Beat the Dealer: Your Guide to Winning at Blackjack

General Blackjack Tips

While the rules of blackjack themselves are quite straight forward, it's often the case that it's not just the baseline rules that you'll need to remember when going into a game. Blackjack is a casino game that takes vigilance, wit and finesse to win – not just luck. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• If you're talented at math, you might be able to work out what card will come up next based on what's been burned from the deck.
• You're free to hit as many times as you like until you go bust, so don't be shy about constant hits – just be aware that with each extra card, you're racing toward that big 21.
• When deciding to double down on your hand, you can double your overall bet and receive another card. This can be advantageous in some circumstances, especially if you think you're going to win, but remember to consider how close you are to 21 first. The odds are against you staying under!
• If you have two cards of the same value, you get the option to split your hand into two separate hands. You can then make another bet on your new hand – it's like playing two games at once, with an increased chance of beating the dealer with one or both of your hands.
• Aces are tricky customers in blackjack – these can be worth either a 1 or an 11, depending on the circumstances. In a soft hand, i.e. if a six is drawn alongside an Ace, then the Ace will be worth an 11. Whereas in a hard hand, I.e. a ten is drawn alongside the Ace, then the value of the Ace is a 1.
• You have the option in blackjack to receive “insurance”. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean you get a percentage of your money back if your cards catch on fire – it means you can wager an extra 50% of your original bet. If the dealer has a blackjack, you will be able to break even in both bets with insurance.

At a Glance – Blackjack Odds

Like all casino games, a major tactic in blackjack is the focus on your odds. Each new card that is drawn changes your odds significantly, and the aim of the game is working out the odds of which your next card will be.

From the get-go of a game of blackjack, your odds of a net win falls at the specific number of 42.42% (46.36%, skipping odds of a tie). The odds of the dealer winning is 49.10%, and an overall tie is only 8.48%. From the get-go, the odds are stacked against you – but only slightly.

With each win, however, the house edge and the general laws of probability will make it slightly harder for a consecutive win following it, to the point it will eventually become non-existent. The probability of the player managing to achieve four blackjack wins in a row is 4.62%, and to meet seven in a row would be 0.46% - so though you shouldn't expect an unbroken winning streak beyond two or three best, it's not unheard of to go beyond that number (but it might just break reality as we know it).

Blackjack Variants

Blackjack has some pretty clean cut and straightforward rules, but the general mainstream game isn't the only version. Like a living, breathing organism, blackjack has some genetic offshoots of its own; each with their own rules, but remaining close enough to the original game to keep the name “blackjack”.

• Spanish 21 – As opposed to the usual 52, Spanish 21 only has 48 cards in each deck – all four 10s have been removed, making the game harder and bringing the house edge to 2% from the get go. However, the benefits that replace this are the ways of winning even if the dealer hits 21; you can surrender at any point in the game, bringing the fate of the game into your own hands.
• Blackjack Switch – Blackjack Switch is basically the Uno of the Blackjack family – as the name suggests, you have the option at the start of the game to switch your second card with the dealer's face-down card. This could turn a bad hand into a great one, or even a worse one if you're unlucky.
• Super Fun 21 – A much more liberal version of blackjack with an emphasis on fun, Super Fun 21 uses a single deck of cards and allows you to surrender or split into pairs, and the player's blackjack trumps the dealer's in the unlikely chance of both parties getting it.

Blackjack Glossary

• Blackjack – Not just the name of the game, but the best possible hand. A blackjack is when the player of the dealer draws both an Ace and a card valued at 10 (a 10, or a King, Jack or Queen). This results in an instant win for whichever party has it.
• Bust – When the player or dealer's card count reaches over 21 from the cards they draw overshoots the overall value, resulting in a loss (bust) for the receiving party.
• Double Down – After their first card is drawn, the player has the chance to double the bet they've already made and draw one extra card in the process. Doubling down is only usable in the first two turns.
• Hit – One of the two main choices for each turn – to hit is to ask for another card to be drawn to your existing cards. If the hit causes the player's overall card value to pass 21, they bust.
• Stand – The other main choice each turn. When you choose to stand, you're making the decision to not draw any more cards (or hit) and call an end to the round.
• Hole Card – This is the second card dealt to the dealer. The Hole Card lies face-down beside the dealer's first card, and remains that way until the player acts on their own hand by deciding to either hit or stand.
• Face cards – In most casino card games (not just blackjack) face cards are any of the cards that depict faces – so that's the queen, jack and king of each respective suit.
• Heads up – Head up is a term from poker, that means playing 1 versus 1 with your opponent. In Blackjack this occurs if everyone busts except you and the dealer.
• House edge – The house edge is the amount of profit that the casino is almost guaranteed to take on every game of a particular type, excluding ridiculous levels of skill on behalf of the player. In blackjack, this can be reduced a lot through skilful play but will sit at somewhere between 0.5% and 1%. Bearing in mind, casinos base this on players having a basic strategy in place and not making sub optimal choices.
• Natural – A natural is when a player gets an ace and a 10 on the first two cards – a natural 21. This is probably the best hand in the game for winning, although maybe not for profits since your bet return will be fixed at 3:2.
• Push – A push is when the dealer and a player both get a natural and, as you might expect, its very rare to get.

When you play casino blackjack online everything is virtual, although you'll still experience the sounds, sights, and even the feeling of being at a real casino.

Busted: A Blackjack Conclusion

Overall, compared to most casino table games, blackjack is one of the only games you can truly beat. Poker is about beating other players, roulette is about rolling with the odds, but blackjack has you up against the game itself – for some playing, the knowledge that they have defeated the 21-headed blackjack dragon can be immensely satisfying. And, with the proper skills and playstyle learned, you have the possibility of winning almost every time.

We said earlier that the odds in blackjack are stacked massively against you, but it's more of an edge on the side of the dealer. Masters of the game reduce this edge down to virtually nothing; the blackjack dragon is reduced to a tiny little lizard who can scarcely guard his gold.

Discover the Best of Blackjack

The game of blackjack online is one of the most popular among avid players. This is mainly because it offers some of the best odds, it's also fairly easy to play which makes it great for beginners. The aim of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible without ever going over the value. There are various variations of blackjack. Here, we're going to compare the common version of online blackjack and the variant called Super Fun 21.

Start Casinos' Blackjack Games off Right with This Easy Strategy

We remember what the first real money blackjack game was like. Back then, there were very few websites we could turn to for advice. Trust us; we all really could have used it! A strategy for blackjack is just like having a strategy for any other game or objective in life. It will help you to lower the house edge by up to 0.50%. The house edge from the very start is around 2-3%.

The following is a basic strategy you can use when you play blackjack online. Canada's casino goers may not be able to use this strategy on all variations.

Hard Hand – A hand with no ace, or an ace which is valued at 1

• Hit whenever your hand totals less than 8.
• On a total hand of 9, double if the dealer holds a 3-6. If not, hit.
• Double when the dealer has a card less than 10 or 11. If not, hit.
• Hit when a dealer has a 7 or higher if you have a hand of 12-16. If not, stand.
• Any hand with a total of 17-21, stand.

Soft Hands – A hand with an ace value of 1 or 11. Hitting a soft hand cannot be busted.

• A hand of 15 or less should be hit.
• Double down when you have a hand of 16-18 and the dealer has 6 or less. If not, hit.
• Stand on any hand total of 19 or greater.

Pair Hands – With a pair, you'll need to choose to spilt or hold.

• Split on aces or 8's.
• With 4's, 5's and 10's do not split.
• For any other pair, split as long as the dealer holds a 6 or less.

Before You Play, Always Consider the Following

Real money blackjack casinos are so much fun. Before you begin, consider these things.

• Read the rules of all blackjack games. Know the bets and understand the payouts.
• Set a budget and stick to it.
• Chasing your losses is not worth it.
• Review the CA casino bonuses and collect one if it's right for you.

Enjoy the Speed of Online Blackjack

Blackjack online is one of the most popular games with Canadian players. There are various variations when it comes to playing blackjack. Some players prefer the personal interaction of the game. Therefore, they chose to play at their local land casino. Others tend to favour one of the online variations found at all the best online casinos and there are some players who prefer live dealer versions.

We Found the Top Online Blackjack Casinos for Canada's Gamblers

There is a lot more you could read about when it comes to blackjack. In fact, there are books with hundreds of pages just on the game. That said everything here will get you started on solid ground. Since you've learned the basics of the game, why not test out your skills by trying some low bets at one of our leading casinos. Canadians will be privileged to have the chance to effortlessly add money to an account and start playing blackjack in just minutes. Let's see what you've got.