IN BLACKJACK, START WITH A "BASIC STRATEGY"
by Charles Jay
Anyone who wants to conquer the game of blackjack has to have a game plan. In point of fact, so does
anyone who wants to just survive. It really isn't enough to merely sit there and play hunches; the house
advantage is bound to swallow up unskilled players in the long run.
With a higher level of skill, you are going to have a chance to do better in both blackjack and poker. What
makes blackjack betting quite a bit different from a game like poker is that it is "static" in the sense that you
are playing against the house, which has a inflexible set of rules it must play by, while poker is much more
"dynamic" in that your success, more often than not, is going to be a function of your ability in comparison to
the other players.
As the player, you can use either one of these paradigms to your advantage, but in blackjack you exploit it by
adopting a rather "mechanical" approach.
Even if you are not experienced at blackjack, you have heard about the concept of "card counting," through
which highly-skilled players might actually attain a long-term edge over the house. However, blackjack in the
online casino environment is not generally conducive to this, as the program requires a "random shuffle" of
the cards after each hand. This is not dissimilar to what some land-based casinos use with their automatic
shufflers.
Regardless of whether a skilled player is able to count cards or not, there is one technique that is operative in
any situation, in any blackjack game. This is called the "Basic Strategy," and it is most appropriately
capitalized because it is somewhat singular and specific, for there is only one that is applicable for any single
set of rules in a blackjack game.
Simply put, the Basic Strategy represents the mathematically optimum play for any player hand against any
dealer hand. In other words, it tells you what to do in every conceivable situation. There can be only one
"optimum" play. There is no "wiggle room" and there are no hunches that fit into this equation. The Basic
Strategy is without question for anything any player does in the game of blackjack.
if you are not going to count cards at blackjack, or are in an environment where it is not feasible, your best bet
is to learn the Basic Strategy to the extent that you can play it almost without thinking. the following is a Basic
Strategy that is applicable to what is perhaps the most common blackjack game, which is one played with
multiple decks and doubling down after splits (DDAS) allowed.
Blackjack -- Hitting-Standing Situations
With a hand of 5, 6, 7 or 8 against any dealer upcard, always hit
With a hand of nine, double when the dealer has an upcard of 3 through 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of ten, double when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 9, otherwise hit
With a hand of 11, double when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 10, otherwise hit
With a hand of 12, stand when the dealer has an upcard of 4, 5 or 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of 13 through 16, stand when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of 17 through 21, always stand
Blackjack -- Soft Doubling Situations
With a hand of A2 or A3, double when the dealer has an upcard of 5 or 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of A4 or A5, double when the dealer has an upcard of 4, 5 or 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of A6, double when the dealer has an upcard of 3 through 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of A7, double when the dealer has an upcard of 3 through 6, stand when the dealer has an
upcard of 2, 7 or 8, otherwise hit
With a hand of A8 or A9, always stand (an A10 is a two-card blackjack)
Blackjack -- Splitting Situations
With a pair of twos (2.2), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 7, otherwise hit
With a pair of threes (3.3), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 7, otherwise hit
With a pair of fours (4.4), split when the dealer has an upcard of 5 or 6, otherwise hit
With a pair of fives (5.5), do not split. Instead, double when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 9,
otherwise hit
With a pair of sixes (6.6), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 6, otherwise hit
With a pair of sevens (7,7), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 7, otherwise hit
With a pair of eights (8.8), always split
With a pair of nines (9.9), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 9 EXCEPT 7, otherwise stand
With a pair of tens (10,10, or face cards) always stand
With a pair of Aces (A,A), always split
Regarding insurance - if you are playing Basic Strategy, do not take it.
The only way you would ever vary from this Basic Strategy is in the case of a single-deck blackjack game, or
in the presence or absence of certain rules, for which there are subtle changes to be made.
This is the key; take the time to learn it and then sit back and watch yourself do better. Stop playing guessing
games!
Enjoy all your favorite casino games ‘round the clock at BetUS Casino!
by Charles Jay
Anyone who wants to conquer the game of blackjack has to have a game plan. In point of fact, so does
anyone who wants to just survive. It really isn't enough to merely sit there and play hunches; the house
advantage is bound to swallow up unskilled players in the long run.
With a higher level of skill, you are going to have a chance to do better in both blackjack and poker. What
makes blackjack betting quite a bit different from a game like poker is that it is "static" in the sense that you
are playing against the house, which has a inflexible set of rules it must play by, while poker is much more
"dynamic" in that your success, more often than not, is going to be a function of your ability in comparison to
the other players.
As the player, you can use either one of these paradigms to your advantage, but in blackjack you exploit it by
adopting a rather "mechanical" approach.
Even if you are not experienced at blackjack, you have heard about the concept of "card counting," through
which highly-skilled players might actually attain a long-term edge over the house. However, blackjack in the
online casino environment is not generally conducive to this, as the program requires a "random shuffle" of
the cards after each hand. This is not dissimilar to what some land-based casinos use with their automatic
shufflers.
Regardless of whether a skilled player is able to count cards or not, there is one technique that is operative in
any situation, in any blackjack game. This is called the "Basic Strategy," and it is most appropriately
capitalized because it is somewhat singular and specific, for there is only one that is applicable for any single
set of rules in a blackjack game.
Simply put, the Basic Strategy represents the mathematically optimum play for any player hand against any
dealer hand. In other words, it tells you what to do in every conceivable situation. There can be only one
"optimum" play. There is no "wiggle room" and there are no hunches that fit into this equation. The Basic
Strategy is without question for anything any player does in the game of blackjack.
if you are not going to count cards at blackjack, or are in an environment where it is not feasible, your best bet
is to learn the Basic Strategy to the extent that you can play it almost without thinking. the following is a Basic
Strategy that is applicable to what is perhaps the most common blackjack game, which is one played with
multiple decks and doubling down after splits (DDAS) allowed.
Blackjack -- Hitting-Standing Situations
With a hand of 5, 6, 7 or 8 against any dealer upcard, always hit
With a hand of nine, double when the dealer has an upcard of 3 through 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of ten, double when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 9, otherwise hit
With a hand of 11, double when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 10, otherwise hit
With a hand of 12, stand when the dealer has an upcard of 4, 5 or 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of 13 through 16, stand when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of 17 through 21, always stand
Blackjack -- Soft Doubling Situations
With a hand of A2 or A3, double when the dealer has an upcard of 5 or 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of A4 or A5, double when the dealer has an upcard of 4, 5 or 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of A6, double when the dealer has an upcard of 3 through 6, otherwise hit
With a hand of A7, double when the dealer has an upcard of 3 through 6, stand when the dealer has an
upcard of 2, 7 or 8, otherwise hit
With a hand of A8 or A9, always stand (an A10 is a two-card blackjack)
Blackjack -- Splitting Situations
With a pair of twos (2.2), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 7, otherwise hit
With a pair of threes (3.3), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 7, otherwise hit
With a pair of fours (4.4), split when the dealer has an upcard of 5 or 6, otherwise hit
With a pair of fives (5.5), do not split. Instead, double when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 9,
otherwise hit
With a pair of sixes (6.6), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 6, otherwise hit
With a pair of sevens (7,7), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 7, otherwise hit
With a pair of eights (8.8), always split
With a pair of nines (9.9), split when the dealer has an upcard of 2 through 9 EXCEPT 7, otherwise stand
With a pair of tens (10,10, or face cards) always stand
With a pair of Aces (A,A), always split
Regarding insurance - if you are playing Basic Strategy, do not take it.
The only way you would ever vary from this Basic Strategy is in the case of a single-deck blackjack game, or
in the presence or absence of certain rules, for which there are subtle changes to be made.
This is the key; take the time to learn it and then sit back and watch yourself do better. Stop playing guessing
games!
Enjoy all your favorite casino games ‘round the clock at BetUS Casino!