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Blackjack Strategy
Having a good blackjack strategy is the key to playing a profitable blackjack
game. Blackjack is one of the few casino games that offer a low house
edge, and a nearly non-existent one when combined with a foolproof strategy.
Many things are involved when trying to come up with the perfect game
plan that will rake in the dollars, some of which might have not occurred
to you before. The basic blackjack strategy below is the fundamental set
of rules that any, more complex strategy can be built upon. There are
many proven strategies around, but they all come back to the same thing.
There are many things that affect the game you play, which I have outlined
for your reading pleasure below.
Seating Position
This strategy starts before you even begin to play. Your position at
the blackjack table may have a substantial effect on the game. The position
to the farthest left of the dealer is known and first base and is the
first player to receive cards. The player seated to the farthest right
of the dealer is in the “third base” seat and receives cards
from the dealer last. Many believe the player at third base to have some
control over the game. To some extend this player controls which cards
the dealer gets if the dealer must draw. This player’s moves can
also determine whether the other players at the table win or lose. A reckless
player in third base could have a negative effect on the whole table as
well. If you are a card counter this is a great place to sit. This player
has the opportunity to see and count more cards before you make your play.
Basic Blackjack Strategy Here is the basic blackjack strategy all
smart blackjack players follow. These will tell you when to hit, stand,
double down and split.
Soft Totals
Dealer's Up Card |
| |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
T |
A |
| A,9 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| A,8 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| A,7 |
S |
DS |
DS |
DS |
DS |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,6 |
H |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,5 |
H |
H |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,4 |
H |
H |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,3 |
H |
H |
H |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,2 |
H |
H |
H |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
S=stand, H=hit, D=double down, DS=double down if possible or stand
Hard Totals
Dealer's Up Card |
| |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
T |
A |
| 17 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| 16 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 15 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 14 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 13 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 12 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
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 |
| 8 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
S=stand, H=hit, D=double down, DS=double down if possible or stand
The truth is basic strategy is merely a starting point and alone will
not tip the overall advantage in favor of the player. However, there are
some things you can do to increase your advantage against the house.
The ultimate extension to basic strategy is counting cards. It worked
for the MIT blackjack team in the mid 1990s and can work for you too.
See our section on card counting.
If you bet high when you think you are on a hot streak, without employing
basic strategy, you will only give advantage to the house. If you know
when these streaks started and ended, that would be a different thing
and you could bet accordingly.
Blackjack is a game of high cards and low cards. In general, high cards
are advantageous to players and low cards help the dealer. The reason
for this is that if the dealer wins with blackjack you lose your bet.
If you win with blackjack you win 1.5 times your bet. In the long run
you will profit more as a result of high cards in the deck.
Once of the most difficult hands to play is your 16 against a dealer’s
10 (since you need either a 4 or 5 to beat the dealer). If your hand contains
any fours or fives you should stand. Since you must get a four or five
to have any kind of chance against the dealer you need to ensure as many
as possible are still in the deck. Most of the time a player should stand
on a hand of 16.
If the dealer shows 6 or lower they are more likely to bust. In this case,
the player need not take risks and just avoid busting. Players may choose
to double down and increase their bets, depending on whether or not you
have been counting cards.
If the dealer shows 7 or higher they are more likely to get a good hand
of 18, 19, 20 or 21. Here the player will want to take more risk and try
to get a hand as close to 21 as possible. In this case you may want to
be conservative in your betting and again, depending on whether or not
you are counting cards.
Betting Strategy One common betting strategy is called the Martingale
system. This system entails doubling your bet after every loss. On its
own you would need a blackjack table with a very high limit and very deep
pockets of your own. With this system you would wipeout your bankroll
pretty fast. The key here is to combine this with card counting. This
combination is practically unbeatable. Here’s how to play it:
Start with a small $5 bet and double it after you lose, if the count is
positive. Never go over $100. When the count is negative, don’t
increase your bet. As you win more money you can bet more aggressively
on positive counts. You will appear to the casino to be a “system”
player – someone who plays using only a system which the player
thinks is unbeatable. Casinos don’t like player who are obvious
card counter, but if they think you are using a betting system they treat
you like royalty. The casino knows that a system player will always lose
to the house. Little will they know you are counting cards as well!
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