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Blackjack Strategy
 | | An example strategy card |
The Blackjack's basic strategy is made up of a set of rules that helps the player to play his cards the correct way. It shows when the player when to hit, stand or double up, by taking into account your hand and the dealers.
Doubling down: When your total is 10 or 11 (after being dealt your first two cards) you can choose to 'double down'. This is starting a second bet (up to the same amount as your original wager).
Hard hands: all hands not containing an Ace.
If the player has a 9 or lower, hit.
If the player has 10 or 11, double down if your total is more than the dealer's upcard; hit otherwise.
If the player has 12 through 16, hit when the dealer's upcard is 7 or higher; stand otherwise.
If the player has 17 or higher, stand.
SOFT HANDS: all hands containing an Ace coupled with a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
If the player has 13 through 18, double down when the dealer's upcard is 5 or 6.
If the player has 17 or lower, hit.
If the player has 18, hit when dealer's upcard is 6 or less; stand when dealer's upcard is 7 or more.
If the player has 19 or higher, stand.
PAIRS: all hands that contain a pair of cards with the same value.
Always split a pair of 8's or Aces.
Never split 10's, 4's, or 5's.
Split all other pairs when dealer's upcard is 6 or less.
Insurance is never recommended!
Splitting pairs: If your two cards are the same value, you can 'split' them into two separate hands. The catch is that you also have to make two bets (one for each of the hands you now hold). Each split pair can be split again, for a total of four hands. If you split on an ace, you can only take one hit, but for all other cards you can take as many hits as you want.
Doubling down: When your total is 10 or 11 (after being dealt your first two cards) you can choose to 'double down'. This is starting a second bet (up to the same amount as your original wager).
When doubling, you can only take one hit. (NB It is dangerous to split two fives - you are replacing a hand that is potentially excellent for drawing on or doubling down on, by what will probably be two poor hands.)
Insurance: If the dealer's face-up card is an ace, you can make a side bet. You can wager up to half your original bet that the facedown card is worth 10 or more (i.e. a picture card or a 10). If you are correct, and the dealer has a Blackjack, the player wins the side bet (the insurance bet) but loses the original bet. Therefore the player feels no net loss or gain. If it's not a face card or a 10, you lose the side bet or 'insurance'.
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