I’d be remiss if I didn’t say something about players who “mimic” the dealer’s rules when they play blackjack; namely, they always hit on 16 or less, always stand on 17 or more, and never double down or split (because the dealer doesn’t). You do those things when the composition of the cards in the deck is in your favor. The best answers to those questions depend upon the Local Rules of the Table that you are at, how much ability you have to "count cards" and the num.

• Blackjack Hit Stand Split Double Door
• Blackjack Hit Stand Split Double Doors
• Blackjack Hit Stand Split Double Crochet
• Blackjack Hit Stand Split Double Bed

The Basic strategy is a chart that presents the player's optimal moves (HIT, STAND, SPLIT, DOUBLE DOWN), in the different scenarios of the Player's hand vs. dealer's up card.

It is based on statistic calculations, taking into account the players odds for winning in any hand combinations with every potential player move.

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It is a universal tool, used by Blackjack players all around the world. However, as the Basic Strategy chart takes into account the rules of the game, it will have several variations, based on the house rule variations used in different casinos (see our rule variations section, for the advanced player).

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Using the Basic Strategy does not guarantee you will win the game, but it will definitely increases your odds for winning.

We have depicted a Basic Strategy Chart using the game variants mentioned below. You can print the Basic Strategy Table and use it when you play. It is extremely important, however that you make sure that the Basic Strategy rules comply with the house rules of the casino where you play.

House rules: 4-8 decks; Dealer stands on soft 17; Double on any two initial cards; May Double after split; Late Surrender; Split/Double bets are not lost on dealer’s Blackjack.

Blackjack Strategy Chart

Dealer Upcard
Your Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
5	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
6	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
7	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	Su	H
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	Su	Su	Su
17 & up	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Ace,2	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Ace,3	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Ace,4	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Ace,5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Ace,6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Ace,7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
Ace,8	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Ace,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
2,2	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
3,3	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
5,5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
6,6	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
8,8	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
9,9	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	S	SP	SP	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Ace,Ace	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP

RulesofBlackjack.com

SStand HHit SPSplit DDouble SUSurrender

House rules: 4-8 decks; Dealer stands on soft 17; Double on any two initial cards; May Double after split; Late Surrender; Split/Double bets are not lost on dealer’s Blackjack

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INSURANCE

If the dealer's upcard is an ACE, he has a 4/13 (31%) chance of getting a Blackjack. You might be allowed to place an extra insurance bet. This is half your stake, and if the dealer does get Blackjack, it pays 2:1 which will effectively return your whole stake on the hand. However, as the dealer's chance of Blackjack is slightly less than 1/3, over time the casino makes a profit of about 2.5% on insurance bets. Therefore insurance is not generally recommended.

WHAT IS CARD COUNTING?

If you're playing with a single deck and you see the dealer's upcard is an ace, you know your own chance of receiving an ace is reduced. That's simple!

However, you will usually be playing a game where up to 8 decks are mixed together. A blank plastic card is inserted near the bottom of the deck. The shuffled cards are then stacked in a 'shoe' from which they are drawn one at a time as required and then discarded. When the blank appears, all the the cards are brought back together, shuffled and then dealing starts from the top again.

Keeping track of what has been played from multiple decks requires a great deal more skill, but it can be worth it. If a lot of low cards have come out (A-9) this means that a higher than usual proportion of 10-value cards are left. This offers a slight advantage to the player, so it's time to raise your bets. By contrast, if a lot of 10 cards have come out, it's better to keep bets low or even stop playing.

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Experts have developed several methods of card counting to help you beat the dealer - but be discrete. The dealers don't like it!

If you would like to boost your card counting performance you can always find an abundance of resources online that will increase your odds of success.

Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Blackjack Hit Stand Split Double Bed

Good luck!