Learning Basic Strategy
Basic Strategy is the guide for playing Blackjack. It is the foundation of proper play. So
many people play the game, yet have never even looked at a Basic Strategy table.
They play by hunch, or they try to never bust, or they try to get 17 or better on every
hand. The casinos love these players. They're going to hate you because you are
going to be one of the best players they come up against.
When you play a perfect Basic Strategy, the casino edge in a six deck game is about
0.6%. This means, on average, for every $1000.00 in action, you will lose $6.00. You
can see that it would not take much for you to tip the scales to your advantage. If you
are betting a progression, and win an extra $10.00 on a doubled up bet, you have
shifted the 0.6% casino advantage to a 0.4 % player advantage. If you are counting
cards and win a big bet because of a +4 count, you have shifted the edge to your side.
However, if you play a poor basic strategy, the house might have a 5% edge on you.
The Basic Strategy is FUNDAMENTAL. But how can one learn such a huge table?
An old country boy friend of mine often says you can eat a whole hog with a fork. You
just eat one bite at a time.. Translated, I think this means you can accomplish a large,
daunting task by breaking it down into small achievable tasks, and learning them one
task at a time. So, let's eat this hog.
Hard Standing and Hitting
The place to start is with hard standing and hitting numbers: 8 or less, 9 through 16,
and 17 through 20. With 8 or less, you always hit versus any dealer up card. With 17
through 20, you always stand against any dealer up card. With 9 through 11, you
have a possible double down - discussed later- but you will hit or double down on
these. Think about it: no card you receive can bust you, so you have a safe hit.
The remaining hard hands with totals of 12 through 16 are stiff hands. They aren't
good enough to win, but if you hit them, you may bust. Your action is based on the
dealer up card. Why would you risk busting your hand, and automatically losing, when
there is a chance the dealer will bust. If the dealer has a stiff card, 2 through 6 up,
he/she will have to draw a card or two. There is a good chance the dealer will bust.
When you have a high chance of busting if you draw, and the dealer has a high chance
of busting, then to stand is the right move. Therefore:
Stand on your 12 - 16 vs dealer 2 - 6 up card
There are two exceptions, and they could go either way because they are close calls.
They are to hit 12 vs dealer 2 or 3 up. Some professional gamblers don't hit these,
hoping for a dealer bust, but, statistically, it is to your advantage to hit these two.
When you have a 12 - 16 and the dealer shows a 7 through Ace up card, you must hit
all of these. Should you stand, you have a low probability of winning. If you hit, you
have a high probability of busting, but there is a chance you can turn your stiff into a
winning hand. So, your best move is to hit. Therefore:
Hit 12 - 16 vs dealer 7 - Ace up card
You have been dealt lemons, and you are trying to make lemonade.
Hard Doubling Down
When you are dealt a hard 9, 10, or 11, you may have an opportunity to double down.
Look at the Basic Strategy card above. If you have an 11 or 10, these are GREAT
double down hands. To remember when to double down with these, simply subtract 1
from them and this will tell you when to double down. 11 minus 1 equals 10.
Therefore, double down on 10 or less. In single deck Blackjack, you can double down
on anything with 11, but any multi-deck game calls for doubling only against 10 or less.
10 minus 1 equals 9, so you double down on 10 vs dealer 9 or less up card.
The 9 is weaker so you double down against the dealer weak cards - 3-6 up cards.
The dealer 2 is strong, and so are the 7-Ace, so the 9 is limited to doubling against the
dealer 3 - 6.
Soft Doubling Down and other Soft Hands
If the casino allows, you may be able to double down on soft hands as well as hard
ones. Soft hands aren't as common, and are weak. So, just as with the weak 9, soft
hands will only double against the weak dealer up cards , 3 - 6 up. Soft hands cannot
bust due to the dual value of the Ace, but often you can hit a soft hand and actually
make it worse. However, you never stand on Ace - 2 through Ace - 6. You ALWAYS hit
or double down.
You only double Ace - 2 against the dealer 6 up. Some strategies allow doubling
against the dealer 5 up, but I found it to be less profitable. However, Ace - 3 can be
doubled against both dealer 5 or 6 up. Ace - 4 and Ace - 5 are identical - you may
double down against a dealer 4, 5, or 6 up. Ace - 6 and Ace - 7 also are the same -
double down against the dealer up cards 3, 4, 5, and 6. If the dealer up card isn't one
of these, you still hit Ace - 2 through Ace - 6. Now Ace - 7 is the hardest to remember,
and you may have to just memorize it. Ace - 7 stands vs dealer 2, 7 and 8. The logic
for standing against the dealer 7 and 8 is easily understood. You have 18 and with
the dealer having a 7 up, he/she will often have a 17, so, you win. With a dealer 8 up
card, he/she will often have an 18 and you have a push. Not only is it logical, but
when the billions of simulations were run, these were the most profitable moves as
well. All that's left is the Ace - 7 vs dealer 9, 10, and Ace. You have to hit the lowly 18
in an effort to improve it.
Look back at the Basic Strategy, and you will see a sort of stair step appearance of the
double downs. By visualizing the stairs, I can remember the double downs. This may
be of help to you.
To conclude this section on soft hands, look at the Ace - 8 and Ace - 9. As you can see,
you always stand on these two. A 19 and 20 are very strong, and were you to hit
them, you have a good chance of worsening your hand. So, always stand on these
two hands.
Pairs
The final section to learn is pairs. This group has some set in stone rules. They are:
1) Always split Aces and Eights.
2) Never split 4s, 5s, and 10s.
3) Split 2s and 3s against a dealer 4,5, or 6 up. Otherwise, hit.
4) Split 6s vs dealer 6 or less.
5) Split 7s vs dealer 7 or less.
6) Split 9s vs dealer 9 or less, with one exception - Stand vs dealer 7.
Now let's quickly look at the logic behind these moves.
Why would we split Aces? Because two Aces are a total of 12, you have a stiff. By
splitting them, you have a chance to draw a pair of tens and win two hands. You
might only win one of two, so you have a push. Either way, it's better than a 12,
I don't split 4s because if I draw a 10 or Ace to an 8, I have a pretty good hand.
Two 5s total to 10, and this is a great double down hand. So you still double your
wager, but with a much better starting hand.
Possibly the stupidest move in non-tournament Blackjack is to split 10s. I've seen it
done, and it makes you want to slap the guy silly. You just have to grit your teeth in
silence. It's not your money, and thank God, its not your relative.
The last logic her is standing on 9 - 9 vs dealer 7 up. Of course the assumption is the
dealer has 17, and quite often he/she does. So you have 18. Why split them and risk
not winning. The most profitable move is to stand, and hope for the best.
I hope this helps you to more easily learn Basic Strategy. It is a large hog, but take a
fork and eat it, one bite at a time.
