In blackjack, there are several basic decisions that you can make to get the edge over the dealer. These include the Surrender and Insurance bets, Splitting and Doubling down. However, you should avoid making these decisions if you’re overconfident. To increase your winnings, you can increase your bet up to 2 times, but be careful not to overdo it.

Splitting

Blackjack splitting is a powerful play, but there are a few things you should know. Choosing the correct hand to split is a matter of statistical expectation, not luck. You’ll want to split when you have two hands worth less than 10 points. Fortunately, there are many situations where splitting is the right choice.

Blackjack splitting allows you to form two new, potentially winning hands from a single hand. This helps you double your profits if the dealer has an unattractive hand. However, many players aren’t sure how to correctly split a hand. This can lead to misunderstandings, and can lead to future losses.

Doubling down

Doubling down in blackjack is a thrilling move, but it can be risky if you’re not careful. You’ll have to strike a balance between safe play and risky double downs if you want to increase your chances of winning. Basic strategy will help you figure out when to double down based on the situation.

The most effective time to double down is when you have an initial count of nine, ten, or eleven. Doubling down on these hands will result in a total of 20. This will increase your chances of winning, especially if the dealer doesn’t have a high card. However, doubling down with a dealer’s ten or ace is risky.

Back counting

Back-counting is a betting strategy that allows you to enter the game at the optimal time. In doing so, you avoid the hassle of dealing with bad hands and frequent changes in your bets. This strategy is legal but is not for everyone as some casinos prohibit it. It is, however, a winning strategy for the experienced players.

There are several ways to back-count in blackjack. One of them involves playing the minimum wager and waiting until a big player comes into the table and signals the back-counter to increase their bet. If the back-counter is successful, they can stay at the table until the count decreases.