Flat Betting is a betting strategy used in blackjack; it’s simply placing the same bet each hand. This isn’t a great blackjack strategy because if you’re on a winning streak your gains are small but if you’re on a losing streak your losses are harder to recoup. Flat betting is used mainly as a control variable when comparing how various blackjack betting systems stack up.
A typical experiment to evaluate the efficacy of any blackjack betting system is to run a simulation of a large sample of hands – a million hands or so – against an equally large sample of hands flat betting. As of this writing, no gambling system beats flat betting in the long run. That isn’t to say that flat betting in blackjack yields the player a positive or neutral return by any means, it’s just to mathematically prove that gambling systems always fail in the long run (in the short run, systems may or may not work). internet blackjack holds to the same principle. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing online blackjack or in a land-based casino, betting systems fail in the long run.
According to some experts, another time when flat betting in blackjack may prove useful is when you’re card counting at a table and you want to take the heat off you. You can accomplish this in a couple of different ways. Flat betting allows you to play on auto-pilot for a few rounds and get to know the dealer. Strike up a conversation about anything and try to be friendly with the dealer. Don’t expect the blackjack dealer to do you any favors but he or she may cut you some slack if you’re personable and make an effort.
If you feel like you’re being watched by the eye in the sky or by one of the pit bosses, flat betting should relax the prying eyes of the pit boss. There’s also the slim chance that you may draw more attention to yourself by obviously flat betting for a few rounds only to obviously card count immediately after. Use this technique cautiously and prudently if you want it to be effective flat betting in blackjack.
Lew "Chubs" O'Connor