Blackjack Playing Strategy
As a blackjack player you must learn at least the basic strategy.
Basic strategy represents the proper way to play when you take into consideration only your hand and the dealer's upcard. Different playing conditions require different playing strategies. The strategy described here applies to single deck games when a dealer stands on soft 17 and double down on any two cards is allowed.
Hard hands
- Stand on the following hands:
12-16 | only if dealer's upcard is lower than 7
17-21 | dealer's upcard doesn't matter
- Double down
9 | only if dealer's upcard is lower than 7
10-11| only if dealer's upcard is lower than your total
- Surrender
16 | only if dealer's upcard is 9 or higher
15 | only if dealer's upcard is 10
- Hit all other hands.
- Hit if you are not allowed to double or surrender.
Soft hands
- Stand on the following hands:
A8-A10 | dealer's upcard doesn't matter
- Double down
A2-A5 | only if dealer's upcard is 4, 5 or 6
A6-A7 | only if dealer's upcard is lower than 7
- Hit all other hands.
- Hit if you are not allowed to double after splitting.
Pairs
- Split
22, 33 | only if dealer's upcard is 4, 5, 6 or 7
66, 77 | only if dealer's upcard is lower than 7
88, AA | dealer's upcard doesn't matter
99 | only if dealer's upcard is lower than 10
- Stand
99 | only if dealer's upcard is 10 or ace
XX | dealer's upcard doesn't matter
- Double down
44 | only if dealer's upcard is 5 or 6
55 | only if dealer's upcard is lower than 10
- Hit all other hands (don't ever split them).
- Hit if you are not allowed to double after splitting.
Avoid making side bets
Don't take insurance bets unless you know for sure the dealer is likely to have a blackjack. You can determine this probability only by counting cards. If you are not a card counter don't ever make insurance bets. The other side bets are always bad bets. The casinos have implemented these bets with one purpose only: to make you lose more money. Betting on whether or not your initial hand has a total of 13 or more is the perfect example of such a gimmick bet.
Despite the large number of blackjack variations, many of these favor the house and not the player. You have to analyze the playing conditions, avoid making certain bets and manage your money properly if you want to take advantage of the favorable variations of the game.
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