Today we are going to take a look at several betting and playing decisions that you can place and make at a Blackjack table. These betting decisions and playing moves are quite easy to remember, and each of them will allow you to make the correct strategic move whenever you have been dealt out any two initial cards.
There are of course dozens of different Blackjack game variants on offer online, and as such we have highlighted those Blackjack variants which by their own unique design have the lowest built in house edge.
Have a good look through this Blackjack game playing guide for by remembering all of the following betting and playing moves you are instantly going to be able to increase your winning chances whenever you play any of the listed Blackjack game variants!
Insurance – A Bet Never Worth Taking!
Let us start by telling you the best way that you should always play the Insurance wager when it has been offered to you. Should the Dealer deal to his hand an Ace then on the vast majority of Blackjack games the Dealer will then give you the chance of placing the Insurance side bet wager.
This is a completely optional wager which you are under no obligation to take. However, if you do decide to take it you are betting that the Dealers hand will end up being a Blackjack (an Ace and a ten valued card) hand.
This wager is a poor one to take due to an enormous house edge that is attached to it. This bet pays off at 2 to 1 and you are forced to wager half of your initial hands’ stake amount as the Insurance wager. Always refuse the Insurance wager when offered, no matter how tempting it may appeal, its massive house edge will reduce your winning chances quite dramatically and the bet will eat away at your bankroll over time!
Doubling Down –Maximizing Your Winning Potential
Many Blackjack game variants will let you double the wager you initially placed on a base hand when it is your turn to take another card or stand your hand. However, you can only perform this Double Down move when you have been dealt certain two card hand combinations, and when you have doubled your initial wager you are only going to get one extra card in exchange for that additional stake.
The Double Down wager is a good valued bet but only at certain times. Much like any extra bet offered to you if you take it at the wrong time then you are playing the incorrect playing strategy which will cost you money over time and will have an impact on the overall house edge of the variant you are playing.
If you want to play a very, very low house edge, Blackjack game online then you are going to be very hard pressed to find a better game that the Classic Blackjack game found at any Microgaming software powered casino.
The only time you should take the Double Down options when playing this variant is when the Dealer has a 2 card or any card worth up to 9 in value and you have a hand valued at 10 or 11. Other times you should Double Down include when the Dealer has a card worth 2 to 6 and you have a two card hand worth 9 or when you have a pair of 5’s and the Dealer has a card worth 2 to 9 in value.
Never take the Double Down betting option at any other time when playing Microgaming’s Classic Blackjack game!
Splitting Cards – Twice as Many Chances of Winning?
Another playing and betting decision that you are going to be faced with when you are playing Blackjack is in regards to Splitting a hand. You will be given the option of separating two cards into two new hands when for example a pair of similar valued cards has been dealt out to you.
When you split any pair of cards you are then going to have to place another bet which has to be of the same value as the initial wager you placed to get the Blackjack game underway on the second hand formed, and as such this type of wager will give you two chances of winning when playing any Blackjack game.
However, much like the above wagering opportunity there are only certain hand combinations that you should consider splitting. One of the hands is when you have been dealt out a Pair of Aces, to play Blackjack optimally you should always split a pair of Aces even if the Dealer is showing an Ace as his or hers up card!
Conclusion
Always play the Blackjack game variants which have the lowest house edge. The house edge is of course a theoretical percentage of all players stakes that any casino whether land based or online, is going to win from players over the long term.
The best Blackjack games to play online are the Classic Blackjack game available at Microgaming powered sites and the Blackjack Switch game which you will always find readily available at all Playtech powered online casino sites.
Do not be misled if you come across a range of zero house edge Blackjack games which you may find on offer at some online casinos. For whilst these games may have a zero house edge thanks to their unique payouts and game playing rules, the casinos offering them will take a percentage of your winning cash outs and withdrawals as the house commission, and as such they are not really zero house edge games at all!
