Real Money
Online Blackjack

Online Blackjack Strategy

Want to try your luck at real money online Blackjack and win? Because it’s a game which requires more strategic thinking than many other online casino games, it always pays to have some kind of strategy in place, as well as a general idea on the combinations needed to achieve a win. You may find that some variations of the game offer better payouts than others, and some play to slightly different rules too. But don’t let that put you off! Because Planet 7 home all the resources you need to go from Blackjack novice to champ in no time!

When Should You Surrender in Blackjack?

Like to play blackjack? Surrendering is a move you can opt for if you want to improve your gameplay and minimize losses. In this quick and easy guide, we’ve covered all the need-to-know details about surrendering in blackjack. Check out our useful tips to make it surrendering in blackjack easier for you in your upcoming games.

What Does Surrender Mean In Blackjack?

To surrender in blackjack means to forfeit the initial hand you’re dealt if you know you have a weak hand that’s unlikely to win. In doing so, you will get to hold onto half of your stake instead of losing your entire bet. In a land-based casino, you’re expected to make it known to the dealer and the table that you plan to surrender, whereas, in online blackjack, there is a button you have to press on the game screen. 

Many players like to surrender when available to them, but not all blackjack games offer this option. The variants that do have the rules for surrendering are listed in the paytable information, which you can check before you play. 

If you want to knowhow to play blackjackusing the surrender rule, there are two ways you can go with this option: early surrender and late surrender. We’ve listed how both of these strategies work below.

Strategy for Early Surrender

The early surrender rule is rarely offered at online casinos and land-based venues. That’s because it’s the one that gives the player the biggest advantage. Unlike late surrender, where the dealer is able to check for blackjack in advance, early surrender allows you to opt for surrender before the dealer looks at his hand. When you use early surrender against a ten or Ace card, the RTP (return to player) percentage increases between 0.24% and 0.39%, respectively.

In most blackjack games, the house edge already sits at a favorable 1%. So these new odds make surrendering even more worthwhile. Even if you did manage to use the early surrender option in blackjack, the sad truth is that a lot of casinos implement other rules that cancel out these odds and put the house edge back in the casino’s favor. 

When to Surrender Early

If the variant you want to play does permit an early surrender, the most strategic approach would be to surrender only when the dealer has an Ace card. You should also surrender early if you have one of the following hands:

In addition, you can opt to surrender on a pair of 2s if the dealer hits on a soft 17. 

The below hands are what you should use against a dealer’s 10: 

Depending on the version you’re playing, there are some exceptions to using these strategies in blackjack. For example, you’re playing blackjack with a single deck and you have either 10+4 or 5+9. In this case, you shouldn’t surrender to the dealer’s 10. The same applies to a blackjack game that uses two decks.

Strategy for Late Surrender

The most commonly used blackjack rule in both land-based and online casinos is the late surrender. Like early surrender, you win back half your bet with this move. However, it’s only possible to surrender after the dealer has checked his hand for blackjack. 

Based on the rules and how many decks used in the variant you’re playing, late surrender often works out better than early surrender. That is, unless your initial hand is 17. If you receive a 17, you should surrender only if the dealer’s up-card is an Ace and he/she hits on soft 17. If you have 7+10 on single-deck blackjack, again, you should not to go for late surrender in this scenario.

When to Surrender Late  

Now we’ll outline when you should surrender if you receive the following hand total in a single-deck game of blackjack: 

If your hand is 14:

• Surrender against a dealer’s 10
• If the dealer hits on soft 17, surrender to the dealer’s Ace with 7+7

If your hand is 15:

• Surrender if the dealer shows an Ace and hits on soft 17 while you have either 9+6 or 10+5 (good for single-deck and double-deck games)
• Against a dealer’s 10 if you have 9+6 or 10+5 (games with up to 6 decks of cards)
• Surrender to the dealer’s 10 or Ace card if they hit on soft 17 (good for 4-6 deck games)

If your hand is 16:

• Surrender to the dealer’s 10 or Ace card (good for single and double-deck blackjack)
• Against the dealer’s 9, 10 or Ace (4 or more decks)
• If your initial hand is 8+8 when the dealer hits on soft 17
• If a double after split is permitted, surrender to the dealer’s Ace

Blackjack Surrender In Summary

When you’re trying to implement any optimal blackjack strategy, remember that the aim of doing so is to beat the dealer’s hand. Surrendering may not win you the game or get you to 21. But it will mean you’re likely to retain more of your bankroll and play for longer. This is why the rules for hitting and standing on soft 17 are highly important, along with what the dealer is showing before you opt for surrender. 

No other casino games offer such a high player advantage as this one. So it’s worth using this option if you have the opportunity to do so. After all, nobody likes to lose or walk away from a table empty-handed. But by using the surrender option, you’re guaranteed to keep half your bet even when you’ve got no chance at beating the dealer.

The Best Blackjack Side Bets

Blackjack can be immensely exciting and lucrative on its own. But outside the goal of beating the dealer and winning a hand, there’s even more fun and money in this classic casino game. Side bets, aka “prop bets”, are one way to ramp up your winning opportunities in blackjack. While they aren’t available for every variation, you’ll find that you can rake in a decent amount of extra dough on a game if they are. 

If you’ve never explored this area of blackjack betting before, we’re here to talk you through exactly what these bets entail and what you can expect in terms of the house edge, probability of winning, and the implications to your bankroll. We’ll also share some insider advice to help you get used to the idea of placing side bets and how you can work them to your advantage. 

What Are Blackjack Side Bets?

Blackjack side bets fall into the same category as prop bets in sports betting. A bookmaker typically lays out odds for unconventional scenarios that are completely unrelated to the game itself. This could be things like how long the crowd will chant the national anthem for, what accent the commentator will have, how long it takes before someone streaks across the pitch, etc. 

While you can’t bet on the dealer’s choice of attire or how long it will take for him or her to strip off in a game of blackjack, the concept is exactly the same in the sense that these bets have nothing to do with the logistics of the actual game. What you might bet on are things like your first two cards adding up to a specific value or being of a certain suit. You might also bet that the dealer will go bust if you suspect they have a weak hand or that their hole card will be a particular number or suit, for example.

Why Do People Place Side Bets?

The game of blackjack has such good odds for the player already, so why do people bother with these propositions in the first place? Many players view them as opportunities to deviate from the monotony of trying to reach 21 and win some extra money at the same time, but others do it because they genuinely believe that it can bolster their success and chances of winning in the main game. 

This last part is a matter of personal belief and opinion, but what we can say for certain is that side bets, if done right, can be highly rewarding and good for your bankroll. This is because most side bets come with an exceptionally high house edge, so if a player manages to pull them off, the payout can be huge.

How to Place Blackjack Side Bets

Before you can place a blackjack side bet, you first need to make sure the casino offers these types of wagers. This should be pretty obvious if you’re playing at a land-based casino table, and you should be able to just place your chips on the proposition you want to opt for. If you’re playing at an online blackjack casino, available side bets are usually listed somewhere to the left of the game screen. Be sure to check the requirements and conditions for placing a particular wager before you select it. 

The Best Blackjack Side Bets

Now we’ll discuss the best and most common blackjack side bets you’re likely to find at casinos both online and offline. These wagers offer the most advantages to the player, and all feature a low house edge with reasonably high payouts.

21+3

The 21+3 side bet is one you’re most likely to come across at brick-and-mortar establishments, but it is known to exist in online games as well. To put it simply, you’ll win this bet if both the dealer’s face-up card and your initial two cards make up one of the following poker hands: straight, flush, or three-of-a-kind. Subject to a 9 to 1 payout, you’ll benefit from a 3.24% house edge with this bet, making it one of the most favorable side bets you can opt for in blackjack.

Royal Match

This is a classic bet that’s commonplace at online casinos and can be found in most variations of blackjack. Like the 21+3, Royal Match has a respectable house edge of only 3.7%. The goal with this bet is to form a hand of two cards of the same suit. Depending on how many decks are being used, the highest payout is 25 to 1 for a suited King and Queen and 5:2 for any other suited combination. 

Over/Under 13

Another bet with a commendable house edge is the Over/Under 13. For the Over bet, you’re up against a 6.5% house edge and 13% if you wager on the Under. If a player opts for the Over bet, they are essentially predicting that the first two cards dealt will exceed the value of 13; whereas, for the latter, the player is betting that the value will be less than this figure. Both can result in a nice payout if you win but bear in mind that if your first two cards equate to 13 exactly, you lose either way. While the risk is marginal here, a solid card counting strategy can help to further reduce the house edge for this wager in a live casino. 

The Most Popular Blackjack Side Bets

The above side bets are the best because they offer low house edges with high payouts. The most popular wagers, however, are ones you’ve likely heard of or come across already. Even though the house edge and payoffs are still decent enough for these bets, winning on them isn’t so easily attainable. Let’s take a quick look at what these are: 

Insurance

If you’ve played blackjack in the past, there’s no doubt you would have heard the term “insurance”. With this wager, you are essentially banking on the dealer having blackjack. Although the house edge isn’t particularly high, you can look forward to a 2:1 payout if your prediction is correct. Note that it’s only possible to take insurance if the dealer’s face-up card is a ten, face card (J, Q, K), or an Ace. 

Super Sevens

You can probably guess what this wager involves! The idea is to obtain as many sevens in your hand as possible, but you only need 1 seven to win. In this case, you can expect a payout of 3 to 1, and the bet covers up to 3 sevens. If you manage to get more than one seven and they are of the same suit, you can win a whopping 5,000 times your bet. Even though achieving such a hand is no easy task, most casinos typically limit the Super Sevens bet to $1 per play due to the sky-high earning potential. 

Lucky Ladies

Finally, we have the highest-paying side bet, Lucky Ladies. As this bet is pretty straightforward and pays well, it’s the one that appeals the most to players. For it to win, your first two cards need to total up to 20 exactly. The highest possible payout for this bet is 1,000 to 1, but this would only be achievable if you had two suited Queens of hearts and the dealer has blackjack. Other face card combinations can pay out handsomely too, but the most you can expect to earn for anything else is around 4 to 1.

Blackjack Side Bets: Conclusion

Side bets put an exciting spin on any blackjack game. But their importance shouldn’t be overstated because they don’t have much significance when it comes to a normal game. They exist to serve as more of an advertisement than a way to earn more money, and nine times out of ten, the casino will be the one to profit.

If you would like to explore this area of betting, however, make sure you check the rules for each wager and start small with your amounts. That way, you can get a feel for the dynamics of placing these bets without posing too many risks to your bankroll. 

For more on side bets andblackjack strategies be sure to check out Planet 7’s blog. You’ll find tons of real money blackjack tips and advice for getting started.