Basic Strategy For Blackjack

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Basic Strategy For Blackjack

Blackjack can be broken down to a mathematically-proven, superior way to play each hand called Basic Strategy that has been tested and refined through computer simulations based on the work of early pioneers like Dr. Edward O. Thorp. When followed correctly, basic strategy reduces the house edge to as little as half of one percent.

If you want to be successful at blackjack you need to learn basic strategy. Most players start learning by referring to a basic strategy chart. The strategy chart shows you how to play your first two cards based on the dealers up card. Referring back to beginning blackjack you know that the house gains 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.

Who Invented Basic Strategy For Blackjack

Translate the Chart

Blackjack Strategy Calculator. Our Blackjack Basic Strategy Calculator allows you to select the rules for your blackjack game and get a free custom-made blackjack strategy chart. As the strategy varies slightly based on these variables, you can use this calculator every time you try a new variant, or print out a version that fits your favourites. Basic strategy is not enough! We get emails from people all the time talking about how they downloaded our blackjack charts, took them to a casino, and won some money. That's great news for them, but it could have easily gone the other way. Basic strategy cannot overcome the house edge even if you get lucky with it from time to time.

The best way to do this is to translate the basic strategy chart into plain English that explains how to play each of your two-card starting hands.

For example, if your first two cards are and a 5 and a 3 you have a total of eight. The chart tells you to hit. You draw another 3, which gives you a total of eleven. The chart tells you to double on 11 but you can only double on your first two cards. Therefore, you must hit.

When we translate the strategy chart into plain English, we use the word 'otherwise' when dealing with situations that are different because of multiple cards. If we were to write out the example above it would be: If you have 11 - double, otherwise hit.

Here's how to play basic strategy when there are more than two cards involved written out in plain English.​

How to Play 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.

How to Play Soft Hands

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

Basic

Blackjack can be broken down to a mathematically-proven, superior way to play each hand called Basic Strategy that has been tested and refined through computer simulations based on the work of early pioneers like Dr. Edward O. Thorp. When followed correctly, basic strategy reduces the house edge to as little as half of one percent.

If you want to be successful at blackjack you need to learn basic strategy. Most players start learning by referring to a basic strategy chart. The strategy chart shows you how to play your first two cards based on the dealers up card. Referring back to beginning blackjack you know that the house gains 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.

Who Invented Basic Strategy For Blackjack

Translate the Chart

Blackjack Strategy Calculator. Our Blackjack Basic Strategy Calculator allows you to select the rules for your blackjack game and get a free custom-made blackjack strategy chart. As the strategy varies slightly based on these variables, you can use this calculator every time you try a new variant, or print out a version that fits your favourites. Basic strategy is not enough! We get emails from people all the time talking about how they downloaded our blackjack charts, took them to a casino, and won some money. That's great news for them, but it could have easily gone the other way. Basic strategy cannot overcome the house edge even if you get lucky with it from time to time.

The best way to do this is to translate the basic strategy chart into plain English that explains how to play each of your two-card starting hands.

For example, if your first two cards are and a 5 and a 3 you have a total of eight. The chart tells you to hit. You draw another 3, which gives you a total of eleven. The chart tells you to double on 11 but you can only double on your first two cards. Therefore, you must hit.

When we translate the strategy chart into plain English, we use the word 'otherwise' when dealing with situations that are different because of multiple cards. If we were to write out the example above it would be: If you have 11 - double, otherwise hit.

Here's how to play basic strategy when there are more than two cards involved written out in plain English.​

How to Play 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.

How to Play Soft Hands

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.

How to Play 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.

Translating the blackjack basic strategy chart into plain English makes it a lot easier to memorize. You can even make up flashcards to help you learn.

Basic blackjack strategy

The single most important thing that you need to understand about the game of blackjack is that it is a game of player decisions.

Unlike any other game in the casino, when playing blackjack your decisions can have an outcome on how the hand plays out and thus can contribute to the wins or losses of the players at the table. Because of this fact, there is a mathematically proven strategy that gives you the best advantage when playing, and this should be used every time you play if you want the best odds in the long run.

This strategy is known as basic strategy and is illustrated in the blackjack strategy chart shown below:

Blackjack Basic Strategy Engine

As you can see from the diagrams in the chart, basic strategy outlines exactly how you should optimally play when considering what you have been dealt in relation to the dealer's hand. Many new blackjack players make the mistake of going with gut feeling and being afraid to bust when they play, but using basic strategy every time is the best way to give yourself favorable odds during play.

Basic Strategy For Blackjack Chart

If you are familiar with casino games, you will know that the house has the advantage in every game in the casino, which is how they turn a profit. Blackjack is no exception, however is one of the lowest house edge games in the casino, which is why it's such a great game for players to learn and play.

Basic Strategy Card For Blackjack

The house edge in a typical blackjack game is around 0.50 percent when a player uses perfect basic strategy during play. This means that for every $100 you bet, the casino expects to win $0.50 from you over an infinite number of hands. The reason why basic strategy is so important is because if you take this same example of a $100 average bet and apply it to an unskilled player, the house advantage can go as high as 2.5 percent or more, meaning that the house would expect to win $2.50 or more over time.

Blackjack Rules Printable

Because of this, it's easy to see why playing with basic strategy is the best choice for players each and every time.





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