BlackJack Strategy  Home > >  Games Guide > >  Lesson 1: Basic strategy Basic strategy Lesson 1: Basic strategy Winning in blackjack is possible when the player is using so called basic strategy, in other words, the correct strategy throughout the game. The "correct" means that every decision to hit, stand, or split are based on mathematics of the game. There is no place for intuition nor some inklings here – you have to make use of mathematical calculations. REMEMBER THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE CORRECT SOLUTION Just keep in mind that even if you have split your hand of two aces 10 times against the dealer's 10 up and you have lost each time, you have no choice but to keep splitting. Over a long run it will benefit you and save you a lot of money. You have to be consistent in your game and that consitency is very important if you seriously think about winning money. Blackjack is one of those games where the consistency is of a paramount importance. The only reason why people play in the casino is of course to win money. Don't let it bother you when some say that this sort of game is not exciting. This is just plain wrong – it is exciting because it's profitable! The basic strategy varies and it depends on the rules that a particular casino adopted for this game. Different is the basic startegy in casinos using the so called " Las Vegas Strip – one deck", and yet differnet in casinos using " Atlantic City – 6 deck". The basic strategy descibed here is for the most common rules used by casinos: 6 deck, DA2 (double down on any first two cards), DAS (double after split), the dealer stands on the soft A-6. Basic Strategy: 6 Decks, S17, DA2, DAS, No Surrender Splitting pairs Pairs 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A (A,A) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (T,T) N N N N N N N N N N (9,9) Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y N N (8,8) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (7,7) Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N (6,6) Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N (5,5) N N N N N N N N N N (4,4) N N N Y Y N N N N N (3,3) Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N (2,2) Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N Y - Yes, split the pairs No - No, don't split the pairs Soft totals Soft Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A (A,9) S S S S S S S S S S (A,8) S S S S S S S S S S (A,7) S Ds Ds Ds Ds S S H H H (A,6) H D D D D H H H H H (A,5) H H D D D H H H H H (A,4) H H D D D H H H H H (A,3) H H H D D H H H H H (A,2) H H H D D H H H H H H - hit S - stand D - Double if unable Hit Ds. - Double if unable Stand Hard Totals Hard Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A 17 S S S S S S S S S S 16 S S S S S H H H H H 15 S S S S S H H H 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 D D D D D D D D H 10 D D D D D D D D H H 9 H D D D D H H H H H 8 H H H H H H H H H H H - Hit S - Stand D - Double, if unable - Hit The greatest advatage of the internet-based casino is that you may print the chart and put it in front of you on a pad or clipboard, for instance, one bought from Media Markt computer store which, form my own experience I can attest to the fact, comes very handy. As a bonus I may also reveal that I've been personally using for some time now a clothes pin to attach my clipboard to the monitor :). The clipboard with the chart in front makes sure that even if you don't know how to behave in certain situations, or you don't remember the basic strategy rule, you can refer to it and proceed accordingly! In the off-line casinos you will never be allowed to use the chart, or even to take notes of the cards being played. It is amazing that at the roulette table the player can write down the numbers that have been drawn... casinos are affraid of players who count cards in blackjack. Futher down these pages we will make you understand how to behave in different situations. Look at the chart below – the player received the total of 9, the correct action is to double down if the dealer's face-up card is 3,4,5, or 6. In other situations the proper action is to hit (draw a card). For (A - 8 and A - 9 , so called "soft") - always stand. We hope that this is understood. Player's Hand   Decisions 5 thru 8   Always Hit 9   Double 3 thru 6, o/w hit 10   Double 2 thru 9, o/w hit 11   Double 2 thru 10, o/w hit 12   Stand 4 thru 6, o/w Hit 13 thru 16   Stand 2 thru 6, o/w Hit 17 or higher   Always Stand A,2   Double vs 5&6, o/w Hit A,3   Double vs 5&6, o/w Hit A,4   Double vs 4 thru 6, o/w Hit A,5   Double vs 4 thru 6, o/w Hit A,6   Double vs 3 thru 6, o/w Hit A,7   Double 3 thru 6, Stand vs 2,7,8 Hit vs 9,10, A A,8-A,9   Always Stand 2,2   Split 2 thru 7, o/w Hit 3,3   Split 2 thru 7, o/w Hit 4,4   Split vs 5 & 6, o/w Hit 5,5   Never Split, treat as "10" 6,6   Split 2 thru 6, o/w Hit 7,7   Split 2 thru 7, o/w Hit 8,8   Always split 9,9   Split 2 thru 9 except 7; o/w Stand 10,10   Never Split A,A   Always Split The strategy described here is appropriate for the specific rules mentioned above. For different rules you will have to use a basic strategy generator to generate a chart. If you have already done so, the good way to memorize the chart is to make little cuecards (especially useful for those who want to try their luch in a real off-line casino). On one side you can write the total of your first two cards and on the other the action to be taken according to the basic strategy rules depending on the dealer hand. For instance, Face - A,A Reverse – always split. see lesson 2: See also: Blackjack Lesson 2 Black Jack Basic Strategy Blackjack Switch Caribbean Stud Poker Casino Solitaire Rules