Safest Blackjack Betting Strategy
For example, you choose $5 as a minimum bet and $15 as a maximum amount. You start with the smaller amount. If you win you bet $15 and then continue to wager $15 until you lose. After the loss you go back to the minimum bet of $5. This is a really simple strategy, but it is considered an advanced betting system. 5 lose 5 win 15 win 15 lose 5. 1-3-2-6 Blackjack Betting Strategy. Although the name of this system makes it seem complicated, it is actually very simple: Bets are placed in line with the sequence of 1,3,2 & 6 after a winning bet. You only trigger the sequence after you win a bet. It ends when you lose a bet.
Many casino players are drawn to blackjack because the house has a very small edge. However, it gets trickier when you’re playing multi-deck games. You may need to change your betting strategy, as multi-deck games make it far harder for players to predict the outcomes.
Why You Need a Winning Betting Strategy
If you’re playing more than a couple hands of blackjack, then your betting strategy can significantly affect your winnings. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of the different strategies available to you, and to choose the one that’ll maximize your returns.
The house edge in blackjack for multiple deck games is about 0.5%. The betting strategy you choose does not technically change the house edge, so some blackjack pros recommend against using them. But even though it doesn’t change the house edge in any way in the long run, savvy players can capitalize on a shrewd betting strategy in the short term.
The two main betting strategies to be aware of are progressive and regression betting.
Progressive Betting Options
Progressive betting is one of the most popular betting strategies used by experienced players. The strategy is incredibly simple: you increase your bets after winning hands, and lower them after losing hands. As a general rule of thumb, most betters will double their bet after a winning hand and reduce it by half after losing.
Walter Thomason, the author of [21st Century Blackjack: New Strategies for a New Millennium] offers an overview of the strategy and why he believes it’s best. Thomason states that the odds of winning two consecutive hands are about the same as losing two consecutive hands. If you increase your bets after a winning hand, then your average winning bet will be higher than if you left your bet unchanged.
On the other hand, if you lowered your bet after a losing hand, then your average losses will be lower if you lose two or more hands in a row.
In this way, the progressive betting system effectively limits your average losses and increases your average winnings. Your average bets will even out if you alternate between winning and losing hands.
Regression Betting
Regression betting is the opposite of progressive betting: you lower your bids after a win, and raise them after a loss. Once again, the standard rule of thumb is to double bets after a winning hand and halve them after a loss.
The premise behind this system is to make up for a long losing streak. If you have a couple of losing hands and keep doubling your bet, then you’ll get a handsome payout when you finally win. The advantage of this system is that your winnings will eventually exceed your losses if you play long enough.
However, there is a downside. Your losses can rack up very quickly if you’re doubling your bet after each losing hand. You will need to start with a low bet and have at least $155 on hand in case you lose five hands in a row. Progressive and Regression Strategies in Practice
The theory behind these strategies can seem a bit complicated at first. Here are a couple examples to make things clearer:
Progressive Strategy
You find a blackjack table that requires a $7 minimum bet. You play a hand and lose. You double your bet to $14. You lose a second hand and double it to $28. You win on this hand, which means that you get to claim your $28 in winnings.
You have won $28 and lost $21. This means that your net winnings are equivalent to your initial $7 bet.
Regression Strategy
Let’s assume that you used a regression betting strategy for the same hand. You lose your first hand after betting $7, so you keep your bet the same. You lose again and keep your bid the same. On the third hand, you win back $7.
You are still staring at a $7 net loss, but you’re feeling confident since you won the last hand. Believing that you have a good system, you double your bet to $14. You win this hand as well, which places you in the black. You start feeling cocky and decide to double your bet again to $28. You win a third time, which means that you have earned $35 in net winnings.
Safest Blackjack Betting Strategy Odds
At this point, you’re debating whether to double your wager again or walk away from the table. If you double your bet to $56 and lose, you’ll have a $21 net loss. On the other hand, if you win your fourth hand, you would be ahead by $91. A lot would be riding on this hand. Which Betting Strategy is Best?
We recently discussed progressive and regression betting for roulette players, stating that regression betting is statistically the safest option, because any winning streaks are due solely to chance.
Blackjack is different, however, because it is a game of skill; there’s a more legitimate possibility that you could have winning streaks if you have a good strategy. If you notice that you’re consistently having several-game winning streaks, then the progressive betting strategy may be a better choice, as you’ll maximize your earnings from winning hands.
However, it may also be a good idea to taper back your bets if you feel like they’ve risen too high, as you could lose on the next hand and wind up at a loss.
Regardless of the approach you take, the viability of any betting strategy declines the longer you’re playing. You can boost your winnings and reduce losses with a good strategy, but over time, your winnings will be more strongly affected by a combination of your playing strategy, ability to count cards, and sheer luck.
Are you a progressive better or a regression better when it comes to multi-hand blackjack games? Share your preferred approach – and your reasoning behind your choice – by leaving a comment below:
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Blackjack Betting Strategies are quite popular, especially since the game has been featured in hit movies likeRain Man, 21 and The Hangover.
No matter what the game, there is one universal rule; if the casino spreads the game, someone has developed the “perfect” betting strategy.
Roulette strategies are perhaps the most prominent as roulette strategies and systems have been offered for sale for centuries.
As a dealer and a player, I have been able to see and try many of the most famous Blackjack Betting Strategies.
Blackjack strategies don’t change around the world but it is interesting to see different perspectives. A good blackjack resource for Canadians is CanadianCasinos.ca.
Play Blackjack Live Online
Want to try playing blackjack online for real money? We recommened playing with live dealers at Bovada casino (US friendly)
The Two Best Systems
There are two strategies that every player should use every time they take a seat at or swim up to a blackjack table.
Play to Have Fun
Napoleon was a fan of Vingt-un (blackjack) near the start of the 19th century. For more than two centuries, blackjack has grown in popularity to become the most popular casino table game.Mathematicians have analyzed the game, hundreds of books have been written about it, and a number of myths and legends have been created.
Earning a place in the Blackjack Hall of Fame at the Barona Casino in California is the only honorary award for players of any casino table game. There is a reason that blackjack has remained popular for a couple of centuries; it’s fun! There are many varieties of blackjack. Mr. Green offers a great selection of 15 blackjack games by 6 software providers, including Double Exposure Blackjack Professional Series by Net Entertainment, VIP Blackjack by Extreme Live Gaming, and 6-in-1 Blackjack by Felt.
Spin Palace offers a remarkable amount of blackjack games. There are over 40 blackjack games in total on offer. They also offer practice play which is perfect for sharpening your blackjack skills before you start playing for real money. Most of their games are developed by Microgaming which are very popular in English speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, UK and Canada.
Yes, the game has a really low house edge, which makes it appealing, but it is a very social game, so in many cases, the table wins or loses as a group. This builds comradery and makes it fairly common for players to talk with one another. The social aspect of the game is a very important one to most players.
Bet the Right Amount
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Set up a bankroll before you go to the table. This is your total stake.
As has been mentioned numerous times, blackjack is supposed to be fun. Playing with money you can’t afford to lose (what dealers and players call “scared money”) practically guarantees you won’t enjoy the game.
It is fairly easy to find table limits to fit most bankrolls.
The Martingale – Blackjack Betting Strategies
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The Martingale system originated in 18th century France and is one of the oldest systems around. The original theory was used to prove that someone with infinite wealth could always avoid a loss in even money bets by doubling the best after each loss. Most likely the first casino game where the Martingale system was touted was roulette, but it can also be used in other areas, such as in stock market trading.
You will often see players use the Martingale system at the blackjack table, doubling their wager after each loss. In theory, this strategy sounds solid. However, blackjack is not an even money game. And additionally, players will occasionally run into a bad streak of cards. At a $5 table using the Martingale system if you lose 8 hands in a row, you will be wagering $1280 on your next hand, so unless you are a legendary high-roller, you are probably better off taking the $5 loss.
2-1-2 (Manhattan) Strategy – Blackjack Betting Strategies
One of the common laments one hears from players is the one where they were “way ahead” but gave it all back. These players are the same ones that usually talk about “playing with ‘house’ money.”
Here is a fact: Once the chips are in your stack, they are your chips, not the house’s.
The second most common lament you will hear is a player talking about missing out on a hot streak. The 2-1-2 strategy helps address both.
First, there is no mathematical foundation for “hot” or “cold” streaks at the blackjack table. Mathematicians will tell you (truthfully) that there is no such phenomenon. Blackjack players know they exist.
As a player you want to capitalize on a good run of cards and this strategy has some merits. Start with a 2 unit bet. If you win you reduce the bet to one unit. If you win that bet you increase to 3 units. Once the dealer wins you go back to your original 2 unit bet.
A run of 10 hands could look like this:
Wager Result +/-
Blackjack Betting Strategy Chart
- 2 W +2
- 1 W +3
- 2 W +5
- 3 W +8
- 4 L +4
- 2 W +6
- 1 L +5
- 2 W +7
- 3 W +10
- 4 L +6
With the 2-1-2 strategy, players will win a bit more with a hot run yet not sacrifice all of their winnings.
Oscar’s System – Blackjack Betting Strategies
Oscar’s System was proposed in the 1960’s in a book by mathematician Dr. Allan Wilson. It is a fairly decent system. The goal of the strategy is to win exactly one unit per series.
The player starts a series by betting one unit. After a win, the player adds a unit; after a loss, the next bet is exactly the same as the previous one. That’s it.
Here are two examples:
Wager Result +/-
- 1 L -1
- 1 L -2
- 1 W -1
- 2 W +1
Series complete
Wager Result +/-
- 1 L -1
- 1 L -2
- 1 L -3
- 1 W -2
- 2 L -4
- 2 W -2
- 3 W +1
Series complete.
Playing Multiple Spots
Many players feel that playing multiple hands increases their odds of winning. Playing multiple spots can be exciting, but it does absolutely nothing to increase your win rate.
Most of these systems fall under the heading of progressive bets. While these are among the most common, they are by no means the only strategies out there. It is perfectly fine to sit at the table and make the exact same wager every hand. While this strategy is a bit boring for me, if it works for you that is what counts. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking out a deck of cards and developing your own strategy as well.
Blackjack Betting Systems in the Long Run
Ok so we’ve covered the popular blackjack betting systems here and highlighted how they are used but are any of them really useful in the long run? The answer is a resounding NO (this article goes into great depth as to why).
Safest Blackjack Betting Strategy Against
While you might make great short term wins, any betting system will not be a formula for success in the long term. To truly gain an advantage against the casino you must start with learning basic strategy and then moving to card counting.
There are plenty of resources to get started. We recommend:
- BlackjackInfo’s Blackjack School – A comprehensive free resource that covers both basic strategy and card counting principles.
- Blackjack Apprenticeship – Run by Colin Jones, a professional counter who featured in the blackjack documentary Holy Rollers, this site provides a paid course offering video training material, private coaching and more.
- WizardofOdds – The wizard has some great strategy charts but only for 4-8 decks. If you need more customized charts then BlackjackInfo has a good strategy chart builder.
- HolyMolyCasinos.com – Offers a how to guide on the rules and how to play blackjack as well as other popular casino games.