Understanding 2-1-2 Blackjack Betting System

One of the most popular casino games in New Zealand – and across the world is blackjack. There are many reasons for this. It’s fun, one of the easiest games to play, it’s quick and simple to learn the basic blackjack rules and there are so many different variations. Check out our games catalogue and live casino – and you will see a whole host of different game types.

However, if you do want to give yourself the best chance of betting and winning, it’s more than just knowing the rules – you need to start betting with a strategy. There are a few different blackjack strategies to choose from – card counting, the basic blackjack strategy and the 2-1-2 strategy. The good news is that understanding 2-1-2 blackjack betting system is pretty straightforward and that’s what we will look at right here.

About the 2-1-2 Betting System and How it Works

Fortunately, the 2-1-2 betting system is very straightforward – and is particularly rewarding if you happen to be on a winning streak. But how and why?

The nature of casinos means that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. You will have losing streaks and you’ll have winning streaks. The skill is essentially knowing when to stop – not just when to quit if you’re losing, but knowing when to quit when you’re ahead.

By understanding 2-1-2 blackjack betting system (also known as the Manhattan strategy), you will be highly rewarded if you do hit that winning streak, meaning you can walk away with a potential solid profit.

Essentially, this betting system works in a similar way to the d’Alembert betting system. The only difference is that instead of increasing your bet after you win, you will slightly reduce your first bet. However, if you win the next hand you will then increase your bet.

The system works as the name suggests: 2-1-2. You start off betting two units – $2. If you win that bet, then you will lower your next bet down to $1. If you win the next bet then you will increase your next wager up to $2, then $3. Then, if you win the next hand you go up to $4.

However, the minute you lose your bet, you drop back down to your original $2 betting stake and you start again. Then, whether you win or lose you will drop down to $1 again until you hit another win.

Example of the 2-1-2 Blackjack Betting Strategy

So, let’s see how the 2-1-2 betting system would play out in practice.

Imagine you are playing one of our standard blackjack online games. If you beat the dealer, you will receive a payout of 1:1 and if you land a blackjack, you will be paid out at 3:2.

• You make a $2 wager and so drop your next bet to $1: Profit $2
• You lose your next bet, so lose your $1 stake: Profit $1
• You make another $1 bet and win $1: Profit $2
• You then make a stake of $2 and win $2: Profit $4
• Then you make a stake of $3 and win $3: Profit $7
• The next stake you make is $4 and you win: Profit $11
• You then make a $5 bet and lose: Profit $6
• Your stake drops back to $2 again and you win: Profit $8
• You then drop back down to $1 and lose: Profit $7
• You play your final $1 stake and win: Profit $8

So, even if you do hit three losing hands, because there was a solid winning streak, you would still walk away with a reasonable profit when using the 2-1-2 betting system.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the 2-1-2 Betting System

Just like most banking betting strategies, the 2-1-2 system is about trying to maximise your winnings and minimise your losses. Your profit will be safeguarded by dropping down 1 unit after your first bet and then increasing your wagers after. If you do lose, then you will revert to your original stake.

The biggest advantage is that this is great if you do manage to hit a winning streak, what’s more, if you know the blackjack rules and apply the basic blackjack strategy, this has one of the lowest house edges of all games, so a winning streak isn’t improbable. If you manage to hit blackjack in your winning streak, the profits will be even bigger.

Because of the nature of blackjack, which is very much a 50/50 game, generally, players win the same amount of times as they lose. So, another advantage of this system is that by dropping back down to 2 units every time you lose, the stakes are never too high.

Obviously, the disadvantage is that this is really only beneficial for winning streaks. If you do hit a losing streak, you won’t see much benefit, apart from minimising those potential losses.

Give It a Try at Rizk

This is a super simple strategy – and if you have a solid knowledge of the blackjack rules, know the basic blackjack strategy and understand the 2-1-2 betting system you have a great chance of walking away a winner. Moreover, you can test your skills and strategies for free here at Rizk before trying your luck against real dealers.

Simply head over to our selection of blackjack games, pick your table, pick your bet and see if you can use that 2-1-2 strategy when you go head-to-head with the dealer!