Basic Blackjack Strategy

Over the last few hundred years statisticians have developed a mathematical blackjack strategy that almost eliminates the casino’s advantage. They even went as far as to create computer simulations that could run millions of hands, they then would use that data to develop what we now call basic blackjack strategy.

Basic blackjack strategy assumes that the casino is using the following rules.

Pays 3-2 on blackjack.
Player can double down and split.
Dealer stands on 17 and higher.

In blackjack the dealer has a 35% chance of busting when their face up card is a 3, 4, 5, or 6. This means that if the dealer has one of those cards and you have a 13 to 16 you should stand because the dealer has a good chance of going bust. If you take a card you run the risk of going bust yourself. If the dealer has a 7, 8, 9, 10, or ace face up then you should take a card because the odds that the dealer has a high card face down are very good.

Some rule variations can effect what your strategy should be. These variations include the numbers of decks in play, must the dealer hit a soft 17, when can you double down, and can you surrender.

Ultimately it will all come down to luck and a little skill but following good blackjack strategy will give you the best possible chance at beating the casino. Here are 11 blackjack strategies that are a must for any casino blackjack game.

NEVER hit 17 or better.
NEVER split 10-face cards and never split 5's.
ALWAYS hit an 8 or lower.
ALWAYS double down on an 11 unless the dealer has an ace.
ALWAYS double down on 10 when the dealer has a 9 or lower.
ALWAYS double down on 9 when the dealer has a 6 or lower.
ALWAYS stand on soft 19 and soft 20.
ALWAYS double down on soft 13-18 when dealer shows 4,5, or 6.
ALWAYS split aces and 8's.
ALWAYS hit on 12-16 if the dealer has a 7 or higher.
ALWAYS split 3's and 2's when the dealer shows 4,5,6, or 7.

Follow these rules and you will improve your odds of walking away from the casino with a profit.