Basic Blackjack Strategy

The reason to learn a Basic Blackjack Strategy is to reduce the house’s edge as much as possible. By learning the Basic Blackjack Strategy on when to Hit and when to Stand the game becomes much easier to win. Depending on the rules of blackjack being played, it is important to go in with a Basic Blackjack Strategy that will work no matter what rules are at the table of play.

Why Should I Understand a Basic Blackjack Strategy?

Just as if someone were taking an examination for a class, they wouldn’t walk in the class on test day not having studied, and expect to do well. The same approach applies to Basic Blackjack Strategy. The more a player understands about how the game works, the better the odds will be in any situation within the game. The player will be in a better position to succeed and win more money. The house is already at an advantage by making the player go first before the dealer does anything, so the goal is to get the odds as square as possible, and then institute the basic blackjack strategy to maximize the player’s opportunities to win the hands he or she is playing.

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Blackjack Strategy Chart

Simply stated, it is easier to understand instructions when they are written in plain English that are short, concise and to the point than it is trying to understand a mathematical chart. This is one of the first concepts in developing and implementing a basic blackjack strategy. For example, if the first two cards a player is dealt are a three and a five, that would add up to an eight. The mathematical chart would recommend the player to hit. Say the next card dealt is another three, with the cards totaling eleven. At this point, the player following the mathematical chart would be inclined to double on the eleven sitting in front of him, but he can’t. Why? He could only double on the first two cards he was dealt, so now the player is forced to hit. A much simpler explanation to these instructions would look something like: If the player has an eleven, if not, hit. These instructions are much easier to keep in mind than trying to translate a chart in developing a player’s Basic Blackjack Strategy.

Basic strategy for Playing Hard Hands in Blackjack

Developing a basic strategy is pretty straight forward. A hard hand is defined as being dealt two cards to begin, with neither card being an ace or with an ace only being valued at 1 is also defined as a Hard Hand in that it can only be given one value. This is different than a soft hand where the ace can be valued as a 11 or 1. The following are examples of how to properly play hard hands using a basic strategy:

  • Possessing any combination of cards that add up to seventeen (17) through twenty-one (21) – Always Stand
  • If you were dealt an eleven (11) and the dealer has a two through ten (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q or a K) showing – Double your bet
  • If you were dealt an eleven (11) and the dealer has an Ace (A) – Hit
  • If you were dealt a ten (10) and the dealer has two through nine (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) – Double your bet
  • If you were dealt a ten (10) and the dealer has ten through King (10, J, Q, K) – Hit
  • If you were dealt a nine or less (9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2) – Always hit.

Advanced Blackjack Strategy Information

Basic strategy for Playing Soft Hands in Blackjack

When one of the beginning cards a player is dealt contains an ace, this is what is called a soft hand. Knowing how to play soft hands are part of any basic strategy to winning consistently in blackjack. Some examples of this include:

  • If you were dealt an Ace-eight (A, 8) or Ace-nine (A, 9) no matter what the dealer was dealt – Always stand
  • If you were dealt an Ace-six (A, 6), and the dealer has a three through six (3, 4, 5 or 6)  showing – Double your bet
  • If you were dealt an Ace-six (A, 6), and the dealer has anything higher than a seven (7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q or K) –  Hit

Basic Strategy for Playing Pairs in Blackjack

To succeed playing pairs, the rule is to split. Some examples of playing pairs well include:

  • If you are dealt a pair of tens (10, 10) –  always stand.
  • If you are dealt a pair of aces (A, A), a pair of eights (8, 8) or a pair of nines (9, 9) – Split the pair
  • If you are dealt any other pairs (2, 2) (3, 3) (4, 4) (5, 5 see exception below) (6, 6) (7, 7) – Hit without splitting
  • If you are dealt a pair of fives (5, 5) and the dealer has a two through a nine (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) – Double your bet

Also check out:

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