Blackjack is a popular casino game in land-based, online, and live casinos. From the beginning of casino games to the present, players have praised tactics, including Blackjack.
Some sources will promise ‘sure-fire wins’ or say this is how ‘pros’ play blackjack to deceive players. However, Blackjack and other casino games have no guaranteed winning strategy. All casino games are chance-based so there is no feasible (or legal) way to guarantee outcomes.
Blackjack strategies are subjective; some players swear by them, while others never use one. All strategies have pros and cons for different player types, and some are better for blackjack. Join us as we examine some of the most popular blackjack strategies.
7 Popular Blackjack Betting Systems
Here in Prime Casino, we have outlined the 7 of the most common blackjack betting systems that players use today. This is certainly not an all-inclusive list, but we have done our best to incorporate as many methods as possible and explain them in simple, user-friendly terms.
1. Martingale Betting System
The Martingale system is one of the most popular betting strategies across all casino table games, including blackjack. Its simple approach is both easy to understand and simple to execute, making it accessible to players of all skill levels.
The process is straightforward; each time a player loses, they double their wager, making the Martingale a negative progression betting system; each time they win, they reset their wager. If a player wagers £1 and loses, for instance, their next bet will be £2; if they lose again, it will be £4; if they lose once more, it will be £8. Should the player then win, though, their £8 investment will drop to the starting value of £1 for the following hand.
The positive progression version of this system, where players double their bets upon wins, is called the ‘Reverse Martingale’.
2. Oscar's Grind Betting System
Published in 1965's "The Casino Gambler's Guide," Oscar's Grind is a conservative, positive progression betting technique designed for small budgets and (hopefully) small but consistent wins from each overall session. First, it starts with participants choosing a bankroll unit.
For our example, our unit will be £1 and our initial wager will be this value. Our wager will stay at this level until we achieve a winning hand. Players raise their stake by one unit when they win, which in our example brings the current bet to £2. Players repeat this process until one unit of profit is attained; at that time the player can end their session early (if their designated playtime has not yet elapsed), or they can restart the process.
3. D’Alembert Betting System
The D’Alembert betting system is a negative progression often defined by players as similar to the Martingale strategy, but less aggressive. Using this approach, players choose a basic wager unit, such as £3. Losing hands call for the player to raise their bet by this unit; so, with a £3 base unit, the stake following a loss would be £6 (3+3), and following a further three losses, the wager would be £15 (6+3+3+3). Players reduce their wager by one unit after a hand is won; in our case, this results in a next wager of £12 (15-3).
The Contra D'Alembert is the reverse of the traditional D’Alembert strategy, making it a positive progression system where wagers increase after wins and decrease after losses.
4. Labouchere Betting System
The Labouchere method, also known as the cancellation system, is a more complex negative progression system that uses a sequence. Players must first choose a range of numbers, such as 1-5 (written as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Players must provide an integer value to the sequence numbers, which we shall give as £1 for simplicity. Note that in some variants of the system, the sequence can be formed of randomly chosen values which total a ‘goal amount’. (for example, a goal of 7 might be displayed as 1, 3, 2, 1).
With the Labouchere System's range of 1-5 and integer value of £1, your first bet is 1+5 (since they are either end of the series), which is £6, (6x£1). If you lose the hand, cross off 1 and 5 and add 6 to the end of the sequence, making it 2, 3, 4, 6. Now add 2 and 6 (the new sequence ends), making your wager £8. Losing again makes the sequence 3, 4, 8, and your bet £11. If you win, you don't mark off any digits, therefore your sequence is 3, 4, 8. When all numbers have been removed, players can repeat the process.
A positive progression modification of the system sees players not remove numbers upon a loss and instead upon a win.
5. Paroli Betting System
Developed between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Paroli system bears links to the scientist/mathematician, Blaise Pascal. This is a positive progression method whereby your wager doubles should you win. The basic objective of this system is to achieve three consecutive wins; following which participants return to their starting stake.
The player decides, for example, a £5 base wager. Should a loss result, the wager remains at £5 but when a win occurs it doubles to £10. Three successive winning spins cause the wager to reset from £40 (5x2, 10x2, 20x2) back to the base wager of £5.
6. Fibonacci Sequence Betting System
The Fibonacci strategy, based on the mathematical Fibonacci sequence, is a negative progression system which has some similarities to the Labouchere Method, in that players need to use a sequence to form their bets.
The Fibonacci Sequence is an increasing sequence whose numbers are the sum of the two before them. The first few stages of the sequence are as follows:
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 (calculated as 0+1 = 1, 1+1 = 2, 1+2 = 3, 2+3 = 5, 3+5 = 8, and 5+8 = 13). The series continues with 21 (8+13) and so on, with no discernable ending.
When using the Fibonacci system, the player provides a unit value to their bet, say £1. As you cannot wager 0, players skip the first number of the sequence making the first bet £1 (£1x1). If you lose your hand, your wager will rise to the following number in the sequence, again £1. However, your next loss will demand you to increase your stake to £2, then £3, and so on until you have a winning combination, at which point players move back three spaces on the sequence. Other versions of the strategy see players reset their wager after each loss.
7. Blackjack-Specific Strategies
The following two gameplay strategies are specific to blackjack and are often used in conjunction with the aforementioned betting systems in a two-pronged approach.
- A few players swear by following the same house rules as the dealer. The dealer must hit a 16 or lower (and a soft 17) and stand on a hard 17 or higher, (these may vary). This approach involves the player following this process when taking their turn and can work well with all other betting systems.
- Another gameplay strategy is to never go bust. The highest "hard" card combination (a hand without an ace) that guarantees no bust is a hard 11, as drawing the best card (10, J, Q, K) limits their total to 21. Players with a hard 12 or higher will never hit with this method. This is a bad idea based on probability and statistics, and works well with the more conservative betting systems such as Oscar’s Grind and the Paroli method.
Factors That Can Affect Blackjack Betting Systems
Before you put one of these betting systems to the test, it’s important that you’re aware of the factors that can impact your playstyle. These factors include:
Factor #1: Learn the Game First!
As you’ve seen above, some of the top blackjack betting systems can become pretty complicated and can take a degree of focus to maintain. Their effectiveness can also be impacted by your gameplay decisions because if you do not play optimally, you lower the RTP and put the house edge even more in the house’s favour.
Don't forget to review the rules of your chosen blackjack game, especially if it's live blackjack, even if you've played many hands before. While most blackjack games follow the same basic rules, some games include unique twists such as special side bets or mechanics that developers enjoy adding.
Even within standard gameplay, there are some rules of thumb that a new player is best off picking up on quickly. An example of this would be the ‘Insurance Bet’. While there are a few players out there who prescribe its use in very specific circumstances, the general consensus is that this option is designed as a distraction and pitfall for new players.
Knowing general knowledge such as this is far more important to nail first, than trying to add more complexity into the mix with new betting systems.
Factor #2: Know about Percentages and Optimal Play
All casino games use percentages known as the ‘return to player’ (RTP) and the house edge, alongside odds percentages and/or ratios. Understanding what these mean is integral to not only developing an understanding of the game but also gaining insight into how the specific games’ math model is designed to pay out.
For many new players, combining this foundational knowledge with a strategy guide and accompanying betting strategy can help ensure players mitigate as much of the house edge as possible by playing optimally. For those not in the know, a strategy guide is a table readily found online which displays the most statistically optimal decision to make when presented with certain hand combinations.
Factor #3: Understand You! (Betting Systems are NOT one size fits all)
Betting strategies are completely optional, and you do not need to use one ever when playing. They are not essential to the gameplay experience and cannot guarantee wins. Instead, many players dabble with different methods as a way to change up how they usually play, or as a way to track their bankroll.
If you’re a player who prefers to just focus on the fun of gameplay then a betting system is likely to disrupt your fun. If you’re a player with a small bankroll, you’ll find that more aggressive betting systems like the Martingale or Fibonacci system eat through your bankroll very quickly, while conservative methods like the Paroli system or Oscar’s Grind are likely to give you more bang for your buck. These are all factors to consider before even making your first wager.
What You Always Need To Know
While it's true that playing blackjack or any other casino game with a well-thought-out plan such as utilising a betting strategy, can be a liberating and even empowering experience, it's also important to remember that there is no foolproof method to win consistently or even at all.
Gambling should never be seen as a way to make a living, but rather as a fun pastime to enjoy occasionally. The house edge statistic is present in every game because, ultimately, the house always wins and there is no legitimate or legal method that a player can use to overcome this.
An essential part of all betting strategies is playing within your means. Always keep responsible gambling in mind; establish and adhere to a strict time and budget for your session. Do not put more money on the line than you can afford to lose, and end your session early if you notice a downward spiral in your mood.
FAQs on Blackjack Betting Systems
Do these blackjack betting systems fail?
Blackjack does have a degree of skill to it, but overall it is a game of chance, so there is no surefire way to win using any betting system. Since their chances are never 100% to begin with, they can never be considered a success or a failure.
What is the most used betting system by blackjack players?
The Martingale system is by far the most well-known and well-used betting strategy, with methods such as a Paroli system inspired by it. With the expansion of online and live casino blackjack games, newer and/or less-known methods like Oscar’s Grind are starting to become more mainstream.
What blackjack betting system is recommended for beginners?
Complete beginners should first learn the game and maybe use a blackjack strategy chart to help with this. In general, beginner players should opt for the more conservative systems such as Oscar’s Grind or the Paroli method.
Is it ok to use a betting system when playing blackjack?
Using a betting system is completely acceptable in blackjack since it does not guarantee wins and does not exploit any system in the same way that cheating would. Utilising a betting system is optional.
