Online blackjack and how to win

After programming games for 8 years now and writing artificial intelligence for them I would like to give you some tips on a few of the games to be found in casino's and how to increase your chances of winning.

The Rules

Before any cards are dealt, the player must make a bet. He does this by placing the amount of his bet within the designated space within his table position. The dealer then deals two cards to each of the players, and two to himself (sometimes only one in online casinos, giving you better odds).

If the dealer receives two cards, one card is facing up and the other is facing down. If he only deals one card, it is the card that is facing up. The other card is then dealt after you've decided on your hand. When playing the game, face cards count as 10, an ace counts as 1 or 11 (players choice) and all other playing cards count as their face value.

Blackjack is achieved if the players first two cards are an ace and a 10 or a face card. The player automatically wins, unless the dealer also has natural blackjack, and then it would be a push. Therefore, the player would receive his initial bet, and a new hand would begin. A winning blackjack pays the player 3 to 2, and you can also win if you have 21 and the dealer does not.

Hit means to draw another card, and Stand means that the player doesn't require any additional cards. If the player hits and busts (goes over 21), he immediately turns his cards over and his wager is lost. The player is allowed to double the bet (double down) on his first two cards and draw one additional card only to improve his hand. When a player doubles down, he also doubles his initial bet, therefore risking a higher win or loss on the hand.

If the first two cards that are dealt to a player are a pair, he may split them into two separate hands, bet the same amount on each of the hands and play them separately. Aces will receive only one additional card per hand.

If the dealers first card is an ace, then the player has the option of taking insurance, which is a bet that does not exceed one-half of the players bet.
If the dealer has natural blackjack, the player wins 2 to 1 on the insurance, therefore getting his money back. Any other card means a win for the dealer.

The terms used in blackjack

Action:

This is a general gambling term which refers to the total amount of money bet in a specific period of time. Ten bets of 15 pounds each is £150 of action.

Hit: To request another card.

Stand: To decline another card.

Bust: When a hand's value exceeds 21 which is a losing hand.

Push: A tie between the player and the dealer.

Surrender:

A casino rule which allows a player to discontinue play after receiving the 1st two cards by losing half of the amount wagered. Rarely seen online.

Basic Strategy:

A playing system that provides a long-run and is an optimal way to play.

Cut Card:

A solid colored card, typically a piece of plastic which is given to a player by the dealer for the purpose of cutting the deck(s) after a shuffle.

Hole Card:

Any face down card. The definition most often refers to the dealer's single face down card however.

Shoe:

A device that can hold up to eight decks of cards which allows the dealer to slide out the cards one at a time.

Hard Hand:

A hand in which any Ace is counted as a 1 and not as an 11, or a hand without an Ace. If your hand consists of an Ace, 7, or 9, you have a hard 17.

Soft Hand:

A hand in which any Ace is counted as an 11 and not as a 1.
If your hand consists of an Ace and a 6, you have a soft 17.

Pat Hand: A hand with a total of 17 to 21.

Pair: When a player's first two cards are numerically identical.

Flat Bet:

A bet which you do not vary ie, if you are flat betting five pounds, you are betting £5 each and every hand without changing the betting amount.

House Percentage: The casino's advantage in a particular game of chance.

Basic blackjack tips

Hard Totals

Soft Totals

Pair Splitting

Multi-Deck Game

Hard Totals

Soft Totals

Pair Splitting