The Latest Advanced Blackjack Strategy Guide for Players in the USA

Blackjack is one of the few casino games in which players can use strategy to increase their statistical probability of winning, and with advanced blackjack strategy, players can completely wipe out the house edge and even swing the odds in their favor.

This guide unpacks blackjack’s advanced basic strategy, card counting techniques, and betting systems. While these strategies will never guarantee you a win, they do put the gambler and the casino on a level playing field (or even better) and give you the best statistical chance of winning money.

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Review Play Now What is an Advanced Blackjack Strategy?

An advanced blackjack strategy goes beyond basic strategy and reduces the house edge even further, often giving the player an advantage.

These strategies include incorporating specific rules depending on the number of decks or variants played, using card-counting, bet spread, and instances when players should take insurance. Here are some examples of what advanced blackjack strategies involve.

6 Deck Blackjack Advanced Strategy 6 Deck Blackjack Advanced Strategy

Most brick-and-mortar and online blackjack casinos don’t use only a single deck but instead use multiple decks, so using a 6 deck blackjack advanced strategy is extremely useful.

This involves making specific tweaks to a standard system, including converting a running count to a true count, adjusting bet sizing, and deviations from basic strategy. It also takes into account advanced blackjack surrender strategy.

2-1-2 Strategy 2-1-2 Strategy

The 2-1-2 or Manhattan strategy is an excellent example of blackjack bankroll management. This is a form of betting strategy that takes advantage of winning streaks. Players adjust their wager size based on specific winning patterns of previous hands.

Players start by betting 2 units. If they win, they reduce the next bet to 1 unit. If they win the second bet, they increase the bet size to two units. If the third bet wins, they increase it to three units. If they lose at any point, they restart the cycle.

Professional Blackjack Strategy Professional Blackjack Strategy

Professional players can follow advanced blackjack strategy tables and charts that come with specific betting systems. By precisely following the recommendations for each betting system, players reduce the chance of making losses and maximize their profits.

Difference Between Basic and Advanced Blackjack Strategy

There are several differences between basic and advanced blackjack strategies, but one of the most obvious is the advanced blackjack chart. In basic strategy, a single chart dictating when to hit, stand, split, and double down is used. The chart is always the same, regardless of the variant you play or the number of decks in use.

On the other hand, an advanced strategy uses several charts depending on the specialized rules of the blackjack variant, the number of decks, when to take insurance, and whether a player is counting cards. Because these charts are more specific, they are far more accurate and effective, but they are also more complex and more challenging to remember.

Basic Blackjack Strategy

Advanced Blackjack Strategy

Simple and easy to memorize More complex and harder to memorize Doesn’t incorporate card-counting systems Incorporates card counting Firm rule-based decisions that are always the same based on the cards currently showing Dynamic decisions based on the current count Never take insurance Certain situations call for taking insurance Why Using an Advanced Blackjack Strategy Chart Can Be Useful

Using an advanced blackjack strategy chart has several advantages. First, it simplifies complex decisions on what to do in a scenario and informs betting decisions. It also adapts to different games, meaning your actions are more accurate. Most importantly, it maximizes a player’s edge and gives them an advantage over the casino.

Understanding More About Advantage Play

Advantage play in gambling refers to legal methods players can use to reduce their house edge in a game and, in certain circumstances, gain a statistical advantage over a casino.

The leading advanced advantage play in blackjack is card counting. In a standard game of blackjack, the house edge is around 2%, meaning, on average, for every $100 a player bets, they will receive $98 back.

Implementing a basic blackjack strategy reduces the house edge to around 0.5%. Using an advanced blackjack strategy and card counting, a player can reduce the house edge to -1%, giving the player a statistical advantage, and on average, for every $100 bet placed, the game will pay $101 back.

Make Use of Insurance Bets – But Only at the Right Time

Basic strategy says never to take insurance because the house edge of an insurance bet is 7.4%, so it’s a bad bet. However, blackjack strategy for advanced play dictates certain scenarios where taking insurance is the right call.

The time to take insurance is when the true count is +3 or more, and the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. This is because we know that there are a lot of high cards left in the deck, and the probability of them having a ten card and hitting blackjack is high.

Practice Advanced Card Counting

There are several ways to count cards in blackjack. The most common is the Hi-lo strategy, but there are many others. We run through some popular advanced card counting and how they compare to others below.

Hi-Lo Hi-Lo

The Hi-lo system is one of the most common blackjack card counting advanced strategies and the system most people start with. The method works by keeping track of the ratio of high to low cards left in the deck. To do this, point values are assigned to cards which are:

• Low Cards (2-6): +1.
• Neutral Cards (7-9): 0.
• High Cards (10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace): -1.

When the count is positive, meaning there is a larger ratio of high cards (10-A), players are in an advantageous position, so should bet a higher amount. The higher the count, the more a player will bet.

Wonging Wonging

Wonging is named after Stanford Wong, the pen name of blackjack author Jack Ferguson, who developed and described this technique in his books.

In this advanced card-counting strategy, players observe a blackjack table without playing and will only start to play once the count is favorable. Players continue to play hands until the count is unfavorable. This strategy helps minimize losses and reduce the disadvantage counters have when playing at tables with a lot of decks in the shoe.

However, this can be quite a conspicuous method at live casinos, and you need to position yourself carefully to view a table and not be too obvious. You can do this quite easily when playing on a blackjack app or site’s live table.

Zen Card System Zen Card System

The Zen card system uses the same basic principle as the Hi-lo system but ramps it up a notch. It assigns value to cards like Hi-lo, but cards are assigned a number from -2 to +2, meaning there are five assigned values rather than the standard three. You can view the values assigned to cards below.

• 2-3: +1
• 4-6: +2
• 7: +1
• 8,9: 0
• 10-K: -2
• A: -1

Expanding the value associated with cards makes this system more accurate than the standard Hi-lo method.

Omega II Omega II

The Omega system came to the attention of many when the book “Blackjack for Blood” by Bryce Carlson was published in 2001. This system also assigns a value between -2 to +2 to cards, like the Zen card system. However, the values are slightly different, as you can see below.

• 4-6: +2
• 2, 3, 7: +1
• 8, A: 0
• 9: -1
• 10-K: -2

Know When to Split and Double Down

Splitting and doubling down are essential blackjack strategies that players can use at specific moments to increase their chances of winning and their profits.

Double Down

A double down is when a player doubles their initial stake and commits to stand after receiving precisely one more card. Basic strategy dictates that you should double down only in these cases.

• You have 11
• You have 10, and the dealer has 9 or less
• You have on 9 against a Dealer’s 3-6
• You have a soft 16-18 Against a Dealer’s 2-6.

However, when using a blackjack advanced strategy and card counting, you need to adjust these rules when the true count is +3 or more to include the following.

• Always double down on 10 or 11, whatever card the dealer is showing
• Double down on a 9 against a dealer 7

It’s also advisable to double down on soft hands of 14-17 when a dealer shows a card below 10 and the count is +3 or more. However, you need to be confident in your counting abilities, and instead, you can always double down on soft 13-16 when a dealer has a 4-6 upcard; otherwise, you can stand.

Joe YarnoldEditor

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Expert InsightBankroll size is always important, but it's even more so when using an advanced blackjack card counting strategy. Your bankroll should include at least 50 to 100 times your maximum bet size or 100 to 200 times your minimum bet - whichever amount is higher. A larger bankroll minimizes your risk of ruin and ensures that you can stay at the table longer, allowing your statistical advantage over the house to manifest more effectively. Pair Splitting

Splitting is possible in blackjack when you have two cards of the same rank. For example, 8,8 or K, K. When a player splits, the cards are split into two hands, one new card is dealt to each hand, and the player must double their initial stake. In basic strategy, the splitting rules are as follows.

• Always Split Aces and 8s
• Never Split 5s and 10s
• Split 2s and 3s if the dealer’s upcard is 4 through 7
• Split 6s if the dealer shows 2 through 6
• Split 7s if the dealer shows 2 through 7
• Split 9s if the dealer shows 2 through 6 or 8-9

In an advanced strategy, the basic splitting rules are followed, but with a few differences depending on the count. The differences between advanced and basic strategies in blackjack are as follows.

• Split 10s if the count is high +6 or more and the dealer has a 5 or 6
• Consider splitting nines if the count is +3 or more and the dealer has 2-10 (even 7 or 10)
• Split 7s against a dealer 2-8 if the count is +2 or more
• Split 6s against a dealer’s 2-7 if the count is +2 or more
• Split 3’s if the count is +6 or higher and the dealer shows a 4-8

Combine Negative & Positive Progressive Betting Strategies

Progressive betting strategies involve adjusting your bet size based on previous outcomes. Positive progression involves increasing your wager size by a certain amount after a win. On the other hand, negative progressive systems require increasing your bet after a loss.

It is possible to combine both strategies. As an example, you could use the Martingale system after a loss and the Paroli system after a win. Which may look like this.

• First Bet: $10
• Lose → Next Bet: $20 (Martingale)
• Lose → Next Bet: $40 (Martingale)
• Win → Next Bet: $60 (Paroli, increased but not doubled)
• Win Again → Next Bet: $90 (Paroli, increased again)

However, using one progressive betting strategy can be risky, so two is extremely risky. You can see huge swings in your bankroll, and casino maximum table limits can quickly prevent you from carrying on the system.

Important Advanced Blackjack Strategy Tips to Keep in Mind

Here are some essential advanced blackjack strategy tips to consider to give yourself the optimal chance of success at the blackjack table.

Tip #1: Master the Basics First Tip #1: Master the Basics First

If you are reading this guide, chances are you have some experience playing blackjack and are already aware of basic strategy. However, if you are not, make sure to fully familiarize yourself with the basic strategy chart and betting recommendations before trying out advanced techniques.

Tip #2: Learn Card Counting Strategies Tip #2: Learn Card Counting Strategies

Card counting is the ultimate advanced blackjack strategy, as it produces a negative house edge. While it’s not simple to do, it’s not as difficult as many people expect, and with time and practice, anyone can master it.

It’s best to start with a simpler version such as the Hi-Lo strategy, and once you are confident in your ability, you can try using even more advanced versions like the Zen card system and Omega II. It’s important to note that card counting is impossible at RNG tables at online mobile casinos, as decks are often reshuffled after each hand.

Tip #3: Remember to Convert the Count Tip #3: Remember to Convert the Count

When using a card counting system in a game with more than one deck, which is going to be almost every live dealer blackjack game, it’s essential to convert the running count to the true count. This is simply done by dividing the running count by the number of decks. So, if you have a running count of +6 and the game is being played with 6 decks, the true count is 1 (6/6).

Tip #4: Determine Your Bet Spreadand Bankroll Tip #4: Determine Your Bet Spreadand Bankroll

When counting cards and using a blackjack strategy and advanced betting system, working out how much to bet and what bankroll you need is vital. The bet spread is the range you will be betting based on the count. You need to set your minimum and maximum bet and bet amount for the count before playing. For example.

• Neutral/negative count: bet one unit of $10
• +1 or 2: bet $20 (2x base)
• + 3 or 4: bet $40 (4 x base)
• + 5: bet $50(5 x base)
• +6 or more bet $60(6x base)

In an ideal world, you would have an unlimited bankroll, as this would all but eliminate your risk of ruin. However, this isn’t possible in the real world, but aiming for at least 100x your average bet significantly decreases your chances of going bankrupt. So, in our above example, our median average bet is $40, so we would need a bankroll of at least $4,000.

Tip #5: Split and Split Again Tip #5: Split and Split Again

When a blackjack advanced strategy chart dictates splitting a hand, you should always do it, even if this means splitting a hand that you’ve already split. For example, let’s say you hit a pair of eights and split them.

If one of the eight pairs with an eight again, you should split that hand again, leaving you with three hands. This also goes for doubling down. Let’s say one of the pairs of eights you split has a 3 dealt to it, and you have 11, you should then double down.

Alternative Advanced Blackjack Strategies

Let’s examine some alternative blackjack strategies, advanced techniques, and betting systems. Unlike card counting, the following strategies do not affect the house edge but can improve profitability. These systems can also be used in any in-person or online casino game that offers 1 to 1 odds.

Martingale1-2-3-5 StrategyD’Alembert StrategyOscar’s Grind Martingale

The Martingale system is one of the most well-known betting strategies. It’s most commonly associated with roulette but can be played on any casino game that offers even money bets. It’s a negative progressive betting strategy that requires players to double their bet after each loss, and after a win, players switch back to their original betting unit.

1-2-3-5 Strategy

The 1-2-3-5 strategy, also known as the Fibonacci system, is a negative progressive betting strategy that works using the famous Fibonacci sequence, where each number is the sum of the previous two. The system requires players to add the previous two previous wagers together to determine their next wager after a loss. The bet is decreased by two numbers after a win.

D’Alembert Strategy

The D’Alembert strategy is a negative progressive betting system where players increase their bet size by one unit after a loss and decrease by one unit after each win. It’s one of the lower-risk negative progressive systems and can be used with smaller bankrolls.

Oscar’s Grind

Oscar’s Grind is a progressive betting system where players bet in cycles, with each cycle’s goal being to win one betting unit. In this positive progression system, the player increases the bet size by one unit after each win.

However, the bet size is not increased after a loss. If a win pushes the total profit above the target of one unit, the player reduces the bet size to ensure the goal is met precisely.

More Useful Blackjack Guides for US Players

• Blackjack chart
• How to play blackjack
• How to count cards in blackjack
• Blackjack bankroll management

Advanced Blackjack Betting Strategy – Our Final Thoughts

As you’ve seen in this advanced blackjack strategy guide, using an advanced blackjack betting strategy is the best way to achieve success in blackjack, as it completely wipes out the casino’s advantage and actually gives you the upper hand.

When you are confident enough to start trying these strategies for yourself, we recommend heading to one of the best offshore casinos online, Wild Casino. This site has multiple excellent live blackjack tables with betting limits suitable for all budgets. Plus, the site offers a wide array of casino bonuses you can use to boost your blackjack bankroll.

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Review Play Now FAQ Is there an advanced strategy in blackjack?

Yes, there are several advanced blackjack cards strategies, these include card counting, 6 Deck Blackjack Advanced Strategy, 2-1-2 Strategy, Professional Blackjack Strategy and more.

How do you use an advanced blackjack strategy online?

To use an advanced blackjack strategy online, it’s best to use live dealer games, as RNG games usually reshuffle decks after each hand. This can seriously impact the effectiveness of advanced strategies or make them completely ineffective.

Can I use an advanced blackjack strategy chart when playing online?

Yes, you can use an advanced online blackjack strategy, but it can be harder to use a card counting strategy online as the show is dealt with more regularly in online games.

Is there a difference between a basic and advanced blackjack strategy?

Yes, the main difference between basic and advanced blackjack strategy is that basic strategy doesn’t consider the blackjack variant, the number of decks being used, or if a player is card counting. All this is considered in advanced strategy, making them more effective but harder to master.

Responsible Gambling

Gambling can be an enjoyable way to relax, but it also comes with serious risks. For more information on responsible gambling and addressing gambling-related problems, check out our guide or explore the recommended sites below.

• https://www.gam-anon.org/
• https://gamblersanonymous.org/ga/hotlines
• https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/

Resources

• https://www.scribd.com
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• https://www.shs-conferences.org

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