Blackjack Rules and Strategies
What is the basic
blackjack playing strategy? It
is the optimum way to play your hand if you are not counting cards. The
strategy is derived by computer simulation where the computer deals out
millions of hands, plays them in all possible ways, and then records and
analyzes the results. The basic strategy is not based on guesswork or
hunches. It is the mathematically correct way to play your hand against
every dealer's upcard.
What does the basic
blackjack strategy get you? The casino's initial
edge in the game of blackjack is about 5.75%, which includes the 3 to 2
payoff on player blackjacks. By employing the correct basic strategy plays
it is possible to whittle down the casino's edge to about 0.5%.
|
Initial casino's
edge |
5.75% |
|
Correct hitting
and standing |
-3.25% |
|
Correct doubling |
-1.5% |
|
Correct pair
splitting |
-0.5% |
|
Casino's edge
with basic strategy |
0.5% |
Of course it's possible to lower the casino's edge to less
than 0.5% by playing in games that have very favorable rules. One of the
best blackjack games is offered at the Slots-A- Fun Casino in Las Vegas.
Here they deal a single deck game with the dealer standing on soft 17 and
double after pair splitting is allowed. A basic strategy player has in fact
a slight edge against the casino (ca. 0.1%) in this game.
The basic playing strategy is slightly dependent on the
number of decks of cards. Thus the basic strategy for a single deck game is
slightly different than a six deck game. For simplicity the table below
summarizes the basic strategy rules that you can use for any number of
decks.
To use the table, go across the top to find the dealer's
upcard and go down the first column and find your hand. Where the row and
column intersect you'll find the correct basic strategy play. The strategy
assumes that doubling after pair splitting is allowed (see bottom of chart
for deviations if doubling after pair splitting is not allowed)
Generic Basic
Blackjack Strategy
|
H=hit |
S=stand |
D=double down |
P=pair split |
Su=surrender |
|
X/Y=Do X if
allowed, otherwise do Y |
Dealer Upcard
Player hand
|
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
|
17 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
|
16 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
Su/H |
Su/H |
Su/H |
|
15 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
Su/H |
H |
|
14 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
13 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
12 |
H |
H |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
11 |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
H |
|
10 |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
H |
H |
|
9 |
H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
8 or
less |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
Soft 19 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
|
Soft 18 |
S |
D/S |
D/S |
D/S |
D/S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
|
Soft 17 |
H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
Soft 16 |
H |
H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
Soft 15 |
H |
H |
D/H |
D/H |
D/H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
Soft 14 |
H |
H |
H |
D/H |
D/H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
Soft 13 |
H |
H |
H |
D/H |
D/H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
2,2 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
33 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
44 |
H |
H |
H |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
55 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
|
66 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
77 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
88 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
|
99 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
S |
SP |
SP |
S |
S |
|
1010 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
|
AA |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
Never take insurance.
If double after pair splitting is not permitted use these
rules for pair splitting.
|
22 |
H |
H |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
33 |
H |
H |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
44 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
55 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
|
66 |
H |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
77 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
88 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
|
99 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
S |
SP |
SP |
S |
S |
|
1010 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
|
AA |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
If the dealer hits soft 17, then
double down on 11 against dealer's ace, double down on soft 19 against
dealer's 6, double down on soft 18 agaist a dealer's 2, and surrender hard
15, hard 17, and a pair of 8's against a dealer's ace.
For European Rules, (dealer does
not take a down card until players complete their hands and all player
double down and split bets are lost to a dealer blackjack) do not split or
double down against a dealer's ace, do not double down against a dealer 10,
and do not split a pair of 8's against a dealer's 10.
Using the information in the table, how would you play
this hand. You hold 2,2 and the dealer's upcard is a 6. Go across the top
and find the dealers 6 upcard. Go down the first column under Players Hand
and find 22. At the intersection of the row and column you'll find a P which
means you should split.
How about an, Ace,7 (soft 18) against dealers 3. The table
shows D/S. This means you should double down if they allow doubling on soft
hands. If the rules do not allow you do double on a soft hand, the you would
stand.
How about this hand: 2,3,Ace (soft 16) against dealers 5.
The table shows D/H. Since most casinos will not allow to double down on 3
or more cards you should hit.
The basic strategy in the table should be memorized. This
is not as difficult a task as your first think because you probably know
most of it already. You must be able to play each and every hand dealt to
you perfectly. Mistakes will cost you money so practice the basic strategy
and always use it when you play.
Card Counting....
Blackjack Basics....
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