Blackjack Basic Strategy And Tips

Blackjack is a game with a house edge that can reach up to 1.5% as the game is played against the house. It is best to apply a basic blackjack strategy as you are playing against this edge. If used right, it can help increase your chances of winning at blackjack. The extent to which a strategy can be applied is based on the rules at each casino. For instance, one casino might permit players to double down after splitting, but another might not.

Also, changes are sometimes made to the basic strategy used in multiple and single deck blackjack. A basic blackjack strategy that a beginner should learn is – how to read a strategy chart. This will inform the player on how the first two cards should be played in relation to the dealer’s up card.

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As a strategy chart can only provide information on how the player should handle the game in terms of the first two cards, players will have to adopt an additional strategy of simplifying the chart to know what to do after having taken a hit.

Simplify the basic chart

To understand how to play blackjack with more than two cards, simplify the instructions on the basic chart. For instance, you may have 5 and 3 as your first two cards – making a sum of eight. The chart will indicate that it is ideal to hit, and you do so. Next, you draw a 3 that takes your total to 11. The chart will then indicate that you should double on this total, however, you can do so only on the first two cards. So, you will have to opt to hit. When you simplify the chart, the instructions on it will become, ‘when you have an 11 you should double, or else hit’.

These simplifications can be applied to the two types of hands – hard hands and soft hands:

Hard hands

When you have a hard hand, you will typically hold two starting cards sans an ace. With an 8 or lower, always opt to hit. Double, if you hold a hand of 9 when the dealer has a 3, 4, 5 or 6 – if not, hit. Double if your hand has 10 and the dealer has from 2 to 9 – if not, hit. Double if you hold 11 and the dealer hold between 2 and 10. On the other hand, hit if the dealer has an ace. Also hit if the dealer holds a 2 or 3 when you hold a 12. Stand if you have the same hand, but the dealer holds between 4 and 6. Hit if the dealer has a hand other than a 4, 5 or 6. Stand if you hold 13 to 16 and the dealer holds 2 to 6 – if not, hit. Always stand when you have over 17.

Soft hands

A starting hand that has an ace is a soft hand. A simplified chart will indicate that it is best to double when the dealer holds a 6 or 5 and you hold an ace 3 or 2 – if not, hit. Double when the dealer holds a 4, 5 or 6 and you have an ace 5 or 4 – if not, hit. Only double when the dealer holds 3, 4, 5 or 6 and you hold an ace 6 – if not hit. When the dealer holds 3, 4, 5 or 6 when you hold an ace 7 double, or else stand if the dealer holds an 8, a 7 or 2 – if not, hit.