Basic Strategy Card
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BLACKJACK
WHAT IS THE CORRECT BLACKJACK BASIC STRATEGY?
There is only one correct basic strategy for this game given a set of established rules. However, since all casinos don’t offer the same rules the strategy can be slightly different from game to game. The number of decks used also affects the strategy slightly. A player should always play his hand using the applicable basic strategy chart unless he is card counting or has additional knowledge of the situation. Card counters often refer to basic strategy as the playing strategy for a neutral deck. As the count rises and falls the optimum playing strategy will also change. Check out our FAQfile for more important questions like this about blackjack.
The best way of learning though, is of course by understanding the rules of basic strategy. The left vertical column stands for value of your hand while the top horizontal row represents the dealer’s up card. You will find the correct solution by lining up the column (your.
MULTI-DECK | BASIC STRATEGY |
SINGLE DECK | DOUBLE DECK |
LATE SURRENDER | EARLY SURRENDER |
EXPOSED HOLE CARD | NO HOLE CARD |
BASIC STRATEGY HISTORY
- Basic Strategy is the most basic system that all Blackjack players must master in order to become a successful player. It provides the Player with the optimal way to play based on the Player’s Total verses the Dealer’s Upcard. The system has been developed over several years of.
- Blackjack Strategy Cards, Basic and Advanced We offer two different sets of the highest quality blackjack strategy cards. Our Blackjack Basic Strategy Cards provide perfectly optimized basic strategies for all the common rule variations, while our Blackjack Advanced Strategy Cards add optimal Hi-Lo card counting index numbers as well.
- The correct basic strategy is a proven winning system for the game of twenty-one. It is a strategy which maximizes the player’s expectation given only knowledge of the player’s hand and the dealer’s up-card.
The first scientific and mathematically sound attempts to devise a basic strategy were published by Roger Baldwin, et al in 1953. In 1962, Edward Thorp published his findings of an optimal blackjack strategy using a high-speed digital computer. Julian Braun continued this work and published what most players know today as the correct basic strategy of the game. Further refinements for single and double deck were made by Peter Griffin who published what is considered, by most professional players today, as the exact basic strategy of the game.
Although the majority of the playing strategies shown have been known for many years you may find differences of opinion on some of the finer points of play. Don’t labor over these fine points! Instead, you might even consider misplaying some of them to camouflage your play as a card counter.
Blackjack Basic Strategy Card Explained
For many years, Stanford Wong’s Basic Blackjack were the player’s best resources for the “correct” basic strategy for any number of decks and rules. These charts are organized by rule and rule variation. Players are advised to check the particular casino or casino area rules to determine which chart and possibly which portions of the charts are applicable.
Although casino rules can change overnight, players were often (prior to 2000) advised to compare rules with those of the Las Vegas Strip casinos. On the Strip you were often able to find games where you can double down on any two cards and in which the dealer stood of soft 17. In Downtown Las Vegas most casinos would have their dealers hit soft 17. In Reno, dealers generally hit soft 17 and you were usually allowed to double only on 10 or 11. Many of the larger casinos allowed doubling after splitting and some even offered late surrender. Be sure you understand all the rules and options available to you before you step inside a casino. In recent years, many casinos are now forcing 6:5 blackjack rules on the public. This is a terrible rule for the player as it adds about 1.39% more to the casino edge against you.
ORDER YOUR BASIC STRATEGY CARDS NOW!
INSURANCE, SIDE BETS AND BLACKJACK VARIATIONS
The basic strategy for the insurance decision is to never take insurance unless you are counting cards and know when to take this side bet. If you find a casino that offers a side bet(e.g., Royal Match, Over/Under 13, etc) you should not play any of these bets at any time — unless you have mastered a specific optimized count to overcome their usual high house edge . The basic strategy for Multiple-Action blackjack (and similar games) is the same as regular blackjack.
READING THE BASIC STRATEGY CHART(S)
- Dealer’s up-card is shown along the top of the chart.
- Player’s hand is shown vertically on the left side of the chart.
- Always hit hands less than 9 unless otherwise indicated.
- Always stand on A,9 or higher. Always treat 5,5 as a 10.
- If soft doubling is not allowed stand on A,7 Vs 2 – 8.
CORRECT BASIC STRATEGY (GENERIC)
This is a generic multi-deck strategy where the dealer stands on soft-17 and double after splits is allowed. Refer to the full charts on this page for all rule variations and fine points for single, double and multi-deck games. When trying to make a decision, first decide if surrendering is an option, then whether to split or double and finally whether you should hit or stand.
SURRENDER
Surrender hard 16 (but not 88 pair) vs dealer 9, 10 or Ace.
Surrender hard 15 vs dealer 10.
SPLIT
Always split Aces and 8s.
Never split 10s and 5s.
Split 2s and 3s vs dealer 4-7.
Split 4s vs dealer 5-6.
Split 6s vs dealer 2-6.
Split 7s vs dealer 2-7.
Split 9s vs dealer 2-6 and 8-9.
DOUBLE DOWN
Double hard 9 vs dealer 3-6.
Double hard 10 vs dealer 2-9.
Double hard 11 vs dealer 2-10.
Double soft 13 or 14 vs dealer 5-6.
Double soft 15 or 16 vs dealer 4-6.
Double soft 17 or 18 vs dealer 3-6.
HIT OR STAND
Stand on hard 12 vs dealer 4-6.
Stand on hard 13-16 vs dealer 2-6.
Stand on hard 17 or more.
Stand on soft 19 (A8) or more.
Hit hard 11 or less.
Hit soft 17 (A6) or less.
Hit soft 18 (A7) vs dealer 9, 10 and Ace.
IF DEALER HITS SOFT 17
Surrender 15, 88 and 17 vs dealer Ace.
Double 11 vs dealer Ace.
Double soft 18 (A7) vs dealer 2.
Double soft 19 (A8) vs dealer 6.
A PROVEN WINNING SYSTEM
The correct basic strategy is a proven winning system for the game of twenty-one. It is a strategy which maximizes the player’s expectation given only knowledge of the player’s hand and the dealer’s up-card. In the good old days when single deck was plentiful and rules were great, these non-counting strategies could actually give the player a small advantage. Today, casino managers are aware of the power of basic strategy and generally do not offer games that can be beaten off the top of the deck. However, players should keep their eyes open for promotional games which do surface from time to time!
Basic strategy is powerful! All card counters must master it before moving on to the fine art of card counting. Basic strategy is not difficult! A person with average intelligence can memorize it in just a few hours. Basic strategy is the way to play! Every time you make a play on a hunch or intuition and ignore the “correct” basic strategy play you increase the casino advantage against you.
For example, a pit boss witnessing a player standing on an A-7 versus a ten valued dealer up-card would generally consider this player a novice or an idiot. If you stand on this hand you will win it about 41% of the time. If you hit the hand you increase your chances to 43%. Why would anyone not hit this hand? You can’t bust (at least not initially) and you stand a good chance of improving it. But every time I play this game I witness players standing on A-7 vs 10 with the hope that the dealer doesn’t have a nine or ten in the hole. Don’t be an idiot! Trust in basic strategy and play it perfectly. Your bankroll will thank you for it.
OTHER GOOD RESOURCES
- Spanish 21 by Michael Shackleford
- Blackjack B.S. Engine by '>Ken Smith
- Ultimate Guide to Blackjack by Michael Shackleford
Copyright © 1994 – 2020 All Rights Reserved
Blackjack Review Network
FAQ 3: Portions of the above article were originally published as a Frequently Asked Question in Volume 4 Issue 4 of Blackjack Review Magazine
RETURN NEXT FAQ
« « BlackJackBasic Strategy is the most basic system that all Blackjack players must master in order to become a successful player. It provides the Player with the optimal way to play based on the Player’s Total verses the Dealer’s Upcard. The system has been developed over several years of research and computer simulation. The result is a true Perfect or Correct Strategy, a mathematical imperative of best choices over time.
In Basic Strategy all we are learning to do is make the best decisions based on the cards we have and what the Dealer is showing. The Basic Strategy is based on the rules of Classic Twenty One, or Classic Blackjack, as detailed by NZonlinecasinos.kiwi. There are many other variations of blackjack, especially at online casinos, so the strategy would need to be adapted if playing another type. Other online blackjack games can get quite complex, such as Multi Hand Atlantic City Blackjack Gold, which the experts at CasinoCanuck.ca have done a great job of outlining here.
We know that the Dealer always Draws on 16 and Stands on 17. So it should be a safe bet to follow that strategy ourselves. In a sense, this is exactly what we do in Basic Strategy. However, if the Dealer is only showing a “6” or less, we don’t have to bother reaching 17 or more because the Dealer is more likely to Bust than to stand. In this way we make decisions that have been shown to benefit the Player most of the time.
In order to know the Basic Strategy there are three things you must learn:
- Simple Strategy – 7 Rules for Social Play
- When to Double Down
- When to Split Pairs
The Simple Strategy - Seven Rules for Social Play
In order to learn Basic Strategy thoroughly, and become fluent in play, the best thing to do is learn the Simple Strategy first. These 7 rules are easy to master and you will apply them in almost 90% or your play. In other words, this is the mainstay of Basic Strategy. The rules for Doubling Down and Splitting Pairs are added to this strategy to extend the Player’s advantage slightly more but here is the core.
Below is a table that shows 7 simple rules based on the “Player’s Total” verses the “Dealer’s Upcard”. You can also download a one page PDF to use as a practice guide. In order to learn the Basic Strategy it is recommended that you practice by dealing yourself some cards, and making the decisions over and over again.
Simple Strategy; Seven Rules to help you Lose Less | ||
| Player Does | Verses | Dealer's Upcard |
| Stand on 13 | V's | 2 or 3 |
| Stand on 12 | V's | 4, 5 or 6 |
| Stand on 17 | V's | 7 or more |
| Double Down on 11 verses Dealer's 10 or less | ||
| Double Down on 10 verses Dealer's 9 or less | ||
| Always Split 8,8's | ||
| Always Split A,A's | ||
Perfect Basic Strategy Card
Dealer's Upcard 7 or Less
When the Dealer is showing a 6 or less, he has a better than even chance of busting. So, the Player can pretty much relax and leave the Dealer to self-destruct. The only thing to remember is that if that upcard is a 2 or a 3, we stand on 13, not 12.
Stand on 13 verses Dealers 2 or 3. Stand on 12 verses Dealer’s 4, 5 or 6.
Double Down
‘Double Down” is when the Player double’s his bet on the first two cards, and receives just one more card in exchange. For example, if the Player’s first two cards are 8 and 3, he has a Total of 11. If he Hits, and he will, he has a better chance of hitting twenty-one than any other Total, and a better than even chance of a Total greater than 17. If he doubles his bet, he doubles his most likely rewards. But remember, if that card is a 5 or a 6 for example, the Player cannot hit again. When you Double-Down, you only receive one additional card. In addition to doubling down there are other basic strategies that can be used in Blackjack.
Always Split 8's, Always Split Aces
With two eights and you’ve got a Total of 16. No one wants a total of 16. Split and Hit, you’ve got a better than even chance of arriving at a Total of 17 or more. Even when the Dealer is showing a “6” or less and 16 would be a comfortable Stand, split the pair and double your rewards for Dealer’s better than even chance of Busting. So, all the odds say “Split”.
Splitting Aces would seem good sense to anyone, and it is. When you split Aces you only receive one additional card for each Ace. You can’t Hit again. If either of those cards is a “10” it’s not a Blackjack and only pays the usual 1 to 1, not 1½ to 1 . A Blackjack only applies the Player’s first two cards. That’s why it’s also called a “natural”. You don’t get it for extras.
Mastering Basic Strategy
Basic Strategy is not something that you can learn by walking into a casino and trying it out. You need to practice. It’s got to be second nature. And the best way to practice is to take a deck of cards and deal out a hand of BlackJack in the following manner.
As you go through the deck, make all the decisions, to Hit, Stand, Double Down, or Split. Play the Dealer’s draw on 16 and Stand on 17.
You can also deal out practice plays like this. You will go through the cards faster, so you can always combine two or more decks.
DOWNLOAD PDF: BlackJack - Basic StrategyPerfect Blackjack Strategy
Once you have mastered these simple rules , you will have in place the basis of Basic Strategy. In order to master the complete strategy, there are two more areas of refinement to attend to. These are the rules for 'doubling down' and the rules for 'splitting pairs'. These do not alter the rules you have learnt above. They build and extend on them.
Rules for Doubling Down | ||
| Double Down On | Verses | Dealer's Upcard |
| 11 | V's | 2-10 |
| 10 | V's | 2-9 |
| 9 | V's | 3-6 |
| A6-A7 | V's | 3-6 |
| A4-A5 | V's | 4-6 |
| A2-A3 | V's | 5-6 |
Rules for Splitting Pairs | ||
| Split | Verses | Dealer's Upcard |
| A,A | V's | Any Card |
| 9,9 | V's | 2-9 but not 7 |
| 8,8 | V's | Any Card |
| 7,7 | V's | 2-7 |
| 6,6 | V's | 2-6 |
| 4,4 | V's | 5-6 |
| 3,3 | V's | 2-7 |
| 2,2 | V's | 2-7 |
Further Reading:
Ken Uston's Blackjack World - The Official Ken Uston Web Site
WikiPedia - Ken Uston