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Blackjack Basic Strategy is a system of
blackjack play that eliminates the House
Edge. It is not really a matter of opinion,
the blackjack strategy was calculated by
probability theory to be the mathematically
correct play over the long run. That is, the
blackjack basic strategy will always give
you highest expected values. The only
reason to deviate from basic strategy is ifyou are counting the cards (i.e. using the high low count) but otherwise deviating from basic
strategy is only increasing the House Edge over the long run.
Insurance
When the dealer shows an ace and you are offered insurance, you generally shouldn't buy.
You are being offered 2 to 1 odds but true odds are around 9 to 4 or 2.25 to 1.
Player Totals
I have arranged the blackjack basic strategy into player total amounts followed by proper
play. I hope this is more intuitive than having a big table and charts. Hard totals are when the
player has no ace and soft totals are when the player has an ace.
Hard 21: Always stand
Soft 21 or a natural 21: Always stand
Hard 20: Always stand
Soft 20: Always stand
Pair of tens: Never split, always stand
Hard 19: Always stand
Soft 19: Always stand
Hard 18: Always stand.
Soft 18: Hit against nine, ten or ace. Stand against deuce, seven & eight. Double against a
trey through six. (If you can't double, stand).
Pair of nines: Split against everything except seven, ten or ace.
Hard 17: Always stand.
Soft 17: Hit against a deuce as well as seven through ace.
Double against a trey through six. (If you can't double, hit).
Hard 16: Hit versus seven through ace. (Surrender against an ace or ten if you can). Stand
versus deuce through six.
Soft 16: Double if you can against four through six. (Otherwise hit).
Pair of eights: Split against all upcards.
Hard 15: Hit versus seven through ace. (Surrender against ten if you can). Stand versus
deuce through six.
Soft 15: Double if you can against four, five or six.
Hard 14: Hit against seven through ace; otherwise stand.
Soft 14: Double against five or six; otherwise hit.
Pair of sevens: Split against deuce through seven.
Hard 13: Hit against seven through ace. Stand against deuce through six.
Soft 13: Double against five through six. Hit against everything else.
Hard 12: Stand versus four, five or six. Hit versus deuce, trey, seven, eight nine, ten or ace.
Pair of aces: Split versus all upcards.
Pair of sixes: Split versus four through six.
Hard 11: Double down against all upcards.
Hard 10: Double against everything except a ten or ace.
Pair of fives: Never split.
Hard 9: Double versus deuce through six.
Hard 8: Hit versus all upcards.
Pair of fours: Split versus five or six if you can double after
split; otherwise just hit.
Hard 7: Hit versus all upcards.
Hard 6: Always hit.
Pair of treys: Split versus four through seven.
Hard 5: Always hit.
Pair of deuces: Split versus four through seven.
Blackjack basic strategy is essentially a matter of practice. You need to have the basic strategy perfectly memorized before you can master more advanced blackjack strategies.
Online sites like 888.com are useful in this way, its much easier to practice your basic strategy at home instead of sitting at the casino with a piece of paper slowing down every hand with other players looking at you funny. Also, 888.com offers 100% bonus on your first deposit, so its definitely the smart way to make your first real money play.
Thanks for reading and good luck at the tables!!
webmaster@gamblershandbook.net
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