Blackjack is often called a basic game. That's a strange thing,
as there's not so much about it that's basic, except the strategy
you must employ. The must enamored 'basic blackjack strategy'
truly is an important base set of rules to get your head around.
But more than memorization, the basic strategy involves a healthy
dose of intuition. Blackjack is a game where distraction is
king (one of the advantages of playing online) - its simple,
you hit when it would have been statistically more advantageous
of you to stick. How do you know when the math isn't on your
side? Usually it simply involves paying a little more attention
to the dealer's hand. A good grasp of the process a dealer must
follow to complete his hand lets you know if he is 'showing
busting cards'. The strategy of choice then, is to look at what
the dealer is showing, look at what your total is, and take
a wild guess! Just kidding. Usually its enough to recognize
if the dealer has a 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 showing. You have to presume
(this is the easy part of the math… but there really is no hard
part) that the card your not seeing in the dealer's hand is
worth 10, as there are a larger number of face cards than anything
else. This means, if the dealer shows 2, 3, 4 5, or 6, there
is a good chance they will have a ten for a total of a low teen,
then, following the rules the dealer must hit until they reach
at least 17. So if your sitting there with a 13, but the dealer
is showing a 6, what should you do? You should stick, because
the dealer will most likely bust. Remember, if you have a 13
and the dealer initially has a 16, it doesn't mean the dealer
wins, they still have to draw another card as they have not
reached 17 yet. Chances are it will be a 10, and the dealer
will bust.
The statistics could be worked out by hand without too much
trouble, but of course they get more complicated the more decks
you're dealing with. Fortunately, to help you get in the right
frame of mind to make these decisions on your own, on the fly
(which you need to do in a real casino, but you have all the
time in the world to look up options on charts if you play from
home), we have a free in browser blackjack game you can try.
The important thing to remember is that nearly all basic strategy
rules are indisputable in the long run, but it is the long run
that defines them. Only in the long run will the stats work
out with any consistency, and basic blackjack strategy can only
be said to be truly beneficial if you're playing for an extended
period. Is this true? How can math only be valid over time?
The finite nature of mathematical science dictates that a particular
playing decision, based on the player's cards and the dealer's
exposed card, will yield a predictable outcome after millions
of hands of play. But at the same time, the prediction it makes
is always applicable to the 'next' hand played. So following
this basic strategy truly is your best decision.
It is imperative as a blackjack player to learn this basic strategy,
because by using it, you will eliminate the normal 5 or so percent
advantage the casino has over the unskilled player. With perfect
basic strategy play, the house advantage can dip as low as 0.5
percent! That is less than a 1 percent disadvantage to the player.
This is why blackjack can be one of the most profitable games
to play in a casino. But be wary of games such as this where
the house edge is a variable, it means you have to be a smart
player, and pay attention. And the casinos are experts at distraction.
Basic strategy varies according to the type of playing conditions
that you are exposed to. Namely, how many decks that are in
the shoe you are playing. Below I have listed the basic strategy
rules for single deck games and for multiple deck shoes. So
I urge you to study the rules below and practice them until
they do not require any thought on your part. There are many
places to play blackjack for free on the net, including right
here at online-blackjack.com. You can also find interactive
tutorials around the net, for an example check out Enjoy
Blackjack.com.
In the charts below, the left hand column is the total of
the cards you have in your hand and the right column is the
proper playing strategy based on the dealers up card. It may
seem like a lot to remember, but its not about memory, its
about learning to react. Each move can be thought out and
is logical.
Single Deck - Basic Blackjack
Strategy
Your Hand
Dealer's Upcard
8
Double on 5 to 6. Otherwise hit
9
Double on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
10
Double on 2 to 9. Otherwise hit.
11
Always double.
12
Stand on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit.
13-16
Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
17-21
Always stand.
A,2 - A,5
Double on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit.
A,6
Double on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
A,7
Double on 3 to 6. Stand on 2,7,8 or A. Hit on 9 or 10.
A,8
Double on 6. Otherwise stand.
A,9
Always stand.
A,A
Always split.
2,2
Split on 3 to 7. Otherwise hit.
3,3
Split on 4 to 7. Otherwise hit.
4,4
Same as 8 above.
5,5
Same as 10 above.
6,6
Split on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
7,7
Split on 2 to 7. Stand on 10. Otherwise hit.
8,8
Always split.
9,9
Split on 2 to 9 except 7. Stand on 7,10 or A.
10,10
Always stand.
The above chart assumes the casino doesn't allow doubling
down after pair splitting. If the casino allows doubling down
after pair splitting then use the following pair splitting rules.
Double on 3 to 6. Stand on 2,7 or 8. Hit on 9,10 or A.
A,8 - A,10
Always stand.
A,A
Always split.
2,2
Split on 2 to 7, Otherwise hit.
3,3
Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit.
4,4
Split on 5,6. Otherwise hit.
5,5
Never split. Treat as 10 above.
6,6
Split on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
7,7
Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit.
8,8
Always split.
9,9
Split on 2 to 6, 8 or 9. Stand on 7,10, or A.
10,10
Always stand.
The above multiple deck basic strategy is valid if the players are
allowed to double down after pair splitting. If doubling down
is not allowed after pair splitting, then use the following pair
splitting rules.
