Blackjack Strategy

The goal of basic blackjack strategy is to make the best decision possible given limited information. Because we know how many of each card are in a deck, it’s possible to use math to figure out the odds of drawing each card. With that information plus knowledge of the dealer’s up-card, we are able to determine the best decision in every situation.

Don’t worry if you’re not a math person; no math is needed to apply a solid strategy to your game. The math of the game was figured out years ago by the first people who published blackjack books. Today, all you need to know is how to play each card in each situation.

The dealer’s up card and your own cards are the basis of all blackjack strategy. The cards you see in each hand will tell you whether you should hit, stand, double down or split. There are many possible card combinations but it’s not super difficult to memorize the best play in each situation. Alternatively, most casinos have no problem at all with you taking a blackjack strategy card to the table (see out strategy card below).

One thing you should keep in mind is that no blackjack strategy is perfect. You can make the correct play in every situation and still lose money over the course of a night. Don’t let that deter you from applying strategy to your own game. The math behind these strategies has been tested over the long run and has been proven to minimize the house advantage. You can always try card counting, however it is very difficult to use effectively.

Blackjack Strategy Card

Blackjack strategy cards are designed to give you the information you need to play correctly in every situation. These cards are designed in a grid format to make it easy to find the correct play in every situation. If you learn how to read a blackjack strategy card, you can use that card to make the best play possible every time.

Along the left side of the card, you’ll see a list of every possible starting hand. Along the top of the card, every dealer up card is listed. Every time you are dealt a hand, look for that total on the left side of the card. Then move over to where that row intersects the appropriate dealer’s card. Inside that box, you’ll see the proper action.

Some of the recommended actions look counterproductive but they are still the correct play. For example, you’ll see that it says you should hit on 18 in some cases. That seems suicidal at first but it’s the best play possible over the long run. If you choose to stand on 18 every time, you’ll actually lose more money than if you hit when your strategy card tells you to.

Believe it or not, it’s possible to memorize the right play in every situation. Blackjack strategy cards look confusing at first but you’ll start to see patterns over time. The correct play will slowly come naturally and before you know it, you won’t even need to bring your strategy card with you.