Having a good blackjack strategy is the key to playing a profitable blackjack game. Blackjack is one of the few casino games that offer a low house edge, and a nearly non-existent one when combined with a foolproof strategy. Many things are involved when trying to come up with the perfect game plan that will rake in the dollars, some of which might have not occurred to you before. The basic blackjack strategy below is the fundamental set of rules that any, more complex strategy can be built upon. There are many proven strategies around, but they all come back to the same thing. There are many things that affect the game you play, which I have outlined for your reading pleasure below.


Seating Position
This strategy starts before you even begin to play. Your position at the blackjack table may have a substantial effect on the game. The position to the farthest left of the dealer is known and first base and is the first player to receive cards. The player seated to the farthest right of the dealer is in the “third base” seat and receives cards from the dealer last. Many believe the player at third base to have some control over the game. To some extend this player controls which cards the dealer gets if the dealer must draw. This player’s moves can also determine whether the other players at the table win or lose. A reckless player in third base could have a negative effect on the whole table as well. If you are a card counter this is a great place to sit. This player has the opportunity to see and count more cards before you make your play.

Betting Strategy
One common betting strategy is called the Martingale system. This system entails doubling your bet after every loss. On its own you would need a blackjack table with a very high limit and very deep pockets of your own. With this system you would wipeout your bankroll pretty fast. The key here is to combine this with card counting. This combination is practically unbeatable. Here’s how to play it:

Start with a small $5 bet and double it after you lose, if the count is positive. Never go over $100. When the count is negative, don’t increase your bet. As you win more money you can bet more aggressively on positive counts. You will appear to the casino to be a “system” player – someone who plays using only a system which the player thinks is unbeatable. Casinos don’t like player who are obvious card counter, but if they think you are using a betting system they treat you like royalty. The casino knows that a system player will always lose to the house. Little will they know you are counting cards as well!