BlackjackWho loves ya’ baby? Yeah, that’s right - The Man Does! So, being a fan of Casino games it’s only fitting that the first one I share would be the king of all casino games (in my opinion), Blackjack!

Not only can you play it right here (skip to it already), but I’m going to teach you how! (You did see my previous Gambling Tips, right?)

I know that many people already know the rules, but for those of you that do not, here is a short summary of the game’s options. You can:

  • Hit: Take another card.
  • Stand: Take no more cards.
  • Double down: Double the wager, take exactly one more card, and then stand.
  • Split: Double the wager and have each card be the first card in a new hand. This option is available only when you have matching cards.
  • Surrender: Forfeit half the bet and give up the hand. You only have this option when the dealer has an Ace showing.

Basic Strategy

Because the game has strict rules as well as a finite number of cards, mathematicians have run massive computer simulations and devised a strategy that has the highest probability of winning, given a certain set of rules and a certain number of card decks. This is commonly referred to as “Basic Strategy” in Blackjack. It can also be combined with card counting in order to give the player a greater likelihood of success, but you need to be very proficient at math and you need lots of practice to master it.

The following is a basic strategy for these assumptions:

  • when the dealer is using 3 or more decks
  • the dealer “stands on soft 17″
  • you can double on any 2 cards
  • double after split allowed
  • dealer peeks for blackjack
  • blackjack pays 3:2

One Man’s Blog - Basic Blackjack Strategy

Your hand Dealer’s face-up card
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
Hard totals
17-20 S S S S S S S S S S
16 S S S S S H H U U U
15 S S S S S H H H U H
13-14 S S S S S H H H H H
12 H H S S S H H H H H
11 D D D D D D D D D H
10 D D D D D D D D H H
9 H D D D D H H H H H
5-8 H H H H H H H H H H
Your hand Dealer’s face-up card
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
Soft totals (You Have an Ace)
A,8 A,9 S S S S S S S S S S
A,7 S Ds Ds Ds Ds S S H H H
A,6 H D D D D H H H H H
A,4 A,5 H H D D D H H H H H
A,2 A,3 H H H D D H H H H H
Your hand Dealer’s face-up card
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
Pairs
A,A P P P P P P P P P P
10,10 S S S S S S S S S S
9,9 P P P P P S P P S S
8,8 P P P P P P P P P P
7,7 P P P P P P H H H H
6,6 P P P P P H H H H H
5,5 D D D D D D D D H H
4,4 H H H P P H H H H H
2,2 3,3 P P P P P P H H H H

Key:

S = Stand | H = Hit | P = Split | U = Surrender (if not allowed, then hit)
D = Double (if not allowed then hit) | Ds = Double (if not allowed then stand)

Blackjack Basic Strategy Pocket ReferenceNow, if you’ve got all that then you’re ready for some hot Blackjack action! So, get on with it will ya? And if you forget what to do just scroll up the page and check the chart. Oh, and by the way the Casinos in Vegas will let you take this chart in with you, so if you want feel free to print it out before you go.

To the right is a printable version of the Basic Blackjack Strategy so you don’t have to print the whole page. Just select the image for the full size version.

The Game


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