Blackjack Strategy: Dealing with the Dealer

Blackjack is unique from other casino card games in that one plays not against the other players, but against the dealer. This tips the game's odds in the player's favor, and one can take advantage of this by using an effective strategy.

Much has been said of the relation between blackjack and mathematics. Specialists have long been devising every manner of mathematical formula to compute the blackjack player's chances of winning in comparison to the house edge. The fact is that the two most important factors to take into account in a game are the sum of the player's cards and the card shown by the dealer.

To illustrate, if the dealer is showing a 10 and the player has a 16, the latter is normally inclined to stop at that point. But in that case, the player will only get an opportunity to win should the dealer exceed 21, the odds of which are somewhat remote. Statistics show that it is actually a preferable alternative to take another card. If the player's first two cards add up to a sum of eleven or below, then one more card must be drawn. If the sum of the cards falls between 12 and 16, another card should only be drawn depending on that shown by the dealer. The dealer's face-down card poses a problem, however, and one must always assume that the dealer has a hidden 10. If the dealer's showing card turns out to be between 7 and A, the player should keep drawing until they exceed 16, but must not draw any more cards if the showing card goes between 2 and 6.

It is very crucial that a player must be aware of when to stand and when to stop. One must never draw any more cards if the sum of their cards falls between 17 and 20, unless one of their cards is an ace and the card the dealer is showing is between 9 and an ace.

Blackjack's house advantage is usually 5 percent, but one can significantly cut down these odds by applying the right strategy. A successful blackjack strategy has to be unpredictable and adaptable. One must be able to adjust their strategy to whatever variant of the game they are playing. There are some versions wherein insurance can be taken out against the dealer if they get a blackjack and has an ace for a showing card. However, this move can cost a player half of the bet that they have made, and one only gets a 2 to 1 payout if the dealer doesn't have a blackjack. There are some variants where one can place a previous bet again and add another hand if they have two cards having the same value. There are also games wherein players can double their wager if they are certain of beating the dealer or they can choose to quit if they sense that they cannot win, losing only half of the amount they have bet.

To beat the house, the player must beat the dealer. Winning the game is a matter of both skill and luck. And formulating a good blackjack strategy takes a combination of intellect and instinct.