Blackjack Strategy

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If you’re just starting out as a blackjack player then you will be pleased to learn that by using some tried and tested strategy, this game can offer the lowest house edge of any casino activity. That house edge can be as low as 0.50% so, you ask, what is this strategy?

Let’s being by taking a trip back to the 1950s to meet four gentlemen serving in the US army. Using their mental agility and some calculator power they eventually worked out the most effective and profitable way to play blackjack. Their names were Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel and James McDermott and they are now known as the Four Horsemen.

Their work went on to inspire Edward O. Thorp who completed his book, Beat The Dealer, in 1962. This book combined the Four Horsemen’s basic strategy with card counting and became a bestseller.

Blackjack is essentially a game of mathematics and the strategy works in the following way:

If the dealers face-up card is *** and your cards are *** and *** then do this.

By following this strategy you reduce the house edge to as little as 0.50% (depending on rule variations) and this is clearly the recipe for a profitable night out.

Basic Strategy When Playing With One Deck

Your Hand	Dealer's Face Up Card	Action	Otherwise
8	5 - 6	Double	Hit
9	2 - 6	Double	Hit
10	2 - 9	Double	Hit
11		Always Double
12	4 - 6	Stand	Hit
13 - 16	2 - 6	Stand	Hit
17 - 21		Always Stand
A2 - A5	4 - 6	Double	Hit
A6	2 - 6	Double	Hit
A7	3 - 6	Double	Stand 2, 7, 8, A, Hit 9 - 10
A8	6	Double	Stand
A9		Always Stand
AA		Always Split
2, 2	3 - 7	Split	Hit
3, 3	4 - 7	Split	Hit
4, 4	5 - 6	Double	Hit
5, 5	2 - 9	Double	Hit
6,6	2 - 6	Split	Hit
7,7	2 - 7	Split	Hit
8, 8		Always Split
9, 9		Split 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9	Stand 7, 10, A
10, 10		Always Stand
If 'doubling down' is allowed then the following can be used:
2, 2	2 - 7	Split	Hit
3, 3	2 - 7	Split	Hit
4, 4	4, 5, 6	Split	Hit
6, 6	2 - 7	Split	Hit
7, 7	2 - 8	Stand on 10	Hit

Basic Strategy When Playing With Four, Six Or Eight Decks

Your Hand	Dealer's Face Up Card	Action	Otherwise
5 - 8		Always Hit
9	3 - 6	Double	Hit
10	2 - 9	Double	Hit
11	2 - 10	Double	Hit
12	4 - 6	Stand	Hit
13	2 - 6	Stand	Hit
14	2 - 6	Stand	Hit
15	2 - 6	Stand	Hit
16	2 - 6	Stand	Hit
17		Always Stand
18		Always Stand
A2	5 - 6	Double	Hit
A3	5 - 6	Double	Hit
A4	4 - 6	Double	Hit
A5	4 - 6	Double	Hit
A6	3 - 6	Double	Hit
A7	3 - 6	Double	Stand 2, 7, 8; Hit 9, 10, A
A8 - A10		Always Stand
AA		Always Split
2, 2	2 - 7	Split	Hit
3, 3	2 - 7	Split	Hit
4, 4	5 - 6	Split	Hit
5, 5	2 - 9	Double	Hit
6,6	2 - 6	Split	Hit
7,7	2 - 7	Split	Hit
8, 8		Always Split
9, 9	2 - 6, 8 - 9	Split	Stand 7, 10, A
10, 10		Always Stand
If 'doubling down' is not allowed then the following can be used:
2, 2	4 - 7	Split	Hit
3, 3	4 - 7	Split	Hit
4, 4		Always Hit
6, 6	3 - 6	Split	Hit