Best Blackjack Strategies – How to Play Perfect Blackjack

It can be quite difficult to know the blackjack strategy that suits your needs as a gambler. Although there are times when a gambler’s strategy could surprisingly play out well back to back, the truth is that doesn’t make it the best blackjack strategy, but it’s a strategy that’s worth paying close attention to.

If you’re a newbie or expert in the casino gambling realm, having the best blackjack strategies at your fingertips is very crucial, and it’s the best way to have a good balance of wins and losses. But the big question is “What are the best blackjack strategies?” Well, this article has just the right answer to that question. So, stick with us to find out.

Here Is All Of Basic Blackjack Strategy

Before we dive into knowing what the best Blackjack strategies are, let’s have a quick look at what the basic Blackjack strategies are;

• Surrender: This involves throwing away your card without making a play or a stand. By doing this, you tend to lose half of the total amount you bet and wait for the next round. You can either surrender early or late in a game. In early surrender Blackjack, a player has the option to toss away their card once the dealer shows an ace or ten. If it’s an ace, you get a 0.39% return on your bet but if it’s a ten, you’ll get 0.24%. However, in late surrender, you can only toss away his/her card after the dealer checks his hand for Blackjack. By doing this, you save half of your bet only if the dealer does not have Blackjack.
• Double: If you double down in Blackjack, you’ll get the option to double your wager based on the receipt of your original two cards. This allows you to deal two cards from your hand, thereby, you and the dealer decide who wins the game. Doubling down in Blackjack usually has a positive impact on lowering the house edge. Most players double down when the situation looks positive so they are willing to take the risk. This is always a powerful move for any player who can detect the perfect opportunity.
• Split: A player could split the cards at hand if his/her initial two-card hand includes two cards with the same value, thereby, allowing the player to get additional cards for each hand from the dealer.
• Hit and Stand: Hit and Stand are two different things in Blackjack. If you hit, this means you’re instructing the dealers to request an extra card either by tapping the table or indicating it verbally. To stand, on the other hand, is to hold your total and end your turn – all you need to indicate this is to wave your hand.

Basic Blackjack Strategy: How to Play Optimally

Having understood what the basic Blackjack strategies are, let’s discuss how to play optimally;

Surrender

• Surrender a hard 16 but never a pair of 8 VS. 9, 10, or Ace
• Surrender a hard 15 against a dealer 10

Double

• Soft 20 (A,9) always stands.
• Soft 19 (A,8) doubles against dealer 6, otherwise stand.
• Soft 18 (A,7) doubles against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and hits against 9 through Ace, otherwise stand.
• Soft 17 (A,6) doubles against dealer 3, 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• Soft 16 (A,5) doubles against dealer 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• Soft 15 (A,4) doubles against dealer 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• Soft 14 (A,3) doubles against the dealer’s 5 & 6, otherwise hit.
• Soft 13 (A,2) doubles against dealer’s 5 & 6, otherwise hit.

Split

• Always split aces.
• Never split tens.
• A pair of 9’s splits against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, except for 7, otherwise stand.
• Always split 8’s
• A pair of 7’s splits against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, otherwise hit.
• A pair of 6’s splits against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• A pair of 5’s doubles against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, otherwise hit.
• A pair of 4’s splits against dealer 5 and 6, otherwise hit.
• A pair of 3’s splits against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, otherwise hit.
• A pair of 2’s splits against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, otherwise hit.

Hit and Stand

• 17 and up always stands.
• 16 stands against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• 15 stands against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• 14 stands against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• 13 stands against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• 12 stands against dealer 4, 5, 6, otherwise hit.
• 11 always doubles.
• 10 doubles against dealer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 otherwise hit.
• 9 doubles against dealer 3, 4, 5, 6, or hit.
• 8 always hits.

Blackjack Strategies Charts and Tables

Now that you have gotten heads-up on the different basic Blackjack strategies, let’s take a look at the different Blackjack strategies Charts and tables. Yes, this is to help you understand the blackjack strategies concisely.
Although you don’t necessarily need to memorize these charts and tables, you can still save them for future purposes as these charts will help you not just with the Blackjack strategies you’ll also notice your game starts improving gradually.
That being said, before we proceed to show you the Blackjack strategies charts and tables, it’s important you learn the different abbreviations as they’ll help you understand the charts and tables easily.

Blackjack Strategy Additional Rules

Although we recommend the strategies mentioned above, some adjustments could set in when you’re playing in Blackjack and the dealer hits soft 17. Yes, strategies like;
Double 11 vs. dealer’s Ace, Double soft 18 vs. dealer’s 2, Double soft 19 vs. dealer’s 6, and Surrender 15, 8’s, and 17 vs. dealer’s Ace will change.

Counting Cards in Blackjack: Players’ Favorite

When counting cards in Blackjack, it’s crucial you understand how the system works. For us at Gambling Head, we advise you to categorize the cards into two different types which are; High cards and Low cards. This allows gamblers to keep track of the cards they’ve dealt and the ones available on deck. Although this is usually difficult to understand, it’s always very effective, and it just begins with assigning values to cards. For example, you could count cards 2-6 valued as +1, 7-9 are valued as 0, and 10-Ace are valued as -1.

Single Deck Blackjack Chart

Single Deck, Dealer Stands on Soft 17

Blackjack Strategy Charts for 4 and 8-Deck Games

4-8 Decks, Dealer Stands on Soft 17

4-8 Decks, Dealer Hits on Soft 17

FAQs

How do you practice basic strategy in blackjack?

You can practice the basic Blackjack strategies in different ways. It’s recommended you spend 10-15 minutes a day going through your flash card. Afterward, recite the strategies off hand. Set aside the cards you got wrong, then memorize them once again. Make sure you repeat this daily until you perfect it.

How long does it take to learn the basic blackjack strategy?

The time it takes you to learn basic Blackjack strategy all depends on the player. However, most times, it takes a couple of hours to learn either a single strategy, combination strategy, or four ways strategy.

When should you not hit in blackjack?

You must not hit when the dealer has card with a number 4, 5, or 6at hand.

What is the basic strategy based on?

The Blackjack basic strategy comes into play only when you’re playing the late surrender blackjack strategy. This means you won’t be able to surrender when you’ve taken a hit. The only option you have is to surrender on the first two cards you dealt.