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Blackjack Strategies
The game of Blackjack involves an element of skill unlike some simple casino games like Roulette. Taking some time to understand a few basic Blackjack principles can improve your odds of winning.
Keep these thoughts in mind when playing Blackjack:
- Winning is done by getting a better hand than the dealer. Don't bust trying to get as close to 21 as you can - just work on getting a better hand than the dealer will get.
- You can win two ways: 1) Bettering the hand than the dealer will get or 2) making your best hand and holding when the dealer has a high percentage likelihood of breaking and then waiting for the dealer to bust.
- The one advantage you as a player have is that the dealer must play by the house rules. Even when the dealer has a winning hand with a total of 16, he/she must draw another card.
Basic Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack has been the subject of several studies and the following table lists the likelihood of the dealer busting with a given face-up card.
| Dealers Face-up card |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Ace |
| Chance of busting |
35% |
37% |
40% |
42% |
42% |
26% |
24% |
23% |
23% |
17% |
Notice that the dealer is more likely to bust with a low value face-up card (less than 7) and less likely to bust with a high value face-up card (greater than 6). This table is the basis for all winning Blackjack strategies outlined here.
Hard Hand rules vs. Soft Hand Rules
A soft hand in Blackjack is one that contains an Ace that has a value of 11 assigned to it. It is impossible to bust with a soft hand. In the event that you draw a card that would bust your hand you simply devalue the Ace from a value of 11 to a value of 1.
Soft Hand Rules - state that a player should stand with a soft 19, 20 and 21. Players shouldn't stand with a hand totalling 17 or less. Soft hands offer a chance to double down when the dealer's up-card shows he/she has a good chance of busting. The best plays when you have a soft hand are:
| Soft Total |
Dealer Showing |
Action |
| 19, 20, 21 |
All |
Stand |
| 18 |
3, 4, 5 or 6
9, 10 or Ace
2, 7 or 8 |
Double Down
Hit
Stand |
| 17 |
3, 4, 5 or 6
2, 7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace |
Double Down
Hit |
| 15, 16 |
4, 5 or 6
2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace |
Double Down
Hit |
| 13, 14 |
5 or 6
2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace |
Double Down
Hit |
Sometimes when playing a soft hand you draw a card that requires you to revalue your Ace from 11 to 1. In this case you have to change strategies and you must follow the rules for hard hands.
A hard hand in Blackjack is one that contains no Ace or an Ace that has a value of 1 assigned to it.
| Players Total |
Dealer Showing |
Action |
| 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 |
All |
Stand |
| 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 |
2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace |
Stand
Hit |
Doubling Down Strategy
A player should always double down whenever the odds favour the player winning.
Soft Hand Rules - double down when you have the following:
| Player's Hand |
Dealer Showing |
| (Ace & 6) or (Ace & 7) |
3, 4, 5 or 6 |
| (Ace & 2) or (Ace & 3) |
5 or 6 |
| (Ace & 4) or (Ace & 5) |
4, 5 or 6 |
Hard Hand Rules - double down when you have the following:
| Player's Hand |
Dealer Showing |
| 9 |
3, 4, 5 or 6 |
| 10 |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 |
| 11 |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 |
Splitting Pairs Strategy
Never split a pair of fives or tens. When you have two fives you have a total of 10 and a better chance of drawing a ten for a total of 20, this is hard for the dealer to better. With two tens you have a total of 20 so by standing you have the best chance of winning.
Always split Aces and eights. Because of the better chance of drawing a ten than any other card you are most likely to end up with a total of 21 (with Aces) or 18 (with 8's) these totals are difficult for a dealer to beat.
For other pairs use the following guide - split when:
| Player Pair |
Dealer Showing |
| 2, 3 or 7 |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 |
| 4 |
5 or 6 |
| 6 |
2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 |
| 9 |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 or 9 |
Insurance Betting Strategy
Statistically, insurance bets are poor bets players shouldn't make them.
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