Blackjack Guide to Play in Canadian Casinos

For Canadian players looking to master the art of blackjack, this comprehensive guide offers insights into strategies, game variations, and tips to enhance your experience at the tables. Whether you're a novice seeking to understand the basics or a seasoned player aiming to refine your skills, this blackjack guide provides valuable information for playing blackjack in Canada. As online gaming continues to grow in popularity, many are discovering the convenience and excitement of being able to play blackjack online in Canada from the comfort of their homes.

Among the many options available, Bodog stands out as a leading casino platform in Canada. With over 20 years of presence in the Canadian market, Bodog has established itself as a trusted name in online gaming, offering an array of 15 different blackjack games.

Understanding the Basics

Blackjack, also known as 21, is a card game where players compete against the dealer to have a hand value as close to 21 as possible without going over. The game's popularity stems from its blend of skill and chance, offering players the opportunity to influence their outcomes through strategic decisions.

Online Blackjack Guide

Blackjack Hands

The Blackjack hands you're dealt impact your chances of winning. Let's explore the best and worst hands in blackjack, as well as the important distinction between soft and hard hands.

Best Blackjack Hands

The ultimate hand in blackjack is a combination of a 10-value card (10, J, Q, or K) alongside an Ace, known as a "blackjack" or "natural 21". This hand often offers the highest payout, typically 3:2 or 2.5 times your original bet. For example, a $1 bet could win $2.50 with a blackjack.

However, a blackjack doesn't guarantee a win, as the dealer could also have a blackjack, resulting in a "push" where your bet is returned.

Other strong hands include:

Two tens: This hand wins approximately 80% of the time. It's generally best to stand on this hand rather than split.
A total of 11: This hand has a high chance of making 21 with the next card. Doubling down is often the optimal move, except when the dealer shows an Ace.
Two Aces: This flexible hand can be played as 2 or 12. Basic strategy typically recommends splitting these Aces against any dealer card.

Worst Blackjack Hands

Some hands in blackjack are notoriously challenging to play:

16: Statistically, this is the worst hand for a player, especially if the dealer shows a 10. It's particularly weak if the dealer has an 8, 9, or Ace.
13, 14, or 15: These hands are also prone to busting but less so than 16. They become much weaker if the dealer shows a 10.

Remember, there's always a chance the dealer might bust, especially with lower cards like 4, 5, or 6 showing.

Soft Hands vs. Hard Hands

Understanding the difference between soft and hard hands is crucial for effective blackjack strategy.

Soft Hands

A soft hand contains an Ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11.
Example: An Ace and a 6 is a soft 17.
Soft hands are preferred because they allow for more flexibility. You can hit without the risk of busting on the next card.
Basic strategy for soft hands often involves doubling down when the dealer shows weak cards (5 or 6).

Hard Hands

A hard hand is any hand without an Ace, or where the Ace must be counted as 1 to avoid busting.
Example: A 7 and a 10 make a hard 17.
Hard hands are riskier because they have a higher chance of busting when hitting.
For hard hands 8 or lower, always hit. For 17 or higher, generally stand.
With hard 9, 10, or 11, consider doubling down against dealer's 3, 4, 5, or 6.

Popular Blackjack Games at Bodog and Recommended Strategies

Bodog offers a diverse range of blackjack games, single deck and multi-hand variants, each with its own nuances that require slightly different strategic approaches. Here's an expanded look at some popular variations and the recommended strategies for each:

Standard Blackjack: This six-deck game allows players to manage up to three hands simultaneously. Recommended Strategy: Use basic strategy as a foundation. When playing multiple hands, consider varying your bets based on your perceived advantage. For example, if you've seen many low cards dealt, you might increase your bet on the next hand, anticipating more high cards.
Classic Blackjack: Played with six decks and reshuffled after each hand, with the dealer hitting on soft 17. When you play Classic Blackjack, if the dealer hits on soft 17 slightly increases the house edge. In response, you should be more aggressive with doubling down, especially on soft hands. For instance, always double down on soft 18 against a dealer's 2 through 6.
Double Deck Blackjack: The dealer stands on soft 17, and the game allows doubling down, splitting pairs, and taking insurance. Since the game has fewer decks, card counting becomes more effective if you're skilled in this technique. Be more aggressive with splitting pairs, especially 2s, 3s, and 7s against a dealer's 2-7. However, avoid taking insurance as it's generally not profitable in the long run.
22 Blackjack: If the dealer's hand totals 22, all bets are returned as a push unless the player busts. This rule significantly changes traditional strategy. Be more conservative about hitting on hard 12-16, as the dealer has an additional way to tie. Consider standing on these hands more often, especially against dealer upcards of 7-9.
Single Deck Blackjack: Uses only one deck, potentially offering better odds for skilled players. Basic strategy changes slightly for single-deck games. For example, split 10s against a dealer's 5 or 6, which you wouldn't do in a multi-deck game. Also, be more aggressive with doubling down, such as doubling hard 9 against a dealer's 2.
Perfect Pairs: Includes a side bet on whether the player's first two cards will be a pair. For the Perfect Pairs main game, stick to basic strategy. Regarding the side bet, it's generally not recommended from a mathematical standpoint as it has a higher house edge. If you choose to make this bet, do so sparingly and for entertainment purposes only.
Zappit Blackjack: Allows players to "zap" (discard and replace) an initial hand of 15, 16, or 17. Always zap hands of 15, 16, or 17 unless the dealer shows a bust card (4, 5, or 6). After zapping, apply basic strategy to your new hand. This feature reduces the house edge, so take full advantage of it.

For other variations like European Blackjack, 21 Burn, Perfect Pair 21 + 3, Dragon Blackjack Guarantee, Pirate 21, Pontoon 21, and Super 7, it's crucial to study the specific rules of each game and adjust your strategy accordingly. Many of these games include unique side bets or rule variations that require specific strategic adjustments.

Basic Blackjack Strategy

Regardless of the variation, a solid understanding of basic blackjack strategy is crucial for any player looking to maximize their chances of winning. This strategy is based on mathematical probabilities and provides guidance on when to hit, stand, double down, or split pairs based on your hand and the dealer's upcard.

Here's a simplified version of basic strategy for a multi-deck game:

Always split Aces and 8s.
Never split 5s or 10s.
Double down on 11 unless the dealer shows an Ace.
Stand on 17 and above.
Hit on 16 or below against a dealer's 7 or higher.
Stand on 12-16 if the dealer shows 2-6.

These rules can vary depending on the blackjack game variation and house rules. You should always consult a detailed strategy chart for the particular game they're playing.

Advanced Strategies in Blackjack

For players looking to elevate their blackjack game beyond basic strategy, several advanced techniques have emerged over the years. It's important to note that while these methods can be effective in certain situations, they require significant skill, practice, and carry their own risks.

Card Counting

Card counting is a strategy used to gain an advantage over the casino by keeping track of the ratio of high cards (10s and face cards) to low cards (2-6) remaining in the deck. The basic premise is that a deck rich in high cards favors the player, while a deck rich in low cards favors the dealer.

How Card Counting works

Assign a value to each card: +1 for 2-6, 0 for 7-9, and -1 for 10-Ace.
Keep a running count as cards are dealt.
Convert the running count to a true count by dividing by the number of decks remaining.
Adjust your bets based on the true count: higher bets when the count is positive, lower bets when negative.

Challenges of Card Counting

Requires intense concentration and practice.
Casinos use multiple decks and frequent shuffling to counter this strategy.
In online games, especially those with random number generators, card counting is ineffective.

Examples of Card Counting

Let's say you're playing a six-deck game. The running count after 20 hands is +8. To get the true count, divide +8 by the number of decks remaining (approximately 4 if 2 decks have been played). The true count is +2. This slightly positive count suggests more high cards are remaining, potentially favoring the player.

Let’s have a look to another situation. You start with a $10 bet. After several hands, your running count is +15, and about half the cards have been played. The true count is +5 (15 ÷ 3 remaining decks). With this high positive count, you might increase your bet to $50 or $100, as the odds are now more in your favor.

Shuffle Tracking

Shuffle tracking is an advanced technique that goes beyond basic card counting. It involves observing and tracking specific groups of cards through the shuffling process to predict where they will appear in the next shoe.

How Shuffle Tracking works

Identify advantageous clumps of cards during play.
Watch carefully how these clumps are shuffled.
Estimate where these clumps will end up in the new shoe.
Adjust your bets and playing strategy when you expect these clumps to appear.

Challenges of Shuffle Tracking

Requires exceptional visual memory and concentration.
Only applicable in land-based casinos with manual shuffling.
Casinos use complex shuffling machines and techniques to prevent this.
Extremely difficult to master and execute consistently.

Examples of Shuffle Tracking

Imagine that you notice a sequence of high cards (10, J, Q, K) near the end of a shoe. During the shuffle, you observe this group being placed near the middle of the new shoe. You might increase your bets when you estimate this section is about to be dealt.

In the following case, you identify a clump of low cards (2, 3, 4, 5) that gets placed near the top of the new shoe during shuffling. When play resumes, you might decrease your bets or sit out a few hands until this unfavorable section passes.

Hole Carding

Hole carding is a technique where a player tries to catch a glimpse of the dealer's face-down card (hole card) during the deal. This information can give the player a significant advantage in decision-making.

How Hole Carding works

Observe the dealer's technique when checking for blackjack.
Look for any tells or movements that might expose the hole card.
Adjust your playing strategy based on the information gained.

Challenges of Hole Carding

Requires a keen eye and often a specific seat at the table.
Many casinos train dealers to prevent hole carding.
Not applicable in online or digital games.
Can be considered cheating if any devices are used to assist.

Examples of Hole Carding

Let’s imagine a case in which you notice that when the dealer checks for blackjack with an Ace up, they consistently lift the corner of the hole card slightly higher than necessary. From the third-base position (far left of the table), you can occasionally glimpse the value. This information allows you to make more informed decisions about hitting, standing, or doubling down.

In this other example, the dealer has a sloppy technique when sliding the hole card under their up card. From the first-base position (far right), you sometimes see the index (number/letter) of the hole card reflected in the dealer's glasses or watch face. Knowing the dealer's full hand gives you a significant advantage in deciding how to play your own hand.

Side Betting in Online Blackjack

Blackjack side bets offer additional wagering options beyond the main game, though they typically carry higher house edges. Perfect Pairs, paying up to 30:1 for matching suited cards, maintains a house edge around 6%. The 21+3 bet combines poker elements by using the player's first two cards and dealer's up card, offering payouts up to 100:1 for suited three-of-a-kind with a house edge between 3% and 8%. Insurance, available when the dealer shows an Ace, pays 2:1 but carries a substantial 7% house edge, making it viable primarily for card counters. The Super Sevens side bet offers the highest potential payout at 5000:1 for three suited sevens, but its house edge exceeds 10%, making it more suitable for occasional entertainment than serious strategy.

Other Advanced Strategies: Dealer Tells

From traditional casinos to online platforms, dealer tells in blackjack offer valuable insights through subtle and unconscious behaviors that might reveal information about the hole card. While card counting remains essential for blackjack success, understanding these unintentional signals—whether quick glances or particular card handling patterns—provides an additional edge in live games. These behavioral cues primarily appear in how dealers view and handle their cards, though their effectiveness varies between casino and online play.

Probability and Expected Value

Probability and expected value in blackjack games form the cornerstone of expert strategy, allowing skilled players to significantly reduce the house edge. Probability calculations in blackjack vary based on the number of decks used, with specific odds for initial hands like natural blackjacks, 20-point hands, and other favorable starting combinations. Understanding these probabilities, along with the ability to calculate odds during gameplay, provides players with a solid foundation for making informed decisions at the table.

Expected Value (EV) in blackjack games represents the average outcome of a decision if made repeatedly under identical circumstances. By combining probability calculations with EV, players can determine the most mathematically sound choices in common scenarios, such as whether to split tens against a dealer's six or hit on 12 against a dealer's three. This approach to blackjack strategy, based on probability and expected value, can reduce the house edge to as low as 0.64% to 0.88%, depending on the specific game rules. Advanced players may further improve their odds through card counting techniques, which adjust probabilities and EV calculations as cards are dealt.

Live Blackjack in Canada

The rise of live dealer games has brought a new dimension to online blackjack. Live Blackjack in Canada offers the convenience of online play with the atmosphere of a real casino. When playing live blackjack, consider these tips:

Familiarize yourself with the specific rules of the game before playing.
Be aware of time limits for making decisions.
Use the chat feature responsibly to interact with the dealer and other players.
Take advantage of the ability to watch games before joining to get a feel for the pace and style.

Bankroll Management

While strategy is crucial, responsible gaming practices are equally important for an enjoyable blackjack experience. Here are some tips:

Set a budget and stick to it.
Avoid chasing losses.
Take regular breaks to maintain focus.
Never gamble with money you can't afford to lose.
Understand that even with perfect strategy, the house always has a slight edge in the long run.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced players can fall into certain traps. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for:

Taking insurance bets: Generally, insurance is not a good bet unless you're counting cards.
Assuming you'll win in the short term: Blackjack is a game of long-term probabilities.
Playing at tables with unfavorable rules: Always check the specific rules of the game you're playing.
Deviating from basic strategy based on hunches: Stick to mathematically proven strategies for the best results.

Blackjack Guide: Last Thoughts

Blackjack remains one of the most popular casino games in Canada, both online and in land-based establishments. Its blend of skill and chance, combined with the variety of game variations available, ensures its enduring appeal.

Understanding the rules and implementing solid strategy is key to maximizing your enjoyment and potential success at the tables. While strategies can improve your odds, blackjack is still a game of chance. With this comprehensive guide, you're now better equipped to navigate the exciting world of blackjack.

The Ultimate Blackjack Guide to Play in Canadian Casinos