Blackjack Tips and Strategy

Blackjack is a game that can seem really very simple, but really that is deceptive. Blackjack is a favorite around the globe and there are many students of the mathematical possibilities in such a simple game. By learning a few good tips you can take your blackjack experience a long way. Learn the “basic strategy” and you are bound to be an even happier blackjack player.

First, you know the dealer is always obliged to take a “hit” on every hand less than 17. So, you too must take a “hit” on anything less than 17. You can hope that the dealer will be forced to “bust”, however. It is shown that more than 40% of the time a dealer will bust when his up card is a 4, 5, or 6. For this, some players “stay” with a hand over 11 when the dealer is showing one of these cards.

“Splitting” is a great opportunity to make one hand into two possible wins. If you are dealt two cards of the same value, split them. The exceptions to this are face cards, 10s and 5s. Never split these cards, since the 20 points of two tens is very hard to beat, and the two fives are a good chance for you to bust twice.

“Doubling down” may be the best chance to raise your advantage over the house. Doubling down means that you take the opportunity to double your bet and take another card because you feel pretty confident that you can beat the dealer’s hand.

Proper blackjack etiquette is always appreciated in the on land casinos. For one, tipping is important to remember. Dealers live on gratuities and we all know that a kind word doesn’t pay the rent. Do you know if card counting is legal? Actually card counting in the US is legal; however, it is a good way to get kicked out of the casino. That means it works and the casinos do not like to lose money. Watch out what you do because on land, you are always on camera.

Online casinos are bursting at the seams and the excitement around them is not stopping anytime soon. If you choose to play blackjack at an online site, check out their payout schedules and make sure that they are a reputable site. That is common advice for any game you choose online.

The next level of becoming serious about your blackjack play is to learn the basic strategy. The basic strategy is something very specific. Depending on the total of your two cards and the one face up dealer’s card, these charts tell you what to do. The first thing serious players do before playing blackjack is to study these charts.

Your hand Dealer’s face-up card
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
Hard totals (excluding pairs)
17-20 S S S S S S S S S S
16 S S S S S H H SU SU SU
15 S S S S S H H H SU H
13-14 S S S S S H H H H H
12 H H S S S H H H H H
11 Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh H
10 Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh H H
9 H Dh Dh Dh Dh H H H H H
5-8 H H H H H H H H H H
Soft totals
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
A,8 A,9 S S S S S S S S S S
A,7 S Ds Ds Ds Ds S S H H H
A,6 H Dh Dh Dh Dh H H H H H
A,4 A,5 H H Dh Dh Dh H H H H H
A,2 A,3 H H H Dh Dh H H H H H
Pairs
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
A,A SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP
10,10 S S S S S S S S S S
9,9 SP SP SP SP SP S SP SP S S
8,8 SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP
7,7 SP SP SP SP SP SP H H H H
6,6 SP SP SP SP SP H H H H H
5,5 Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh H H
4,4 H H H SP SP H H H H H
2,2 3,3 SP SP SP SP SP SP H H H H

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