Blackjack Betting Systems
Although blackjack betting systems can’t guarantee victory, they are an extremely useful way of managing your bankroll and extending your gameplay. Utilizing blackjack betting systems allows players to wager in a calm and rational way, rather than emotionally throwing money away.
Read our expert guide to blackjack betting systems to learn about the best blackjack gambling strategies and how to use them to your advantage.
Examples of Systems
The Martingale System
One of the most famous systems is the Martingale. You’ll find most other systems include some parts of this system combined with other things. The Martingale system basically says to double your bet after every loss. This only works on a close to even money wager, but by doubling after every loss when you win you cover your losses and show a small profit.
On a true even money bet you win the amount of your first wager and cover all your losses.
Here’s an example:
You make a $5 bet playing blackjack. This bet loses so you make a $10 bet. This bet also loses so you bet $20. This bet also loses. Finally you make a $40 wager and win. You receive your $40 bet back plus a $40 win. The $40 win covers your bets of $5, $10, and $20 ($35 total) and leaves you a profit of $5.
The problem is eventually you’ll lose enough decisions in a row to run out of money or reach the top wager amount the casino will accept.
Timing the Play
Another type of system requires you to watch for a certain event to happen a number of times before making a bet. For example you might have to wait for the dealer to win three hands in a row before placing a bet.
The author of the system wants you to believe the past actions have something to do with future results. While the cards dealt out of a deck or shoe does cause the edge to go up and down, the only way to learn if it’s favorable is counting. It doesn’t have anything to do with who won the last hand, or hands.
Other Systems
Other popular blackjack betting systems include positive progression wagering, negative progression wagering, and Oscar’s system.
Beyond these wagering strategies, some advanced players utilize blackjack strategies such as card counting. This system can only be used at land based casinos because random number generator technology at USA online casinos prevent players from counting cards.
What Does Work
If you’ve reached this point you know that no system can beat blackjack. However, you can use a few things to beat blackjack in the long run. These strategies require hard work, a sharp eye, and lots of practice. They only work in live play, but if you’re willing to learn and do the work you might be able to gain a real edge at the blackjack table.
None of them have anything to do with a system. Here’s a quick overview of a few options.
Card Counting
When a deck or shoe has more high cards than low cards the edge can move toward the player instead of the dealer. Card counters add or subtract to a running count based on the cards that get played. When the count goes up you wager more and you bet less when it goes down.
Hole Card Play
Some dealers flash the identity of their hole card when dealing blackjack. It’s fairly rare, but if you find a dealer that does this it can be used to beat the casino.
Edge Sorting
Some cards have patterns on the back that aren’t perfectly symmetrical. This creates a situation where you may be able to turn all the high cards one way and the low cards the other way. This way you can see if a high or low card is coming next. This doesn’t work very well if you’re the only one doing it at a table with other players.
Shuffle Tracking
During the normal flow of a blackjack game some rounds have more aces and high cards than others. If you can track these slugs of cards through the shuffle and see when they’ll be dealt you can increase your bets as they’re coming.
A Final Wocrd of Advice
Remember, blackjack betting systems cannot guarantee wins. At its heart, online blackjack is a game of chance but utilizing your skills and a blackjack betting strategy can help structure your play and help with your casino bankroll management. As always, be sure to gamble responsibly and never over-extend your bankroll.
