The 212 Blackjack Betting Strategy – Viable or No?

Last week, we took a look at the Martingale strategy for online casino games. This week, we will take a look at the 212 strategy, also known as the Manhattan strategy. You’ll hear the 2-1-2 strategy praised by blackjack players looking to limit their losses at the table. Today, we will teach you how to employ this 212 strategy and discuss whether the strategy is a viable one at online casinos.

What is the 212 Strategy?

The 212 betting system is a progressive betting system that helps you manage your losses while still giving you the potential to secure some big wins in blackjack. The system is easy to learn. You start by betting 2 units. For example, if the minimum bet is $5, you will bet $10.

If you win the bet, you drop back to just one unit. When you win this bet, you will increase your bet to three units. If you lose the bet, you start back over and bet 2 units.

Once you increase your bet to three units, this is where you want to go on a streak. From this point, each time you win a bet, you increase your next bet by one unit. When you bet 3 and win, you bet 4 the next hand. However, whenever you lose, you will reset the entire system and start back over.

How This Strategy Plays Out in Real-Time

Let’s take a quick look at how this system plays out at the tables. Assuming you are playing $5 per unit using this system, let’s look at a streak of 10 hands playing a flat betting strategy.

Units	Result	Total Winnings
2	Win	+2
2	Lose	0
2	Win	+2
2	Lose	+0
2	Win	+2
2	Lose	+0
2	Win	+2
2	Win	+4
2	Win	+6
2	Lose	+4

Now, let’s take a look at the same hands using the 2-1-2 strategy.

Units	Result	Total Winnings
2	Win	+2
1	Lose	+1
2	Win	+3
1	Lose	+2
2	Win	+4
1	Lose	+3
2	Win	+5
1	Win	+6
3	Win	+9
4	Lose	+5

As you can see, the player using the 212 strategy came out slightly better than the one using a flat betting strategy. That’s because of the variable betting that was used. As you can see, if you can go on a streak, this can build up some nice profits.

212 Strategy Less Risky Than Martingale But Relies on Streaks for Big Wins

You’ll remember last week how that a streak of really bad luck could be devastating for a Martingale strategy. The good part about the 212 strategy is that you don’t have the same level of risk, especially when you’re on a losing streak.

While on a losing streak, the most you will be risking for any bet is 2 units. If you go on a streak of five losing hands, you are losing 8 units as opposed to 16 units. A ten-hand losing streak loses you 15 units instead of 1,024 units. That alone makes this strategy superior as it limits your losses in losing streaks.

The downside to this streak is that it relies on you going on a streak of luck to be viable. However, it only takes a couple of nice streaks to make this strategy insanely profitable. Of course, if you can hit a couple of blackjacks or make a couple of double down wins during your streak, even better.

Over the long-term, this strategy will not prove to be a big winner. However, compared to the Martingale strategy, you’ll be less likely to blow your entire bankroll on a bad losing streak.