabilities.
This system has become very popular in blackjack and it does not require the player to be so risky when betting, in other words, it protects more his capital. From this system, you should know that it is also a negative progression, but much more subtle than the previous system since the increase in bets occurs when losing, but in a more controlled way, avoiding having such high bets in short periods of play.
To explain this system better, let’s consider that you decided to bet $1 on one hand. You win this hand, which is why you keep your bet at $1. However, on the next hand, you lose and there the D’Alembert Betting System comes into operation.
So you bet $1 and you lose. According to the system, you now increase your bet by one unit. On the next hand, you will bet $2. You lose again. So, unlike the Martingale system, where you should double your bet, you will simply add one unit to it. This time you must bet $3. And if you lose again, according to the system, the next bet will be $4. If you keep losing, you will add 1 unit to your bet until you win.
If you have made a $4 bet and you win, according to the system, you simply reduce your bet by one unit. Your next bet will be $3. You win again. The next bet will be $2. You hit a streak of good luck and win again. The next bet will be 1 unit and you start the process from zero.
Clearly like any other betting system, D’Alembert also has its disadvantages and in this case, the main one is that with it is that some money is also lost on losing streaks and very large prizes are not achieved.
As in other systems, you need to have some money in your bankroll to be able to carry it out. This system is about making betting cycles and looking for small profits, that is, looking for the maximum profit of 1 bet in each round to minimize risks. Every time a cycle is profitable, it stops and a new one is made.
If we set 1 as the initial bet or unit, and we win that round, we change the cycle and in the next, we will bet 1 again. If we win again, we start another cycle with 1. This means that as long as we are in a positive balance, the bet is not increased, and we are looking for a minimum profit.
On the other hand, if we lose, we will bet the same as what we lost in the previous hand, and we will repeat it until we win. That is, if I had bet 1 and I lose, I am in balance -1, and I will bet 1. If I lose again, I am at -2, but I continue to bet 1. If I now win, I still have a negative balance of -1. Even so, having won, I add one unit, so now I will bet 2. If I win again, I am already recovered, with a balance of +1. Therefore now we will not bet 3, since we have said that we only seek to win +1 per round. What you would do is terminate this cycle, with a profit of 1, and start a new one by betting 1.
The advantage of this system is that when dividing by cycles, you do not need a bankroll as large as with the Martingale, since it is more secure. The downside is that as the winnings are slow to accumulate, you need a lot of plays to get a good profit compared to your starting bankroll.
There is no doubt that the Parlay betting system in blackjack is the most extreme because if this system is used you must double the bets every time you win. It may be a logical idea, but the truth is that it is difficult to always have positive streaks at the blackjack table. You should know that with this system your bankroll of funds runs at risk and it is difficult to maintain control, even for the most professional players.
Even so, if you want to use this system, we are going to give you a series of tips to try to minimize the risk and above all to avoid losing a lot of money in the event of bad luck.
Ideally, to minimize the risk in the game you should put a limit on the profits that you accumulate, and strategies or systems should not give importance to the bankroll. What the win limit will do is establish a point at which you will stop playing and go home with the money won. In the Parlay betting system, players do not set any kind of limit and for this reason, they lose a lot of money. The limit should depend on the amount of money you bet per hand.
Here are some examples of bets on each hand, for different types of players:
– A bet of $10 + you win: you get $10 of profit.
– A bet of $20 + you win: you get $30 of profit.
– A bet of $40 + you win: you get $70 of profit.
– A bet of $80 + you win: you get $150 of profit.
To reach this limit, the idea is for the player to win 4 consecutive hands.
You have to consider a betting limit of losses using the Parlay system. The betting limit will be used to avoid losing money in a single day and will consist of standing if half of the profits generated have been lost consecutively.
Here is an example: Suppose you place bets of $10 and you set a loss limit of $100 (this limit must be in proportion to your bankroll). The betting limit will depend on the time you are playing, if for example these 2 hours, the betting limit should be a maximum of 140 bets.
The 1-3-2-6 betting system is a progressive system that involves placing consecutive bets of 1, 3, 2, and 6 units. However, as a crucial note, bettors are only supposed to apply the 1-3-2-6 system when winning. In other words, a player is supposed to bet on only one unit and continue to do so until they register a win, before moving on to the next sequence.
If you are in the middle of the 1-3-2-6 system and you register a loss, you should go back to the first bet, in other words to the beginning. Similarly, when you complete the system cycle, you must also start the series over with the first bet.
Like most progressive betting systems, the 1-3-2-6 system relies heavily on luck, so be ready to accept the fact that you won’t always win when you use it.
Don’t forget, using this system does not erase the strong house edge in blackjack. Still, by minimizing risks during losses and increasing your chances during wins, the 1-3-2-6 strategy comes with many advantages and disadvantages, making it a betting technique worth employing.
Here we have collected some of the most popular basic strategies for playing Blackjack that are easy to follow, do not require complex math, or great memory skills. They simply tell you what position to take depending on the cards you have on the table.
16 points, a hand is considered weak when the dealer shows a 10 (K) on his first card. This is not a very good hand and the house will most likely win. Your goal here is to minimize losses with this hand.
There are 4 combinations that you can have with 16, and this is what you should do in each case:
Hard 16 – A hard 16 is when you get that score without an Ace. Your options are not the best with this hand, so it is best to surrender. Surrender is allowed at some tables and allows the player to fold from the current game taking half the bet with him.
If the casino does not accept surrender, then always ask for a card. You will lose far fewer hands than if you stand.
Soft 16 – A soft 16 is when you get that score with an Ace. You should always ask for a card in this case. Your goal is to get a hard 17, a soft 19, or higher.
16 Multi-card – To obtain 16 you must draw 3 low-value cards such as 5, 4, and 7. To win you will need another card of the smallest values, in this case, a 5 or a 4. But you already have 2 of the 8 cards that could help you (there are only four 5’s and four 4’s).
Pair of Eights – You should always split your pair of 8’s. When you do, you have two hands of 8 points each. This is better than a single hand with 16 points. In the long term, your losses will be less.
Many players consider 17 in Blackjack to be a strong hand and decide to stand. The reality is that you will lose more money in the long run if you do that, although you only have two decisions to make, stand or fold.
You must make a decision based on the card shown by the dealer.
Note: A soft 17 is an “A’s” and a “6”.
If there are more than two decks and the dealer’s card is between 3 and 6, double your bet.
If the dealer’s card is 2 or greater than 6, ask for another card.
If there are more than two decks and the dealer’s card is between 2 and 6, double your bet.
If the dealer’s card is greater than 6, ask for another card. This strategy seeks to double the bet when the dealer’s hand is most vulnerable.
An “Ace” and a “7” is soft because you can take it as an 18 or 8. Most players make the decision to stand on a soft 18 because they consider it to be a strong enough hand. The decision to make will depend on the type of Black Jack or the table rules.
If the rules specify that the dealer must stand on a soft 17 with a deck, do the following:
If the dealer’s card shows a 3 to a 6, Double.
If the dealer’s card shows a 2, 7 or 8; you must stand.
If the dealer’s card shows a 9, 10 or Ace; ask for another card.
By following these recommendations, you will increase your chances of winning by 2%.
Never bet on insurance at online blackjack. This option remains to the advantage of the online casino unless the cards are counted. And yes, it is not possible to count them in online blackjack.
Here are some other strategies that you might find useful:
If you have 11: Double against all the cards of the dealer.
If you have 9: Double down if the dealer has a card of a value 2-6. (You should have a hard 9, meaning no Ace in the hand)
• If you have 8: Double the bet against 5 and 6.
• If you have an ace, 8: As good as 19 looks, it is to your advantage to double down against a 6. Stand against everything else.
• If you have an ace, 7: Stand against an ace, unless you are playing in a casino where the dealer has “soft” 17. In that case, take a card.
• If you have an ace, 5, 6, 7: Double against 2 to 6.
• If you have an ace, 3 or an ace, 2: Double against 4, 5 and 6.
• Always split Ace’s.
Some players think that card counting means memorizing each card as it is played. If card counting was that difficult, no one would have thought it would be practical, even in the days when the basic game was played with a single deck of cards. And that kind of system would certainly have disappeared with the advent of the four, six, and eight-deck games that are common today. Others think that counting cards is like having a permit to print tickets, just memorize a counting system and start winning. It is not that easy, however.
What card counters do is take advantage of the constantly changing odds in blackjack. In roulette or craps, the odds are mathematically set to be the same for every spin of the wheel or roll of the dice. In blackjack, however, the odds turn in the player’s favor when an unusual number of 10-value cards remain to be played. When the deck is rich in tens, the player receives more blackjacks. On the other hand, so does the dealer, but players charge 3-2 in blackjacks while the dealer does not.
In situations where the bet has been doubled, the percentage of the 10-value cards desirable for the player to hit 21 is higher, and when the dealer’s face-up card is a “hard” card, or from 2 to 6, the dealer is even more likely to lose.
Card counters do not attempt to keep track of all the cards in the deck. They just look at the tens and aces. When the deck is favorable to the player, they increase their bets. When the deck is favorable to the dealer, they lower their bets. Counting is done with a system of addition and subtraction (more or less). The most common counting system simply assigns a value of +1 to 3, 4, 5, and 6 and -1 to 10, jacks, queens, and kings. All other cards are treated as neutral.
Every time a 3 is dealt with a 6, add one to the account. Each time a 10 value card is dealt, subtract one. The total is called the current count. This needs to be done according to the number of decks in the game, which is done by dividing by the approximate number of decks left in the dealer’s shoe or hand. In a six-deck game, if the count is +6 and there are about three decks left in the shoe, divide 6/3 to get a total of +2. The final step is to adjust the bet to the count. In this simple version, if your initial bet is $5, when the true count reaches +2, bet $10; If it is +4, bet $15, and if it is +6, bet $20.
Note: Since you are increasing your bet each time the deck is favorable, playing with a counting system requires a much larger bankroll than betting the same amount on each hand.
If you want to learn how to count cards in more detail, you can have a look at our card counting strategy guide here.
By reading about these betting systems and strategies for blackjack, surely you already have an idea of what you can choose to manage your money. But what strategy can help you within the game itself? Actually, there are numerous and very varied systems and strategies for playing the game. Some of them have proven to be more favorable than others, however.
One of the most favorable strategies is known as the basic strategy of blackjack, which provides us with the basics of the game and how to play it in order to minimize the house edge. It also teaches some great tips and tricks which every blackjack player must know. You can check our Basic Strategy for Blackjack guide here.
It is important to clarify that this strategy, as well as all the ones mentioned above, cannot guarantee 100% success in the game. What is sought with all of them is to make a profit in the long term.
Now that you have read about all of these popular systems and strategies for playing blackjack, you can go ahead and apply your knowledge in an actual game. You can either start by playing a free-to-play version of the game, which will give you some time to practice your skills or start betting in a reputable online casino that offers your favorite variation of the game. If you still have not found an online casino that is right for you, make sure to check our choice of the best blackjack casinos on the market. Here are our top recommendations:
