Basic Blackjack Strategy

We all know that the object of the game of Blackjack is for the player to get a hand totaling 21 points, or as close to that total as he can, while beating the dealer's hand. Pro players insist that the mathematics of the game allow for strategizing to the player's advantage. And Basic Blackjack Strategy is based on these mathematical calculations which have been tested through computer simulations.

This is a system where your play or bet is determined by the first two cards you are dealt and the dealer's face up card. Most explanations of the Basic Strategy show you charts which I find difficult to deal with and decipher. I will try to explain a bit without using any charts.

The strategy uses the terms "hard hands" and "soft hands".

How to Play a Hard Hand in Blackjack

A hard hand is when you are dealt the first two cards without an ace. You should play as follows:

• With a total of eight or less, always "hit" (draw another card.
  
• With nine, "double" if the dealer has 3 thru 6, otherwise hit.
  
• With ten, double if the dealer has 2 thru 9, otherwise hit.
  
• With eleven, double if the dealer has 2 thru 10, hit if the dealer has an Ace.
  
• With twelve, hit if the dealer has 2 or 3, stand if the dealer has 4 thru 6, otherwise hit.
  
• With 13-16, stand if the dealer has 2 thru 6, otherwise hit.
  
• With 17-21, always stand.

How to Play a Soft Hand in Blackjack

A soft hand is when one of your first two cards is an Ace. With a soft hand, play as follows:

• With an Ace + 2, double if the dealer as 5 or 6, otherwise hit.
  
• With an Ace + 4 or 5, double if the dealer has 4 thru 6, otherwise hit.
  
• With an Ace + 6, double if the dealer has 3 thru 6, otherwise hit.
  
• With an Ace + 7, stand if the dealer has 2, 7 or 8, double if he has 3 thru 6, otherwise hit.
  
• With an Ace + 8 or 9, always stand.
  

Practice Makes Perfect with Blackjack Strategy

These rules need to be memorized and then practiced until they are pretty much second nature when you play. You will find that many players make use of the Basic Strategy because then they don't have to worry about the distribution of the cards or what cards are left in the deck.

There are other strategies such as card counting and "shuffle tracking", but these strategies are much more difficult and complicated. You have to have a wonderful memory to know what cards have been played and whether or not the deck is still "rich" in high or low cards.

Blackjack is not a guessing game and does not depend as much on the "luck of the cards" as many other table games. It does require a lot of thought and strategizing.

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