If you’ve ever played blackjack, then you probably already know some basic strategies that can improve your odds of winning at the table. But Blackjack basics aren’t the only way to play the game. In fact, some blackjack basic strategy variations could give you a better chance of winning big.
There are several ways to play blackjack, from basic rules to advanced techniques. These varieties allow players to take advantage of certain situations where they might otherwise fall short. Below, we explore some of them. Read on.
Popular Blackjack Basic Strategy Variations
1. Double Exposure
This is based on the concept of doubling down when you have an Ace or 10 in your hand. The idea is that even though you’re getting double hit by the dealer, you’ll still be able to make up for it with your own two hands. So if you have an Ace and a 10 after hitting on 16, you should split your cards anyway because you’re not going to win any more than double what you would normally lose. You can use this technique when you know that you will get dealt two cards of equal value.
2. Martingale
To apply martingale to blackjack, all you need to do is bet the same amount of money repeatedly until you win. In other words, if you lose $10, bet $10; if you lose $20, bet $20; etc.
If you somehow manage to break even or gain ground against the house, you’ll immediately stop playing. You’ll just keep betting until you either break even or start losing. Since you’ll be risking the same amount per hand, this eventually works.
3. Parlay
Parlay is similar to Martingale, except that it allows you to combine multiple bets. For example, if you had $100 to risk, you’d first place a $25 wager. Once you win, you can add another $50 wager. Keep adding wagers until you reach your original starting point of $100. If you lost, you’d simply subtract the amount that you spent from your total budget.
Their main advantage is that parlays are much easier to plan for, and the odds are usually better than those of Martingale.
4. Progressive Betting
Progressive betting uses a percentage of the pot as its initial stake. Let’s say there’s a $5 minimum bet, and you have $35 left in front of you. Your next bet would then be $7. You continue doing this until either you run out of money, or you finally win back the entire pool. This method has been around for quite some time now and is quite popular amongst high rollers.
5. Systematic Equation
This is a relatively simple strategy where you calculate your theoretical payouts beforehand. Rather than relying on the randomness of the game, you take the probability of winning into account. This way, you can accurately predict whether or not you’ll walk away with a profit.
The idea behind systematic equations is that you want to find a number that represents your expected return. The higher the number, the better. After calculating this figure, you enter that number into a table as your wager.
Conclusion
The main reason why you should try these Blackjack basic strategy variations is that they can boost your chances of hitting 21 and walking away with a large payout. That said, it’s important to remember that these tactics are designed to increase your winnings and not necessarily lower your losses.