How to Beat the House Edge in Blackjack

blackjack

Blackjack is a game where strategy and mathematics play an important role. The house edge is low, but it can still be significant enough to make the difference between winning and losing if the player doesn’t learn how to beat it. There are different strategies that can be employed, but all of them fit under the umbrella of basic blackjack strategy and all will reduce the house edge slightly.

There are many myths about blackjack and some people think that it is a game of pure chance, but the fact is that you can make a significant difference in your odds of winning by following basic strategy. The first step is to understand the game’s rules. Then you need to know when to hit, stand or split your cards. You also need to be aware of the differences between two-card hands and the dealer’s hand.

Basically, the objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer by having the higher unbusted hand. If the player surpasses 21 and the dealer does not, the player wins. If the player and dealer have identical scores, it is a push and nobody wins.

The dealer deals the player and himself two cards each. One of the dealer’s cards is face up and the other is facing down; this card is called the hole card. The dealer checks the hole card and if it is a 10 then the dealer has blackjack and will pay out any insurance wagers that were made. Otherwise the dealer will pay out the original bets of all players.

When you’re dealing with a pair of cards, like aces or eights, it is best to split them, and that will require an additional bet. This will allow you to create two separate hands and play them individually, and it will increase your chances of making a strong hand. You should always split aces and eights, and you should consider splitting nines, sevens, sixes and threes if the dealer shows a four or five.

Once the player has his or her two cards they can choose to hit (ask for another) or stand (remain at their current hand). They can also double their bet if they want to increase their chances of beating the dealer’s hand. They can also place side bets, like the bet on a twenty, to further increase their odds of winning.

Side bets are a risky way to increase your blackjack betting power, as they’re usually not fair for the player. However, they can be used as a last resort when you’re getting desperate to win. Just be sure to keep your gambling money separated from your regular bankroll, and only gamble with cash that you can afford to lose. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a very difficult situation known as busting. That’s a word no one wants to hear.