The Best Blackjack Strategy for Beginners
Posted by Harry Kane on Saturday, June 24, 2017
In many ways, the James Bond franchise is a mixture of contradictions and confusion, with many debating whether or not the series is in decline or continuing to grow. Spectre, the last instalment, offers a relevant case in point, as while it took a little more than $200,000 million domestically it still ranks in the bottom 10 performing films when adjusted for inflation.
Even Bond’s favourite game is the topic of debate, as while many suggest that it is blackjack or roulette Britain’s favourite secret agent actually has a penchant for baccarat.
The mere idea that blackjack is Bond’s preferred game has been enough to win over newcomers, however, making it one of the most popular casino pastimes available. You will need to have the right strategy when playing as a newbie, however, particularly if you are to genuinely achieve your objectives:
Choose Your Iteration Wisely
Blackjack players are relatively fortunate in some respects, as there are not the same level of strategy variations available as in disciplines such as roulette. Despite this, the strategy that you use will vary depending on the precise iteration of the game that you play, as each has individual rules that effect the house edge (with the most liberal versions carrying an edge of 0.28%).
As a beginner, it is therefore sensible to choose a simple blackjack iteration, with relatively low table limits and a house edge of around 0.28%. This instantly improves your chances of winning from the outset, while reducing the amount of time required to learn the game and successfully apply your chosen strategy.
Tailor a Basic Strategy to Suit the Fundamental Rules of the Game
We have already touched on how rules change according to each version of the game, but it is universally accepted that blackjack dealers are formulaic and have far less flexibility than players. You can leverage these fundamental rules to your advantage, as you look to tailor a basic strategy that optimises your chances of success at any given time.
Blackjack dealers are generally forced to stand if the total value of their first two cards is equal to, or greater than 17, for example. With this in mind, you should adopt a more aggressive approach when the dealer’s face-up card is a seven, an eight, a nine, a 10 or an ace, and continue hitting your own hand until you reach a value of 17.
This is the type of understanding that should inform your strategy, as you look to simplify the game and incrementally improve your chances of winning over a sustained period of time.
Leverage Soft Hands and the Value of the Ace
The difference between soft and hard hands is an important consideration for beginners, as the former include an ace and offer considerable flexibility to players. This is because the ace can be used to the value of either one or 11, meaning that it is not possible to exceed 21 when hitting after drawing an initial two-card hand.
Essentially, this enables you to adopt an aggressive approach when playing the game, as you can essentially continue hitting your hand until it has achieved a value of 18 or more.
Given that the dealer will have had to stand on 17, this means that you will have an excellent chance of winning if you play your soft hand wisely.