BlackJack and the Basic Strategy

The basic strategy of Blackjack is based on the simple mathematics of the game. When it is utilised correctly and followed perfectly the tactic reduces the house edge to the minimum, which is typically about one-half of a percent. Minor adjustments are made to basic strategy depending on certain rule variations of the particular game of Blackjack you are playing and that the different casinos can chose to use. For example some casinos will allow you to double down after splitting but at the same time, some casinos don’t support this play so make sure you know what type of style the casino plays when you join a game.

Every successful blackjack player has taken the time to study and eventually memorise the basic strategy chart. Most players start learning by referring to a basic strategy chart which you can see pasted below. The strategy chart shows you how to play your first two cards based on the dealers up card. It is a commonly known fact that the house achieves its edge by the fact that the player must act first. Since the basic strategy chart only deals with the first two cards, you will also need to learn what decisions to make after taking a hit.

Understanding the chart. To the rookie the chart can be a bit incomprehensible initially so to help we’re going to translate a couple of examples into good old fashioned English. If we take your first two cards, 5 and 3 that gives you a total of eight, where the chart suggests you hit. You get another 3 so now have 11, and your told to double but you can only do this on your first two cards so you need to hit again.

Playing Hard Hands. A hard hand is two starting cards that do not contain an ace.

If you have eight or less, always hit.
If you have Nine: Double if the dealer has 3 thru 6 – otherwise hit.
If you have Ten : Double if the dealer has 2 thru 9 – otherwise hit.
If you have Eleven: Double if the dealer has 2 thru 10, Hit if dealer has Ace.
If you have Twelve: Hit if the dealer has 2 or 3, Stand if the dealer has 4 thru 6, otherwise hit.
If you have 13- 16: Stand if the dealer has2 thru 6, otherwise hit.
If you have 17 – 21: Always Stand.

Playing Soft Hand. A soft hand is when one of your starting hands contains an ace.

If you have Ace 2 or Ace 3: Double if the dealer has 5 or 6 – otherwise hit.
If you have Ace 4 or Ace 5: Double if the dealer has 4 thru 6 – otherwise hit.
If you have Ace 6: Double if the dealer has 3 thru 6 – otherwise hit.
If you have Ace 7: Stand if the dealer has 2, 7 or 8. Double 3 -thru 6 – otherwise hit.
If you have Ace 8 or Ace 9: Always Stand.

Playing Pairs.

If you have a pair of Aces or Eights: Always split.
If you have a pair of twos or threes: Split if the dealer has 2 – 7, otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of fours: Split if the dealer has 5 or 6 – otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of fives: Double if the dealer has 2 thru 9 – otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of sixes: Split if the dealer has 2 thru 6 – otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of sevens: Split 2 thru 7 – otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of nines: Split 2 thru 6, and 8 or 9. Stand if the dealer has 7, 10 or Ace.
If you have a pair of tens: Always Stand.

Of course there’s a pantheon of multi-card options that we don’t have the time to cover here but hopefully the guidelines we’ve provided above can help you get started.

An Introduction to Blackjack

Blackjack, 21 or Pontoon as it is also known, is the most common casino game across the globe. The objective is simple: to get a total score of 21, or as close to 21 as possible.  To win, you must beat the dealer’s hand. Although there may be other players in the game, it is only the dealer you play against.

The number cards have their face value.  The jacks, queens and kings are worth 10 points and the ace can be 1 or 11, at the player’s choice.

There are a number of variations in how Blackjack is played.  For example, the 5 card trick (5 cards which total less than 21 and form the second best hand) applies in Pontoon and Spanish 21 is played without the number 10 cards.  However, the rules for most Blackjack are similar:

• place bets
• 2 cards (usually face up) are dealt to each player on the table
• the dealer receives 1 card face up and 1 card face down
• check for blackjacks
• each player then stands or receives more cards (hits)
• if the total goes over 21, the player has ‘busted’ and loses their bet
• if the total stays under 21 and they stop (stand or stick) and the total beats the dealer, that player wins

A blackjack means getting an ace and a 10 value card in the first deal. This is the highest hand. If the dealer has a blackjack, all players lose unless they too have a blackjack. If a player gets a blackjack, the dealer pays that player off immediately before continuing the rest of the hand with the other players.

After blackjacks, each player plays their hand in turn.  They may:

• hit or draw – take more cards, until they go bust, or stand
• stand or stick – take no more cards, keep the hand and wait for the dealer to show
• split – if they have a pair, they can split the cards into 2 hands (with another bet placed) and play out 2 hands

The dealer must take another card if their hand is 16 or less and stand if their hand is 17 or more, unless it’s soft, where different rules may apply.

Other common blackjack terms:

• soft/hard – when an ace is in the hand, the value can be either ace as 1 or ace as 11 – that’s known as soft.  So if the dealer has an ace and a 7, it’s a soft 17.  If they have a 10 value card and a 7, it’s hard.

• insurance – if the dealer’s face up card is an ace and the player thinks the face down card is a 10 value card (which would make a blackjack) the player may make a second bet to come out on even money terms if it is a blackjack
• double down – when a player doubles the original bet and in doing so, can accept only one more card
• surrender – a player forfeits half their bet and ends that particular game

Blackjack is a simple game to learn and there’s a Basic Blackjack Strategy you can follow, if you’re not sure how to play a hand.  It’s very popular, as it’s simple and an exciting combination of skill and chance.