BlackJack Strategy

BlackJack Screenshot from Tower Gaming

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Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world. You will find tables upon tables of it at almost every live casino in the world and it undoubtedly is offered at every online casino property in the world. The object of the game is simple: get as close to twenty one as possible without going over and be closer to twenty one than the dealer is. If you can do that, then you win! Unfortunately it’s not that easy, but the good news is that blackjack is one of the best games in the house in terms of the player. Utilizing proper basic strategy you can reduce the house edge to as little as half a percent! That is a virtual coin flip and if you can be disciplined and not make stupid bets, you can have a night of fun at the casino for cheaper than a movie or many other popular outings. This article will tell you everything you need to know to be more successful at blackjack.

Table selection

The most important part in your decision to play blackjack will be the table you sit down at. For starters, you need to sit down at a table that is within your betting limits. A good starting amount for any limit is to have thirty times the amount you will be wagering. So if you are going to bet five dollars per hand, it would be wise to sit down at the table with at least one hundred and fifty dollars.

After you have decided on a minimum bet that is within your limits it is next time to find a table that gives you favorable odds. The most common blackjack games you will find are six deck shoes that are constantly shuffled. These are bad games as they offer the house the highest edge and the player the least; try to stay away from them. If it is possible, find a blackjack game that is one or two decks, that is where you will have your best advantage and the best opportunity to win.

Basic strategy

When playing blackjack, in order to minimize the house edge and to have the best chance of winning in the short term you need to follow a set of rules called basic strategy. Basic strategy is a set of guidelines to follow in every situation that occurs at the blackjack table. While you can find charts for nearly every possible deck and game configuration available, there are some basic rules in the strategy that are nearly universal for every type of game configuration.

Listed below are the most common basic strategy rules that will give you the foundation you need to be successful at blackjack:

When the dealers up card is a seven, eight, nine, ten, face card or ace you have to naturally assume they have a ten or a face card hidden and that they will have a seventeen or higher. Because of this, if your hand is less than seventeen but the dealer shows a seven or higher, you must hit. Continue hitting until one of the following happens: You have seventeen or higher or you bust.
When the dealer shows a three through six these are known as “bust cards” you assume that the dealer is going to bust. Because of this, you only hit when you can’t bust with one additional card, that is, when you have eleven or below. Otherwise you stand and hope the dealer busts.
When you have a seventeen or higher, stand pat. Never split two tens or two face cards.
Split eights against everything.
Split nines against everything except a seven, a ten or an ace.
Split sevens against all bust cards and sevens
Hit a twelve against a two or a three.
Double down with a ten against everything up to a ten. Don’t double against a ten.
Double down with an eleven against everything except an ace.
Stand pat on A8 and A9 against anything
Stand with A7 against two through eight, but double against three through six if it is allowed.

While this list doesn’t serve as a complete primer for basic blackjack strategy it provides answers to the most common situations. By employing these methods at the blackjack table, you reduce the house edge significantly and can be proud that you are playing one of the few casino games where the odds are not clearly stacked against you.