While there are many advantages to playing blackjack (BN), one of the biggest has to do with the way betting spreads work. When you bet on blackjack, you place a wager on whether the next card will be a face card (i.e., an Ace or a Jack) or a non-face card (i.e., a 10 or a 9). After the initial wagering is complete, you will be presented with the opportunity to re-bet on the same hand. However, instead of placing a single bet, you can place a series of bets that will create a betting spread.
Why Use a Betting Spread?
As the name implies, a betting spread is used when you want to wager on several outcomes at the same time. In a nutshell, a betting spread is how you use multiple bets for blackjack. In other words, you can use a betting spread to gain additional wagering opportunities or to hedge your bets (i.e., place a bet on a hand that you already bet on).
To create a betting spread, you simply need to separate your wagers by combining consecutive cards rather than by combining different suits (i.e., hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades). For example, if you have $10 to play with and you want to make three separate bets, you would need to create a betting spread with three 10-card series: one on spades, one on diamonds, and one on hearts. Once you have set up your betting spread, you can place bets on each of the three series separately. To do this, you would need to hit the “Bet” button next to each line of wagering (i.e., the line where you set your wager).
How Do Betting Spreads Work?
When you use a betting spread, all of your wagers are based on the same underlying principle: the total amount of cards multiplied by their respective odds. For example, if you have three 10-card series (one on spades, one on diamonds, and one on hearts) and you set the wager to $5 per series, your total wagering will be $15 (i.e., 30 multiplied by $5).
As mentioned above, all of your wagers are based on the same principle: the total number of cards multiplied by their respective odds. Accordingly, if any of your cards is a blackjack (i.e., an Ace plus a Jack), you win both your wager and the hand. However, if any of your cards is not a blackjack, then you lose both your wager and the hand. In reality, you are not playing against the casino; you are playing against the house, which has a 24% chance of winning regardless of what cards you are dealt. This is known as the “underlying principle of risk”.
To help you keep all of this straight, the casino provides virtual cards that have been designed to mimic the experience of playing with a real deck of cards. Using these cards, you can easily set up a table similar to the one you would set up at a real casino. You can then use practice mode to practice your betting spreads and to get an idea of how much you should wager based on the cards dealt to you and the cards still left in your hand (i.e., the “hand rank”).
How Many Bets Can I Make?
You have complete control over how many consecutive cards you want to use to create your betting spread. When you set up a betting spread with cards that are separated by consecutive numbers (e.g., 10, 10, 10), it is referred to as a “triple 10.” You have the option of creating a “double 10” or a “quadruple 10” by using the same card twice in a row (e.g., 10, 10, 10, 10 or 10, 10, 10, 10, 10).
In general, you can make as many bets as you want within the limits of your bankroll. There are no restrictions other than the laws of probability and common sense (e.g., don’t put all of your eggs in one basket). However, you must keep in mind that the more you wager, the greater your loss when you lose (i.e., the house edges). For example, if you have a 10% bankroll and you place a $5 wager on each of the three hearts series, your total wagering will be $15 (i.e., $5 x 3), but your loss will be $30 (i.e., $15 x 3 + $5 x 3). This is why you should only put up as much money as you are willing to lose. Remember, the casino is playing against you, not with you!
How Do I Calculate My Chances of Winning?
When you use a betting spread to play blackjack, you need to decide how much you want to wager in advance. To figure out your chances of winning, take the total amount of money you are willing to lose (i.e., your “bankroll”) and subtract it from 1. This is how much money you are actually risking. For example, if your bankroll is $100 and you are willing to risk (i.e., lose) $200 on three consecutive doubles, you have a 33% chance of winning (i.e., 200 – 100 x 2 / 2 = 100 – 100 x 2 / 2 x 2 = 33%).
The underlying principle of risk applies here as well. When you subtract your bankroll from 1, you are actually taking on more than the casino can afford you; the odds are in fact against you. As mentioned above, all of your wagers are based on the same principle: the total number of cards multiplied by their respective odds. When you subtract your bankroll from 1, you are essentially changing the principle upon which your wagers are based. Therefore, if you choose to wager on a hand, you should adjust your wager size upwards.
When Do I Win?
As mentioned above, all of your wagers are based on the same principle: the total amount of cards multiplied by their respective odds. When you use this multiplication method, your chances of winning are directly proportional to how many blackjack (i.e., an Ace plus a Jack) you are dealt. This means that you have the best chance of winning when you are dealt three blackjack hands in a row. However, as you play more and more, the house edges increase, which makes it progressively more difficult to beat the casino.
The above rules of thumb will get you on your way to successfully using a betting spread to play blackjack. Remember, if you adhere to these rules, you will be putting yourself in a better position to win more often than you lose. In the end, the key to using a betting spread successfully is in understanding how much you are willing to wager and taking the time to practice so that you can become comfortable with the strategy. If you keep all of this in mind and follow the above rules, you will be on your way to better luck and more profitable play!