| Updated: September 25, 2025There are many complex strategies and counting systems that can help players increase their chances of winning at blackjack, but less-experienced players often struggle to gain a good understanding of the basic and most important aspects of the game. After learning the rules, some novices head to the nearest casino, where they may easily lose their entire bankroll by following bad advice.
There are obvious things most blackjack players, even beginners, probably know well, such as avoiding drinks at the blackjack table and not using a credit card for gambling. But there are also widespread myths about the game of Twenty-One that many still believe, although these ideas have been proven false many times. The article below includes some basic tips for beginner players – how to start with blackjack, how to play certain hands, what to avoid, and more. We have also included a few essential money-management tips that will be helpful for all casino gamblers, whether they play blackjack, roulette, or slot machines.
Basic Tips for Blackjack Players
Hollywood movies often depict casino gambling as an easy way to win at the blackjack table, but in reality strictly following a strategy – not to mention counting cards – is challenging. Here are a few basic steps to follow when entering the world of blackjack.
Learn the Game
Manage Your Bankroll Know When to Quit Avoid Progressive Betting SystemsLearn the Game
Learning the fundamentals of the game is essential – under traditional rules, blackjack is played with 1 to 8 standard decks of cards and each player initially receives 2 cards, while the dealer gets one card face-up and another face-down. The objective is to beat the dealer by getting blackjack (an Ace plus a 10-value card) or by achieving a total as close to 21 as possible. Cards from 2 through 10 count at face value, Jacks, Queens, and Kings count as 10, and Aces can be 1 or 11.
Players may request additional cards or stick with the hand they already have. They can also double their bet, split a pair, or surrender their hand and lose only half of the bet. The correct decision for every situation can easily be found in strategy cards that are available at casinos and online. These simple charts outline the basic strategy for each blackjack variation – the recommended moves depend on the specific rules of the game, the player’s cards, and the dealer’s upcard.
The best tactic for beginners is to memorize a strategy chart and practice it by playing blackjack online. Most online casinos offer both real-money and free-play modes. A few rounds are not enough, however – you need to master the strategy before wagering real money.
Manage Your Bankroll
Once blackjack players are confident in their knowledge of the game, they should shift their focus to another crucial aspect of casino gambling: bankroll management. A bankroll is the fixed amount of money set aside exclusively for blackjack – many recreational players lose large sums in a short time because they gamble with all of their funds. Setting aside a specific amount just for blackjack and never wagering money you cannot afford to lose is essential.
Another effective tactic is to set limits for winnings and losses per session, and to quit once you reach those limits. Beginners should also establish the size of their bet per hand. Sticking to the table minimum is wise because it helps your bankroll last longer, even if you lose most hands.
Experienced casino players also recommend adjusting your bet size to your bankroll – for example, if your session bankroll is $300, divide it by 100 hands; the safest bet size would then be $3. This approach minimizes the risk of losing a significant amount of money.
Know When to Quit
A common mistake – even among seasoned players – is trying to recoup losses by wagering more while continuing to play the same way, often with poor strategy. This usually leads to even greater losses. To avoid this trap, players must know when to quit. Many gambling guides advise quitting while you are still ahead. Although this is sound advice, few players manage to rein in their spending habits in practice.
The concept of winning and losing streaks is also frequently misunderstood. Some players believe that after a losing streak they are destined to win, but these perceived streaks are random and cannot be predicted. Players who choose blackjack games with favorable rules and a flawless strategy should not worry about streaks; instead, they should focus on making the correct decision on every hand.
Avoid Progressive Betting Systems
Relying on progressive betting systems is always a poor choice. These systems may be positive, negative, or flat, but they all involve adjusting your stake based on whether you won or lost the previous hand. Such progressions are fundamentally flawed and, more importantly, very risky – under the Martingale system, for example, you double your bet after every loss. If you lose five consecutive hands starting with a $5 wager, you would end up down $155 – a clear illustration of the risk involved.
A far more effective approach is to increase your bet when there are more high cards than low cards remaining in the dealer’s shoe. This principle is at the heart of card counting and advantage play in blackjack. Several relatively simple counting systems can help even less experienced players roughly estimate the ratio of high to low cards.
Playing Basic Strategy
Unlike games such as roulette, where you simply guess the winning number, blackjack offers mathematically right and wrong ways to play each hand. By analyzing the probability of specific cards being dealt, researchers have identified the optimal decision in every situation. These decisions can vary depending on rule differences among blackjack games – for instance, whether the dealer must draw on a soft 17 (Ace plus 6).
As a rule, players should always draw another card (Hit) when holding hard totals of 11 or less. A hard hand contains no Ace, or an Ace that can count only as 1. If the Ace can count as 11 without busting, the hand is considered soft. Players should also Hit on soft totals of 17 or less.
When holding a strong hand, players should Stand and play their two cards against the dealer. Specifically, they should always Stand on hard 17 or higher and on soft 19 or higher. They should refuse additional cards on hard 12 against a dealer 4-6; against other dealer upcards they should Hit. Similarly, players should Stand on hard 13-16 against a dealer 2-6 – otherwise they should Hit. Basic strategy also advises Standing on soft 18, except against a dealer 9, 10, or Ace.
These are the fundamentals of Hitting and Standing, but players have additional options. They can Double Down, Split pairs, or Surrender under certain conditions. Below, we outline the specific situations in which each action is correct.
When You Should Split Pairs When You Should Double Down When to Surrender Don’t Buy InsuranceWhen You Should Split Pairs
Splitting is an option when the player receives a pair, i.e. two cards of the same denomination such as a Queen of hearts and a Queen of spades. Some games also allow unlike 10-value cards – for example, a Queen and a Jack – to be split. Usually, players can make up to 3 splits per round, although some games allow only one.
- Always split Aces and 8s.
- Never split 5s and 10s.
- Split 2s and 3s against a dealer 4-7; against a 2 or 3 if Double after a split (DAS) is allowed.
- Split 4s against dealer 5-6 only if DAS is allowed.
- Split 6s against a dealer 3-6; against a 2 if DAS is allowed.
- Split 7s against a dealer 2-7.
- Split 9s against a dealer 2-6 or 8-9.
When You Should Double Down
When players choose to Double Down, they double their bet and receive exactly one additional card. Most casinos allow doubling after a split, but some games restrict this option.
- Double hard 9 against a dealer 3-6.
- Double hard 10 except against a dealer 10 or Ace.
- Double hard 11 except against a dealer Ace.
- Double soft 13-14 against a dealer 5-6.
- Double soft 15-16 against a dealer 4-6.
- Double soft 17-18 against a dealer 3-6.
When to Surrender
Knowing when to Surrender is also important. This option is not always available, and each casino sets its own conditions. Typically, players may Surrender half of their bet when the dealer shows an Ace or a 10-value card, though some games allow it at any time against any dealer upcard.
While surrendering can sometimes feel safer than risking your entire stake, some players overuse the move. It should be employed only in the following situations:
- Surrender hard 16 (except a pair of 8s) against a dealer 9, 10, or Ace.
- Surrender hard 15 against a dealer 10.
Don’t Buy Insurance
Players are sometimes offered Insurance, a controversial topic among blackjack enthusiasts and researchers. This option is available when the dealer shows an Ace, based on the assumption that the hole card is likely a 10-value card, completing a blackjack. Although there are indeed more 10-value cards than any other denomination, a dealer blackjack is far from guaranteed.
In fact, the odds are about 9 to 4 against the dealer having blackjack, meaning Insurance will lose more often than it wins. Even when it wins, the player loses the original wager and merely breaks even, because the Insurance bet costs half of the original stake and pays 2:1. Overall, Insurance is considered a sucker bet and should be avoided unless you are an exceptionally skilled card counter.
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- Edward Thorpe and the Ten Count System
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- The Advanced Omega II Card Counting System
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Beware of Gambler’s Myths
Blackjack players are generally logical, strategic, and rational, yet dozens of superstitious beliefs persist in gambling, many of which can be overheard at the blackjack table. Novices can easily become confused by unfounded theories and concepts that range from mere speculation to outright falsehoods. Below are several common gambling myths that blackjack players should always view with skepticism.
”Hot” and “Cold” Dealers Players Due to Win Good and Bad Betting Positions Avoid Continuous Shuffling Machines”Hot” and “Cold” Dealers
The notion of “hot” and “cold” dealers or tables is pure superstition. If everyone at a table appears to be losing, it says nothing about the table or the dealer; more likely, the players are making poor decisions or the rules favor the house. Dealers must follow house rules and have no discretion over their hands.
Likewise, believing that a favorite dealer or table can bring you luck is misguided. Players who consistently win at blackjack are not lucky – they use optimal strategy and may track the cards in the shoe. Lucky charms are equally ineffective – unlike strategy cards, which are useful both online and in land-based casinos.
Players Due to Win
This myth is closely related to the concept of winning and losing streaks. Some players believe that after several losses they are “due” to win – a notion more common among slot machine or roulette players. In reality, these games produce random outcomes and perceived streaks are simply patterns in randomness.
In blackjack, however, the result of each round is heavily influenced by the player’s decisions, which is why relying on streaks is pointless. Believing you are due to win is just as illogical, especially if you plan to use a progressive betting system.
Good and Bad Betting Positions
Seat selection is another widespread belief in blackjack. Some players refuse to sit at “first base,” while others insist that the third-base seat – the last to act – is the most important. You may even hear claims that a player took the dealer’s bust card or your winning card, but it is impossible to know what card will appear next.
Such concerns are irrelevant when playing online blackjack, where you play solo against a computer. In land-based casinos, acting last can provide some information because you see the cards already dealt, giving you insight into the remaining shoe, but the advantage is marginal.
Avoid Continuous Shuffling Machines
Many players advise avoiding tables with continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) because the dealer constantly feeds used cards back into the shuffler. This process ensures continuous randomization and eliminates any edge gained from card counting.
Yet most blackjack players are not effective card counters, and many who attempt counting do so poorly. Players who rely on basic strategy need not worry whether the casino uses a CSM or a standard automatic shuffler; constant randomization will not change their odds. Moreover, CSMs are expensive, so only a small percentage of casinos use them.