What follows here is the Blackjack Players Bible. Read
it. Learn it by heart so you never have to think when you
are playing!
In every card game, especially when playing for money,
the most important thing to learn is the basic strategy.
In Blackjack, basic strategy was created by simulating
millions of blackjack han ds. One of the first blackjack
simulations was done by Julian Braun of IBM.
The computer simulations showed the mathematical probabilities
of beating the dealer or improving the blackjack hand by
certain playing strategies. In other words, there is a
specific action for such as hit, split, double-down, etc.
for all possible card combinations.
In the long run, nearly all basic strategy rules are certain
and the exact nature of mathematical science dictates that
a particular playing decision, based on the player's cards
and the dealer's exposed card, will yield an outcome after
millions of hands of play that is quite predictable.
Blackjack players must learn these basic strategies, and
by using it, the player will eliminate the usual five percent
advantage the casino has over the unskilled player. Using
basic strategy will reduce the house advantage to only
about 0.5 percent. That is less than a 1 percent disadvantage
to the player. This is what makes Blackjack one of the
most sure-win and profitable games to play in a casino.
Of course the basic strategy will vary in accordance with
the playing conditions in a particular game. Things like
the number of decks that are in the shoe will affect the
outcome. Below are listed the basic strategy rules for
single deck games and for multiple deck shoes. A player
must play exactly as is listed. A player should never alter
his playing strategy based on some hunch that he may have,
or by a superstition or imaginary idea that he will always
lose when he splits nines for example. He may think that
he loses more often than he wins playing certain basic
strategies, but this is not the case in the long run. The
only time a player should depart from the basic strategy
is where he is counting cards. This is explained in detail
under the card counting sections. Players must remember
that even the most skilled card counters still use basic
strategy for the majority of their playing decisions.
Players are urged to study the rules below and practice
them until they become automatic responses to the cards
you are dealt. One can buy inexpensive blackjack games
for your home computer and several shareware programs are
freely available from the internet. The best commercial
version is one called ‘Play to Win’ by Wizard Works and
it is available at all major computer software supply stores.
This particular game also has a coaching option where it
will give hints, based on basic strategy, on the decisions
which have to be made. So much so, that if a wrong decision
is made a dialog box pops up and suggests the proper playing
decision. One can also play online for free on www.blackjackcenter.info .
This will open a new window allowing ALT-TAB back to Blackjack
Center in order to look at the basic strategy rules listed
below. Whatever is used for practicing, whether it is a
computer blackjack game or simply a deck of cards, the
basic strategy must be learned and used in order to be
a consistent winner at the blackjack tables.
The charts below are self explanatory. The left hand column
is the total of the cards in the player’s (your) hand and
the right hand column shows the correct playing strategy
based on the dealers face-up card.
SINGLE DECK - BASIC STRATEGY Your Hand vs
Dealer's Upcard 8 Double on 5 to 6. Otherwise hit.
9 Double on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. 10 Double on 2 to 9. Otherwise
hit. 11 Always double. 12 Stand on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit.
13 to 16 Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. 17 to 21 Always
stand. A, 2 to A, 5 Double on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit. A, 6
Double on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. A, 7 Double on 3 to 6. Stand
on 2,7,8 or A. Hit on 9 or 10. A, 8 Double on 6. Otherwise
stand. A, 9 Always stand. A, A Always split. 2, 2 Split on
3 to 7. Otherwise hit. 3, 3 Split on 4 to 7. Otherwise hit.
4, 4 Same as 8 above. 5, 5 Same as 10 above. 6, 6 Split on
2 to 6. Otherwise hit. 7, 7 Split on 2 to 7. Stand on 10.
Otherwise hit. 8, 8 Always split. 9, 9 Split on 2 to 9 except
7. Stand on 7,10 or A. 10, 10 Always stand. The above
chart assumes the casino doesn't allow doubling down after
splitting a pair. If the casino does allow doubling down
after splitting a pair then use the following pair splitting
rules. Your Hand vs Dealer's Upcard 2, 2 Split
on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit. 3, 3 Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise
hit. 4, 4 Split on 4, 5 or 6. Otherwise hit. 6, 6 Split on
2 to 7. Otherwise hit. 7, 7 Split on 2 to 8. Stand on 10.
Otherwise hit.
FOUR, SIX, EIGHT DECK - BASIC STRATEGY
Your Hand vs Dealer's Upcard
5 to 8 Always Hit.
9 Double on 3 to 6. Otherwise hit.
10 Double on 2 to 9. Hit on 10, A.
11 Double on 2 to 10. Hit on A.
12 Stand on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit.
13 Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
14 Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
15 Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
16 Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
17 Always stand.
18 Always stand.
A, 2 Double on 5, 6. Otherwise hit.
A, 3 Double on 5, 6. Otherwise hit.
A, 4 Double on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit.
A, 5 Double on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit.
A, 6 Double on 3 to 6. Otherwise hit.
A, 7 Double on 3 to 6. Stand on 2, 7 or 8. Hit on 9, 10 or A.
A, 8 to A, 10 Always stand.
A, A Always split.
2, 2 Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit.
3, 3 Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit.
4, 4 Split on 5,6. Otherwise hit.
5, 5 Never split. Treat as 10 above.
6, 6 Split on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.
7, 7 Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit.
8, 8 Always split.
9, 9 Split on 2 to 6, 8 or 9. Stand on 7, 10, or A.
10, 10 Always stand.
The above multiple deck basic strategy is valid if the players are allowed
to double down after splitting a pair. If doubling down is not allowed after
splitting a pair, then use the following pair splitting rules.
Your Hand vs Dealer's Upcard
2, 2 Split on 4 to 7.Otherwise hit.
3, 3 Split on 4 to 7. Otherwise hit.
4, 4 Never split. Always hit.
6, 6 Split on 3 to 6. Otherwise hit.
