Jean Gabriel | January 4, 2023 | Updated on: January 24th, 2023
Best Real Money Blackjack Tips
Find the best Blackjack Tips to play like a pro with Casino Inquirer. Blackjack is one of Australia’s most popular casino games, and it is easy to see why. The game is a tonne of fun, and player skill can impact the results.
This means that the game is not as simple as some other games. Players have important decisions to make, which can be quite intimidating for beginner players. However, all is not lost. Our expert Blackjack team has developed some fantastic tips that new Online Blackjack players can use to improve their initial experience while figuring out their gaming style.
Read all our Blackjack tips and tricks below, and we’ll have you playing like a pro in no time!
Top Australian Blackjack Casinos
Tips for Starting Blackjack
If you are completely new to playing Blackjack Online in Australia, this is where you need to start. The best tip we can give brand-new players is to learn the basic rules of the game. Besides taking you through the basic rules, we will give you some essential tips for Blackjack. These will also apply to playing other casino games.
Basic Rules of Blackjack
- In Blackjack, the goal is to build a hand valued as close to 21 as possible. Your goal is to get your hand closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand. In Blackjack, players compete against the dealer’s hand.
- While the goal is to get as close to 21 as possible, it is important not to exceed it. If you exceed 21, you will immediately lose the round before the dealer even begins to play.
- Learn the card values. The card values are as follows:
- 2-10: Cards have their face Value
- Jack, Queen, King: Cards are valued at 10
- Ace: Cards are valued at 1 or 11
Beginner Tips for Online Blackjack
Below we have some very basic tips for playing Blackjack in Australia. These tips aren’t only limited to Blackjack; most of them can be applied to all forms of gambling.
- Learn the Basics: Before you start playing Blackjack Online for real money, it is important to learn the basics and memorise the rules. Once you know the rules and card values, you can start playing.
- Play Free Blackjack Online: All top Australian casino sites allow players to try out casino games for free, including Blackjack. Use free Blackjack to learn the game and familiarise yourself with the rules and card values. You can also test out different betting strategies. Once you are confident you know how to play, you can move to Real Money Blackjack.
- Budget Your Time and Money: It is important to budget your time and money when gambling. Decide how long you are going to play for, as well as how much money you are prepared to lose. Once you reach your time limit, or have lost the money, walk away.
- Set a Win Limit: It might sound strange, but you should also decide how much you will win before walking away. Winning streaks can come to an abrupt end, and if you’ve won hundreds of dollars, wouldn’t you rather walk away with your winnings rather than lose the winnings back to the casino?
- Stay Sober: Always stay sober when gambling. If you drink or are too tired, you could make poor betting decisions. By staying sober and making sure you are in the right state of mind, you will make the smartest choices.
Top Online Blackjack Tips
Now that we have taken you through some of the most basic Blackjack Tips, let’s dive into some more tips specific to the game of Blackjack. Once you know the basics, these are the tips that specifically help you improve your Blackjack experience.
- Tip 1 – Don’t be afraid to make use of Free Blackjack. Even once you have used playing for free to get familiar with the game, be sure to keep using it when you want to try out new betting strategies.
- Tip 2 – Take the time to learn a basic betting strategy for Blackjack. These guides will help you learn when you should Hit, Stand, Double Down, or Split.
- Tip 3 – Stick to playing Blackjack games that pay out 3:2 for hitting Blackjack. Some games will payout 6:5 instead, rather avoid these. Hitting Blackjack is when your hand is valued at 21 with your first two cards, an Ace and a 10-value card.
- Tip 4 – Try to play Blackjack games that use fewer decks of cards. Typically, Online Blackjack games will use six or eight decks of cards. Some casinos will offer games that use fewer decks, which are better to play.
- Tip 5 – Look into the rules of your chosen Blackjack game. Each variant of Blackjack will share the same basic rules but with some added variation. For example, find a Blackjack game that allows the player to surrender or has the dealer stand on a Soft 17. These rules will improve your experience further.
- Tip 6 – Avoid betting strategies that have you double your bets, like the Martingale strategy. If you have a losing streak, your bet will grow exponentially.
- Tip 7 – We generally recommend staying away from the insurance bet. Insurance will only save you in a very small number of situations, so we think it is generally not worth it.
- Tip 8 – If the dealer’s face-up card shows a 5 or 6, they will likely make a hand and not go bust. Keep this in mind when playing your hand.
- Tip 9 – When your hand is a Soft 17, we recommend hitting or doubling down. You will not go bust by taking another card, and your chances are good for a win or draw, at the worst.
- Tip 10 – Always make smart betting decisions. Remember to think logically and not use your gut feelings.
- Tip 11 – Always make your betting decisions on the hand you have been dealt, not the size of the bet you made. Even if you have made the biggest bet possible, do not take unnecessary risks to try to win. No matter the size of your bet, always play smart.
- Tip 12 – If the surrender option is available to you, don’t be afraid to use it. However, don’t overuse it either. We recommend considering surrender if your hand is valued at 16 and the dealer is sitting with a face-up card of 9, 10, or an Ace. Also, consider it if your hand is valued at 15 and the dealer’s card is a 10.
- Tip 13 – Do not Double Down if you have a pair of 4s. Players often consider this for some reason, when they would never consider doubling down with a 3;5 or 6;2,
- Tip 14 – While player skill can make a difference in Blackjack, it is still ultimately a game of chance. Winning streaks can come to an end, so always be prepared to walk away.
- Tip 15 – This is specific to playing Blackjack in a Land-Based Casino. Always be respectful to the dealer. Do not take it out on the dealer if you’re losing, as they have no way to control the outcome.
When to Split in Blackjack
Splitting is an option in Blackjack when a player gets two cards of the same value, such as two 8s. When splitting, it will turn your single hand into two separate hands and two chances to win. While this sounds great, it is not always the best way forward. Below, we have tips on when to split and when not to split.
Tips When to Split
- Pair of Aces – If you’re lucky enough to land of pair of Aces, you should definitely split. This will give you a great chance of having two really strong hands.
- Pair of 6s – Splitting a pair of 6s is a smart move. Consider splitting 6s when the dealer’s card is valued between 3 and 6.
- Pair of 7s – When the dealer’s face-up card is valued between 3 and 7, we recommend splitting your 7s.
- Pair of 8s – The best pair to split is 8s. Together, these are valued at 16, widely considered the worst possible hand. Hitting again has a big chance of going bust, while standing has a good chance of the dealer winning.
- Pair of 9s – You can consider splitting 9s if the dealer’s card is valued between 2 and 9.
When not to Split
- Never Split a pair of 10s! Two 10s is valued at 20, an extremely strong hand and has a very high chance of winning. The dealer will have to hit 21 for you to lose. Rather take the almost guaranteed win, rather than splitting and having two hands that could be much weaker.
- Pair of 5s – We also do not recommend splitting a pair of 5s. This could leave you with two average hands valued at around 10. However, if you keep your pair of 10s, you have one average hand that you can make better.
Blackjack Tips for Hard and Soft Hands
When your hand has an Ace in it, it is known as a Soft Hand. Aces are valued at 1 or 11, meaning that your hand has two values, not just one. Soft Hands cannot go bust by getting one additional card. Hard Hands, on the other hand, have no Ace and, as such, have a fixed value.
Below we have outlined our tips for dealing with soft and Hard hands.
Blackjack Tips for Soft Hands
- When you have a soft 17, we recommend taking an additional card. Your chances are good that you will wind up with a hand with a higher value.
- Hit on any Soft 16 or Lower. We recommend hitting if you have any soft hand valued at 16 or less. If you stand, the dealer will almost certainly get closer to 21.
- When you have a Soft 18, you should consider hitting when the dealer’s face-up card is valued between 8-10. You can also potentially Double Down on Soft 18.
Hard Hand Blackjack Tips
The following tips apply when your hand is valued at 12 or above. Anything less than 12 is an automatic hit.
- When your hand is valued between 12 and 16, you should stand if the dealer’s face-up card is between 2 and 6. The dealer has a very weak card and is unlikely to win.
- When your hand is valued between 12 and 16, you should hit when the dealer’s card is valued at 7 or higher.
- If your hand is valued at 17 or higher, your best option is to stand. Taking another card will likely see you go bust.
Tips for Doubling Down
Doubling Down is another betting option available to Blackjack players. When you Double Down, you double your bet after the round has already started and you have seen your hands. If you think you have a great chance of winning, you can double your bet, but you will only be able to receive one more card.
It is important to only Double Down if you are fully confident you have a very good chance to win. Otherwise, you risk losing a lot of money very quickly. Below are some tips for when you should consider Doubling Down.
- If you have a Soft 23 or 14, you should consider Doubling Down if the Dealer has a 5 or a 6.
- Double on a soft 15/16 when the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6.
- Double Down on a Soft 17 or 18 when the dealer’s card is between 3 and 6
- Consider Doubling on a Hard 9 when the dealer has 2-8
- Double when your hand is valued at 10, and the dealer’s card is 9 or lower
- Consider Doubling Down on an 11, if the dealer has an Ace of 10 value card
More Blackjack Guides
- How to play Blackjack
- Blackjack Strategy Guide
- Spanish 21
- Atlantic City Blackjack
- Free Blackjack Online
- Double Exposure Blackjack
- European Blackjack
- Pontoon
- Blackjack FAQs
- Blackjack Glossary
- Blackjack Myths
- Variants of Blackjack
- Blackjack Switch
- Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Blackjack Tips FAQs
A hand valued at 16 is generally considered the worst possible hand. You’re close enough to 21 that there is a good chance of going bust, but far enough away that the dealer can easily beat you. Players should consider the dealer’s face-up card before deciding whether to hit or stand.
Players need to consider the value of their hand and the chances another card will get them closer to 21 or cause them to go bust. We’ve outlined several tips earlier on this page on when to hit. Players must also consider what the Dealer’s visible card is, when making their decision.
Yes, 21 is simply another name for the game of Blackjack. However, in-game, hitting Blackjack and hitting 21 are not the same thing. Hitting Blackjack means getting an Ace and a 10-value card as your first two cards. This is an instant win with an improved payout.
Blackjack is a game of skill and luck, but skilled players can make smarter betting decisions based on their experience. In order to improve your chances, you need to learn the card values, as well as some strategy on when to hit.
In a land-based casino, you can, although it is highly discouraged. However, at an online casino, counting cards is not effective. This is because the entire deck of cards is reshuffled after every hand, whereas land-based casinos will play multiple hands before a reshuffle.
Yes, we only recommend the safest and most trustworthy casinos to our players. This ensures our players can enjoy safe and random Online Blackjack at the best casino sites around.