Blackjack stands apart in the world of gambling. Unlike slots, where chance decides everything, your success here is a combination of mathematics and iron discipline. It’s not just entertainment, but a game that can be learned to control.
From intuition to science: How it became possible
It all started in a 17th-century French casino called ‘Vingt-Un’ (21). For a long time, it was believed that intuition was the only thing that mattered in blackjack. But in 1962, mathematician Edward Thorp turned everything upside down. Using the first computers, he proved that blackjack is the only casino game where past cards affect future odds. This led to the development of the ‘Basic Strategy,’ which reduces the house edge to a mere 0.5%.
Know the value of each card
Before jumping into the fray, familiarise yourself with the card values. Your goal is not just to get 21, but to be closer to that number than the dealer. And at the same time, don’t go over 21.
- 2 to 10: these cards are worth exactly what they say on them.
- Jack, Queen, King: worth 10 points each.
- Ace: the most flexible card. It can be either 1 or 11, whichever is more advantageous for you.
Important point: if you have an Ace in your hand that can be counted as 11 without going over, your hand is called ‘soft’. If you don’t have an Ace or it has to be counted as 1, it’s a ‘hard’ hand.
Four actions — one choice
Each move is a fork in the road. Your decision depends on what you see in your hand and what card the dealer has face up.
- Hit: ask for another card. Needed if the total in your hand is too low.
- Stand: you stop. Relevant when the risk of going bust is high or the dealer has a weak card (2, 3, 4, 5 or 6).
- Double Down: you double your bet, but receive only one card. Ideal when you have 10 or 11 in your hand.
- Split: if you are dealt two identical cards, make two separate hands out of them. Remember: always split Aces and Eights, but never touch Tens and face cards.
Mathematics in action
Success in blackjack is all about consistency. Consider the three main scenarios:
- Hard hands (12–16 points): This is the most dangerous zone. If the dealer has a card between 2 and 6, stand and wait for them to bust. If they have a 7 or higher, take a card, otherwise they will crush you.
- Soft hands (with an Ace): Here you have room for error. For example, a ‘soft 17’ (Ace + 6) will never bust with one card — feel free to take another card or double down.
- Pairs: By splitting eights, you turn one bad hand (16 points — the worst possible) into two potentially strong ones.
Money and discipline
Without bankroll management, any strategy is rubbish. Blackjack is a marathon, not a sprint.
The 1–2% rule: Never bet more than 2% of your total budget at one time. If you have €200, your bet is €2 or €4.
Forget about ‘insurance’: Additional bets (Insurance, Perfect Pairs) are a trap. The casino’s mathematical advantage soars to 5% and above. Just ignore them.
The main thing is consistency.
Blackjack rewards those who can keep their cool. The most common mistake made by beginners is to freak out and deviate from their strategy after a couple of losses. But the numbers don’t lie: a mathematically correct decision remains correct, regardless of the outcome of the previous round.