Blackjack 21

Solution Two

Okay, you think you play a decent game. You are pretty good at basic strategy and generally play as most other players. Or worst of all you deviate based on hunches or feelings. Let's take a look at what that costs.

You don't hit your 16 vs dealer 7	costs	-7.0%
You don't hit your 12 vs dealer 2	costs	-4.0%
You don't hit your A7 vs dealer 9	costs	-8.0%
You don't hit your 16 vs dealer A	costs	-15.0%
You double your 10 vs dealer A	costs	-8.0%

Get the picture. You must play perfect basic strategy if you are to have any chance at all. The fact that most people don't tells me that they look at the basic strategy chart and their eyes glaze over. Mine did too.
Then I organized the chart as below and learned it like I used to learn phone numbers. Remember those days. Cell phones have freed up brain cells for other uses. Learn each line like a phone number or a line from a song. Today if I see a 12 anywhere I automatically think "stand 4-6 otherwise hit".

The Average Player plays at a 3% to 4 % disadvantage to the house

Player has	Dealer shows...
Below 9	hit (always)
9	Double Down when dealer shows 3-6 otherwise hit
10	DD except 10 and Ace otherwise hit
11	DD except Ace
12	Stay 4-6 otherwise hit
13 - 16	Stay 2-6 otherwise hit
17 - 21	Stay (always)
Ace, 2 - Ace, 3	DD when dealer shows 5, 6 otherwise hit
Ace, 4 - Ace, 5	DD 4,5,6, otherwise hit
Ace, 6	DD 3-6 otherwise hit
Ace , 7	Stay 2,7,8, DD 3-6 hit 9, 10, Ace (most misplayed hand in blackjack)
Ace, 8 -Ace, 10	Stay (always)
Pair A,A or pair 8,8	Split (always)
2,2 - 3,3 - 7,7	Split 2-7 otherwise hit
4,4	Split 5,6 otherwise hit
6,6	Split 2-6 otherwise hit
9,9	Split except dealer shows Ace, 7,10
10,10	Stay (always)
Never take insurance or even money

Click here to open a printable PDF of the above table. Some casinos allow blackjack tables to be used openly, others don't. When playing online keep this table at your side.

Sarge is now selling some Basic Strategy T-shirts in his store. Some are printed upside down. If you are by yourself get the upside down Basic Strategy shirt. One glance down will remind you how to play your next hand. If you have a partner wear right-side-up ones and win big.

These T-shirts have proven to be instant ice-breakers! It will make you the center of attention. Great for meeting people and oh, it will help your game.

You have an Ace and 7, the dealer shows a 6. What do you do?
Blackjack Basic Strategy T-Shirt Blackjack Basic Strategy Table
If you didn't immediately say Double Down, you need this T-shirt.

Play and practice for free. See how.

The above basic strategy is generic and serves me well for all games. The gain from learning a slightly different strategy for single and multi-deck is so minimal that it is not worth the effort. That said I offer the following:

If Surrender is available:
Sr 16 vs dealer 9'10'A
Sr 15 vs dealer 10

If DAS, double after splitting, is not permitted:
do not split 6,6 vs dealer 2
do not split 4,4 vs dealer 5 or 6
do not split 3,3 vs dealer 2 or 3
do not split 2,2 vs dealer 2 or 3
What are you doing playing a game that does not allow DAS anyway?

In a single deck game
stand on 7,7 vs dealer 10
and stand if you draw out 4,5,6 to a dealer 10
The above should be obvious in that you have used up the cards that could help you. You are in a bad situation and it is best to hope for the dealer to bust.

Well now that you have seen basic strategy it is important to learn it. To learn anything it is easier if you understand it and believe in it. I don't want to go too deep into the math but the following explaination may help you see some of the reasons for the above basic stratgey chart.

Players have the most trouble with the A, 7 vs dealer 9, 10, A.

An 18 appears to be a pretty good hand and many people are reluctant to hit it. They reason why possibly ruin a good hand. The answer is that it is not a good hand against those dealer cards.
Look at a dealer 9. There are 13 possible cards under that 9. The ace gives the dealer a 20 and four chances for a 10 gives the dealer a 19. So right at the start you have lost five times. A 9 gives you a push and only an 8 a win. So with seven possible cards you have five losses, one tie and one win.
It gets more complicated now. If the under card is a 2 the dealer has an 11 with four chances of drawing a 10, one chance each at a 9 and 8 which beat your 18. In short the dealer will make good hands on about half of his draws resulting in the player losing 7.5 times, pushing once and winning only 3.5 times.

Now let's hit your A,7 as basic strategy requires. An ace, 2 or 3 improves your hand and a 10 leaves it the same. If you draw a 6 for example and make a 14 you can hit again. You will make a good hand on about half of those draws. In summary look at the following table.

If you fail to hit A,7 vs dealer 9 your loss is	-8.00%
If you fail to hit A,7 vs dealer 10 your loss is	-4.00%
If you fail to hit A,7 vs dealer A your loss is	-0.37%

If you fly on an airplane, cross a bridge or ride an elevator you trust the math. Winning blackjack is all about math. Trust it. Hit you A,7 vs dealer 9,10,A.

Click here to open a printable PDF of the below shorthand table. It will print 10 Avery business cards.

Below 9	hit (always)
9	DD 3-6 o/w hit
10	DD except 10 and Ace (o/w hit)
11	DD except Ace
12	St 4-6 (o/w hit)
13 - 16	St 2-6 (o/w hit)
17 - 21	St (always)
A2 - A3	DD 5, 6 (o/w hit)
A4 - A5	DD 4,5,6, (o/w hit)
A6	DD 3-6 (o/w hit)
A7	St 2,7,8, DD 3-6 hit 9, 10, Ace
A8 -A10	St (always)
AA - 88	Sp (always)
22,33,77	Sp 2-7 (o/w hit)
44	Sp 5,6 (o/w hit)
66	Sp 2-6 (o/w hit)
99	Sp except Ace 7,10
10,10	St (always)

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