Blackjack,
also known as twenty-one, is one of the most popular casino
card games in the world. Much of its popularity is due to
the mix of chance with an element of skill and decision making
that is involved, and the publicity that surrounds the practice
of card counting, in which players can win money by making
betting and strategy decisions based on the cards that have
been dealt. Casinos strongly frown upon card counting, but
it is a difficult skill to master and few players are successful
at it.
On this page we provide some basic tips on how to succeed
in Blackjack. It is always best to play Basic Strategy.
- Never split face cards, 10's, or 5's.
- Always split aces.
- Always split 8's or 7's against a dealer's card of equal
or lower value.
- Always split 2's or 3's against a 4, 5, or 6.
- Never take insurance unless you are counting cards.
- Double down on two card combinations totaling:
- 9 if the dealer's up card is 3, 4, 5 or 6
- 10 if the dealer's up card is anything but a 10 or
an Ace
- 11 if the dealer's up card is anything but an Ace.
- Always stand on hard 17 or higher if the dealer's
showing card is 7 or lower.
- Always stand on hard 13 through 16 if the dealer's
showing card is 6 or lower, but hit if the dealer's
showing card is 7 through Ace.
- Always stand on hard 12 or higher if the dealer is
showing 4, 5 or 6.
- Standing on 17 and lower relies entirely on the dealer's
busting to win. Since you cannot bust a soft hand with
just one hit, do the following:
- Hit soft 13 through 17 against a dealer's 7 or higher.
- With hands of three or more cards, always hit soft
13 through 17
- Double down with two-card soft 13 through 17 against
a dealer's 5 or 6. (You can only double down with your
first two cards)
- Double down soft 17 against a dealer's 3
- Double down soft 15 through 17 against a dealer's
4
- Most players will stand on soft 18, but you may find
that in the long run you will be better off to hit a
soft 18 if the dealer's up card is 9, 10 or Ace , stand
on soft 18 if the dealer's up card is 2, 7 or 8, and
double down if the dealer shows a 3, 4, 5 or 6
- Always stand on soft 19 or higher.
- If allowed, surrender (where a player may forfeit half
his bet and decide not to play the original hand against
the dealer) hard 15 against a dealer's 10, and 16 (but
not 8's) against a dealer's 9, 10 or Ace.
- Never take insurance when offered. Only take insurance
if you have a gut feeling that the dealer has blackjack,
or if you are card counting and aware of the cards remaining
in the deck.
- Pay attention to your bankroll. Set win and loss limits
for you sessions and stick with them.
- Only play with what you can afford to win so that you
won't feel bad if you do lose.
- A dealer will bust more often when their up-card is
a 3, 4, 5, or 6 - these are known as busting cards, and
must be taken advantage of.
- Always follow strict basic strategy rules : Basic strategy
for blackjack is the predetermined set of plays a player
should make to maximize their average gain or expectation
playing one hand against a complete pack of cards.
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