When playing blackjack, it’s important to learn basic strategy and use the right betting strategy to increase your odds of winning. Once you have learned the basics, you can move on to more advanced tips like splitting pairs and making Insurance bets. This can help you win a lot of money! But, as with any gambling activity, remember to have fun while you play! Basic strategy Using basic blackjack strategy can improve your winning chances and reduce your losses. You can also get strategy charts that show you how to play the game. Developed in the 1950s by four mathematicians who knew that the rules of blackjack were fixed, these strategies are mathematically proven to decrease the house edge to less than 0.5%. This is the reason that many players trust basic strategy to beat the house. Double down The blackjack double down strategy involves placing additional chips equal to your initial bet next to your current wager. However, it is important to note that doubling down does not always make sense, since placing chips on top of your original bet is considered cheating. Therefore, you should only double down on a hand if you have a strong hand that will help you win. Insurance bets Insurance bets on blackjack are a way to increase the chances of winning a hand. These bets pay out two to one if the dealer has a blackjack and are a good option if the player doesn’t have a good hand. However, you should always understand the odds involved in making these bets. Splitting pairs When you have two identical cards, splitting them into two separate hands is a good idea. However, there are certain situations where splitting is not a good idea. For instance, if you have an ace and a seven, it is best to hit rather than split. Similarly, if you have a four and a five, you should hit instead of split. As you can see, this strategy requires practice. Aces as 1 or 11 In blackjack, the ace is worth either one point or eleven points. When the total is under 21, an ace is worth 11 points. When the total is higher, an ace is worth one point. When the ace is worth 11 points, a player can continue with their hand, but if they have a high hand, they are more likely to bust. Early surrender Early surrender in blackjack allows players to give up a portion of their wager before the dealer checks for blackjack. This strategy is less risky than others and can be used to reduce the house edge. However, be aware that an early surrender can lead to a loss if the dealer has a blackjack. Card-counting system There are several different card-counting systems for blackjack. The most basic one is known as the Hi/Lo system. It is easy to learn and uses basic math skills. This system counts all cards from a deck as either +1 or -1.