Unlike some casino games like Slots the game of Blackjack has an element of skill. Understanding basic principles can improve your chances of winning over players who don't understand these concepts.
When playing Blackjack remember these points:
Because the players go first the dealer has an edge. This edge results because when a player busts they lose immediately, it should be a push if the dealer goes on to bust later in the game but the casino doesn't play this way.
To win you just have to get a better hand than the dealer gets. Forget about getting close to 21, you don't want to bust, just work on getting better hands than the dealer.
Don't forget there are two ways to win: 1) You can play to get a better hand than the dealer or 2) You hold when you have a good hand and wait for the dealer to bust.
Remember the dealer has to follow house rules. He/she must draw another card even when they have a winning hand totalling 16.
Basic Blackjack Strategy
Studies of Blackjack have resulted in the following predictions for the likelihood of the dealer busting when showing a given face-up card. These are:
Dealers Face-up card
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ace
Chance of busting
35%
37%
40%
42%
42%
26%
24%
23%
23%
17%
The studies show the dealer having a higher chance of busting when the face-up card is 6 or less than if the face-up card is 7 or more. These studies are the basis for winning Blackjack strategies discussed here.
Hard Hand rules vs. Soft Hand Rules
A Blackjack hand that contains an Ace that has a value of 11 assigned to it is called a soft hand. With a soft hand the player cannot bust. If the player draws a card that would bust his/her hand they simply change the value of the Ace from 11 to 1.
Soft Hand Rules - tell a player to stand on a soft 19, 20 and 21. Never stand with a hand worth 17 or less. With soft hands it is a good play to double down when the dealer's up-card is favourable to him/her busting. Best strategies for soft hands are:
Soft 19, 20 or 21
- Stand
Soft 18
- Stand with a face-up card of 2, 7 or 8
- Double down with a face-up card of 3, 4, 5 or 6
- Hit with a face-up card of 9, 10 or Ace
Soft 17
- Double down with a face-up card of 3, 4, 5 or 6
- Hit with a face-up card of 2, 7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace
Soft 15 or 16
- Double down with a face-up card of 4, 5 or 6
- Hit with a face-up card of 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace
Soft 13 or 14
- Double down with a face-up card of 5 or 6
- Hit with a face-up card of 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace
When you draw a card that forces you to revalue your Ace from 11 to 1 you must follow the rules for hard hands.
A Blackjack hand that contains no Ace or an Ace that has a value of 1 assigned to it is called a hard hand.
Hard Hand Rules - can be summarized as follows:
Hard 17 to 21 - Stand
Hard 12 to 16 - Stand with a face-up card of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, Hit with a face-up card of 7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace
Doubling Down Strategy
Players should always double down when the odds favour winning.
Soft Hand Rules - double down when:
Players hand is (Ace & 2) or (Ace & 3) - dealer up-card is 5 or 6
Players hand is (Ace & 4) or (Ace & 5) - dealer up-card is 4, 5 or 6
Players hand is (Ace & 6) or (Ace & 7) - dealer up-card is 3, 4, 5 or 6
Hard Hand Rules - double down when:
Players hand is a hard 9 - dealer up-card is 3, 4, 5 or 6
Players hand is a hard 10 - dealer up-card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9
Players hand is a hard 11 - dealer up-card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10
Splitting Pairs Strategy
Don't automatically split all pairs.
Never split a pair of fives or tens. Two fives total 10 and you have an increased probability of drawing a ten for a hard to beat total of 20. Two tens total 20 so standing offers the best chance of winning.
Always split Aces and eights. You have a greater chance of drawing a ten than any other card the result is then a total of 21 or 18 either is difficult for the dealer to beat.
For other pairs use the following guide - split when:
Player pair - 2's, 3's or 7's - dealer up-card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7
Player pair - 4's, - dealer up-card is 5 or 6
Player pair - 6's, - dealer up-card is 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
Player pair - 9's, - dealer up-card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 or 9
Surrendering Strategy
Surrendering (if offered) should only be done when playing multiple deck blackjack when:
Players hand is a hard 15 - dealer up-card is a 10
Players hand is a hard 16 - dealer up-card is a 9, 10 or Ace
Insurance Betting Strategy
An insurance bet is a poor bet, don't make it.
