Blackjack
basic strategy is based on the mathematics of the game. When it is followed
correctly it reduces the house edge to the minimum, which is usually about
one-half of a percent. Minor adjustments are made to basic strategy depending
on certain rule variations that the different casinos can chose to use.
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 basic strategy the house advantage is only about 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.
Basic
strategy varies according to the type of playing conditions that you are
exposed to.
In order to
know the Basic Strategy there are three things you must learn:
Simple
Strategy – 7 Rules for Social Play
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Simple
Strategy; Seven Rules to help you Lose Less
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Player Does
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Verses
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Dealer's Upcard
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Stand on 13
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V's
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2 or 3
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Stand on 12
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V's
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4, 5 or 6
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Stand on 17
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V's
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7 or more
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Double
Down on 11 verses Dealer's 10 or less
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Double
Down on 10 verses Dealer's 9 or less
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Always Split 8,8's
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Always Split A,A's
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When the
Dealer is showing a 6 or less, he has a better than even chance of busting. So,
the Player can pretty much relax and leave the Dealer to self-destruct. The
only thing to remember is that if that upcard is a 2 or a 3, we stand on 13,
not 12.
Stand
on 13 verses Dealers 2 or 3. Stand
on 12 verses Dealer’s 4, 5 or 6.
When to Double Down
‘Double
Down” is when the Player double’s his bet on the first two cards, and receives
just one more card in exchange.
When to
Split Pairs
With two
eights and you’ve got a Total of 16. No one wants a total of 16. Split and Hit,
you’ve got a better than even chance of arriving at a Total of 17 or more. Even
when the Dealer is showing a “6” or less and 16 would be a comfortable Stand,
split the pair and double your rewards for Dealer’s better than even chance of
Busting. So, all the odds say “Split”.
Splitting
Aces would seem good sense to anyone, and it is. When you split Aces you
only receive one additional card for each Ace. You can’t Hit again. If either
of those cards is a “10” it’s not a Blackjack and only pays the usual 1 to 1,
not 1½ to 1 . A Blackjack only applies the Player’s first two cards. That’s why
it’s also called a “natural”. You don’t get it for extras.
Basic
Strategy is not something that you can learn by walking into a casino and
trying it out. You need to practice.
SINGLE DECK
- BASIC STRATEGY
Your
Hand vs 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 to 16 Stand on 2 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
17 to 21 Always stand.
A,2 to 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.
Your
Hand vs Dealer's Upcard
2,2 Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit.
3,3 Split on 2 to
7. Otherwise hit.
4,4 Split on 4,5 or 6. Otherwise hit.
6,6 Split on 2 to
7. Otherwise hit.
7,7 Split on 2 to 8. Stand on 10. Otherwise hit.
FOUR, SIX,
EIGHT DECK - BASIC STRATEGY
Your Hand vs
Dealer's Upcard
5 to 8 Always Hit.
9 Double on 3 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
10 Double on 2 to 9. Hit on 10, A.
11 Double on 2 to 10. Hit on A.
12 Stand on 4 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
13 Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
14 Stand on 2 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
15 Stand on 2 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
16 Stand on 2 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
17 Always stand.
18 Always stand.
A,2 Double on 5,6. Otherwise
hit.
A,3 Double on 5,6. Otherwise
hit.
A,4 Double on 4 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
A,5 Double on 4 to 6. Otherwise
hit.
A,6 Double on 3 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
A,7 Double on 3 to 6. Stand
on 2,7 or 8.
Hit on 9,10 or A.
A,8 to
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.
Your
Hand vs Dealer's Upcard
2,2 Split on 4 to 7.Otherwise
hit.
3,3 Split on 4 to 7. Otherwise hit.
4,4 Never split. Always hit.
6,6 Split on 3 to 6.
Otherwise hit.
Perfect Blackjack Strategy
Once you
have mastered these simple rules , you will have in place the basis of Basic
Strategy. In order to master the complete strategy, there are two more areas of
refinement to attend to. These are the rules for 'doubling down' and the rules
for 'splitting pairs'. These do not alter the rules you have learnt above. They
build and extend on them.
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Rules for Doubling Down
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Double Down On
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Verses
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Dealer's Upcard
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11
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V's
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2-10
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10
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V's
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2-9
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9
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V's
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3-6
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A6-A7
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V's
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3-6
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A4-A5
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V's
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4-6
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A2-A3
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V's
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5-6
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Rules for Splitting Pairs
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Split
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Verses
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Dealer's Upcard
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A,A
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V's
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Any Card
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9,9
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V's
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2-9 but not 7
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8,8
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V's
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Any Card
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7,7
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V's
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2-7
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6,6
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V's
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2-6
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4,4
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V's
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5-6
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3,3
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V's
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2-7
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2,2
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V's
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2-7
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