5+ Blackjack Strategies to Win Big in 2025

Blackjack strategies are proven ways to help players win more sessions than they lose. While Blackjack is a unique blend of skill and luck, having a system in place while placing your bets can definitely decrease the house edge and increase your odds of winning. The game is simple to learn but demands time and practice to master. Learning the rules and basics helps you get started with more confidence, and adding some pro moves into your game plan could make you a professional blackjack player. 

In this article, I will explore the most practical betting strategies to help you win at Blackjack like a pro. 

Without further ado, let's jump right in!

How To Play Blackjack In a Nutshell

Blackjack is one of the most accessible casino games played with the standard deck of 52 cards. The number of decks used in the game varies depending on the variation, as online Blackjack has many variations, like single-deck Blackjack, multi-hand Blackjack, pirate 21, and blackjack 11, to name a few. Regardless of the variation and location where you play, the game's objective is to beat the dealer with a hand total of 21 or closest to it without going over. 

Here is a breakdown of the basic blackjack rules:

• Knowing the card values in blackjack is essential. Face cards of King, Queen, and Jack are worth 10 points, while numbered cards from 2 to 9 are worth their face values. Aces can make a losing hand a winner. Because an Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, depending on which point is better for the hand total. 

• Unlike other casino games, like poker, where you compete against other players, you must beat the dealer in Blackjack, and your hand is only compared to the dealer's.

• The game starts with players placing their bets. Then, the dealer deals two cards face-up to each player, one card face-up, and one card face-down to themselves. 

•  Players get to decide what to do with their hands. You can "Hit" (ask for another card), "Stand" (keep your current hand), "Double Down" (double your bet and receive one more card), or "Split" (if the first two cards are the same rank, split them into two hands and play each separately).

• The general blackjack dealer rule says they must hit until their hand value reaches 17 or higher. 

• A hand with an Ace and a 10-value card (Jack, Queen, King, or 10) is a "Blackjack" and automatically wins unless the dealer also has a Blackjack.

• Winning Conditions:

  • If your hand total exceeds 21, you "bust" and lose the hand.

  • If the dealer's hand value exceeds 21, you win.

  • If neither you nor the dealer busts, the hand with the higher value wins.

  • If you and the dealer get the same hand total, it is a push, and you get your bet back. 

If you are new to the game, especially online and live blackjack games, you need to read this comprehensive yet easy-to-understand guide on how to play blackjack for all the ins and outs of playing the game. 

How To Win at Blackjack: 5+ Strategies That Work

To become a professional blackjack player, first, you should learn the game and its rules. Then, add some betting strategies and gambling techniques, and you are good to go. 

Below, you will find the best strategies that I personally used to win at blackjack games. So, you can rest assured that they actually work. But remember that no gambling strategy can guarantee a win 100% of the time, as luck is a major component of every type of gambling. 

1. Basic Blackjack Strategy 

Everyone talks about the basic strategy. But what exactly is the basic blackjack strategy? 

A basic blackjack strategy chart shows what you should do with your two cards corresponding to the dealer’s up card. 

Here is what the chart looks like:

While the strategy would be modified by more experienced players depending on the game variation, the core concept remains the same, and it is considered the best blackjack strategy. Before I summarize the most important moves, let's review the pros and cons of playing according to the chart:

Pros:

• Reduced House Edge: Following the basic strategy, you can dramatically reduce the casino's built-in advantage, bringing the game closer to even odds.

• Improved Decision-Making: The chart provides rules for every possible hand, eliminating guesswork and emotional decisions.

• Preserved Bankroll: Consistent, strategic play helps manage losses and extend playing time, increasing the chances of long-term success.

• Beginners-friendly: The basic strategy is relatively easy to learn and implement, making it suitable for players of all skill levels, especially newbies. 

Cons:

• While the basic strategy minimizes losses, it doesn't offer significant opportunities for long-term profits.

• The chart is based on standard rules, and deviations from these rules (e.g., different deck counts and surrender options) can affect optimal play.

• It is crucial to stick to the strategy, even when it feels counterintuitive. Emotional decisions can lead to suboptimal outcomes. Players, especially newcomers, tend to follow their gut feelings instead of what the chart says.  

• While playing according to the basic strategy improves your odds, it doesn't guarantee wins. Blackjack remains a game of chance, and even with optimal play, losing streaks can hit hard.

How To Read The Blackjack Chart

The chart perfectly illustrates your best moves according to the two cards you have been dealt and the dealer’s up card. However, the most important and famous player moves based on the basic strategy are as follows:

• If your hand total is 11 or less, you should always hit.

• If you get a hand of 12-16, hit if the dealer's up card is 7 or higher.

• You should always stand on a hand of 17 or more.

• You should hit when the dealer’s up card is 2-6, and your hand total is 12-16.

• You should double down when you get a hand total of 11, regardless of the dealer’s up card value.    

• You should double down when the dealer's up card is 9 or less, and you get a 10.

• When you get a 9, and the dealer's up card is 3-6, you should double down. 

• Always split a hand of Aces and 8s.

• When the dealer’s up card is 4-7, and you get a pair of 2s or 3s, you should split. 

• If the dealer’s up card is 3-6 and you get a pair of 6s, split your hand. 

• When your hand total is 9 and the dealer’s up card is 2-6 or 8-9, you should split your hand. 

• NEVER split 10s or 5s.

• If the casino rules allow for surrenders, you should consider surrendering your hand when the dealer’s up card is a 10 or an Ace and your hand total is 15 or 16. 

2. Stay Away From a 6:5 Blackjack Game

Generally, blackjack games offer a 3:2 payout for Blackjack or Natural hands. It means you win $3 for every $2 wagered. For instance, if you bet $15 and get a natural, you will be immediately paid $22.50 plus your original stake. 

Nowadays, there are online casinos that offer games with a 6:5 payout on the natural hands. This means that if you place $15 on such games and get a natural, you will be paid $18 plus your original stake. The 6:5 payout favors the casino by increasing the house edge to 1.45% in a single-deck game. Even worse, if you play a double or multi-hand blackjack with this rule, the casino advantage exceeds 2%. So, the best blackjack strategy is to avoid games with a 6:5 payout on blackjack hands and only stick to the 3:2 payout. 

3. Never Place A Sucker Bet!

The insurance bet in blackjack is known as a sucker bet, and there is strong evidence backing it up. 

It is a poor strategic choice in blackjack, as the odds are terribly against the player. When the dealer's up card is an Ace, the temptation to take insurance, especially with a strong hand, can be high. However, the 2-to-1 payout for insurance doesn't adequately compensate for the actual odds of the dealer having a blackjack. The odds of the dealer flipping a blackjack are 31.5%. It means that when you bet on insurance, you can expect to lose 48.7% of the time and win 31.5% of the time. This imbalance makes insurance a clear sucker bet!

4. Card Counting Blackjack Strategy 

Card counting has been one of the most fundamental advantage-playing techniques in blackjack, practiced by professional players. However, this strategy is only effective in land-based casinos, as online blackjack games typically shuffle the deck after each hand, making card counting irrelevant. You should also keep in mind that, with the latest technologies used by land-based casinos, like continuous shuffle machines, counting cards has been becoming more difficult even for pro players. Casinos do not like card counters. They never did, as successful card counting can significantly increase players' winning chances.  That said, you may face serious penalties if you get caught by a casino while counting cards. 

Therefore, it’s important to master blackjack and its basic strategy before getting into more advanced techniques.

In card counting, players track the cards that have been dealt to estimate which cards are likely to come next. High cards—such as 10s, face cards, and Aces—benefit the player in Blackjack. If there are more of these cards in the remaining deck, the player's advantage increases. This provides an opportunity to raise bets and take advantage of favorable hands, including extra doubling-down opportunities beyond the basic strategy.

Here is how card counting works. You should use a simple counting system to keep track of the remaining cards. You will assign a value of +1 to each 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 that is dealt, while cards 7, 8, and 9 are neutral and don’t affect the count. When a 10, Jack, Queen, King, or Ace is dealt, the count decreases by one. As the count rises, your betting strategy becomes more aggressive.

While it seems pretty simple, card counting isn't as straightforward as just keeping track of numbers. You must also consider how many decks are left in the shoe—since a six-deck shoe requires a different approach compared to a single-deck game. Additionally, the count may sometimes require adjustments to the basic strategy. For instance, if the count is negative, such as -1, a player might choose to hit on a hand of 13 against a dealer, showing a 2 instead of following the standard strategy.

I suggest you watch "The Card Counter," written and directed by Paul Schrader and starring Oscar Isaac and Tiffany Haddish. The movie is about a professional card counter and poker player who knows how to count cards without being caught!

5. Live Dealer Blackjack Strategy 

Live dealer blackjack is a unique and exciting version of the game available at top online casinos. It allows players to see the dealers and play the game live, just like at a land-based casino. You place your bets on the virtual interface, and payouts are done automatically.

One downside of live casino games, including Blackjack, is the fast pace of the games. Players have to make their decisions within an allocated period of time, making it difficult for beginners to use basic strategy. So, the best live blackjack strategy is learning the game's rules and practicing with the blackjack chart on online games before playing Blackjack for real money. You can also keep a copy of the strategy chart while playing.

6. Play A Variety of Games & Take Advantage of Side Bets

Thanks to the many gaming options offered by top online casinos, you can find a variety of blackjack variations, each with a unique twist and potential side bets that can increase your winnings. While side bets may have higher house edges, they can be appealing if you're looking for excitement and are willing to take the rest for a possibility of winning big. However, remember to place side bets responsibly, as blackjack side bets have poor odds of winning, and you can experience a massive loss of money if you incorporate them into your primary betting strategy.  

Popular online blackjack variations and side bets are:

• Spanish 21 Blackjack: A variation of blackjack with no 10-value cards but offering bonus payouts for certain hands.

• Perfect Pairs: A side bet where you bet on whether your first two cards will form a pair.

• 21+3: A side bet that combines your hand with the dealer’s upcard to form a poker-like hand.

7. The Martingale Strategy for Blackjack 

The Martingale Betting System is a popular progressive betting strategy used in casino games like roulette and baccarat. It can also be used in blackjack games. This system works by doubling your bet after each loss to recover all your losses plus a profit equal to your original bet when you eventually win.

If you want to learn more about this betting system, I have explained it in detail in this baccarat winning strategies guide. 

Here is a summary of how it works to give you an idea:

• You start by betting a small amount, say $5.

• If you lose, double your bet to $10. If you lose again, double to $20, and so on.

• Once you win, return to your original bet amount and continue the process.

While this strategy can lead to huge payouts, it also comes with significant risks. If you experience a prolonged losing streak, your bets can quickly escalate to large amounts. Setting a budget before starting your session and practicing effective bankroll management is essential. 

Last Few Words

Winning big in blackjack has a unique formula involving strategy, skill, luck, and discipline. You should learn the rules, master the basic strategy, employ advanced techniques like card counting, and, most importantly, manage your bankroll responsibly. This way, you’ll be well on your way to making smarter decisions and increasing your chances of success. 

Whether you're playing at a physical live casino or an online platform, my tips in this article will help you navigate the blackjack world and potentially score big. Don't forget to visit irbet365 casino, claim your welcome bonus, and start winning today. 

FAQs

1. What is the best blackjack strategy?

The best blackjack strategy is following the basic strategy chart, staying away from insurance bets, and never splitting 10s.

2. What are perfect blackjack odds?

The perfect blackjack odds are 3:2. If you come across a game with a 6:5 blackjack payout, avoid it at all costs. 

3. Should you always hit 12 in blackjack?

NO. You should hit 12 in blackjack only when the dealer's up card is 2, 3, 7, 10, or an Ace. 

4. Are side bets worth it in blackjack?

Side bets are tempting due to their whooping payouts, but they typically come with a huge house edge and very poor odds. It’s recommended to focus on the main blackjack game unless you enjoy the added excitement of these bets and are comfortable with the risk.