Initial casino's edge 5.75%
Correct hitting and standing -3.25%
Correct doubling -1.5%
Correct pair splitting -0.5%
Casino's edge with basic strategy 0.5%
Of course it's possible to lower the casino's edge to less than 0.5% by playing
in games that have very favorable rules. One of the best blackjack games is
offered at the Slots-A- Fun Casino in Las Vegas. Here they deal a single deck
game with the dealer standing on soft 17 and double after pair splitting is
allowed. A basic strategy player has in fact a slight edge against the casino
(ca. 0.1%) in this game
The basic playing strategy is slightly dependent on the number of decks of
cards. Thus the basic strategy for a single deck game is slightly different than
a six deck game. For simplicity the table below summarizes the basic strategy
rules that you can use for any number of decks.
To use the table, go across the top to find the dealer's upcard and go down the
first column and find your hand. Where the row and column intersect you'll find
the correct basic strategy play. The strategy assumes that doubling after pair
splitting is allowed (see bottom of chart for deviations if doubling after pair
splitting is not allowed).
Generic Basic Strategy
H=hit
S=stand
D=double down
P=pair split
Su=surrender
X/Y=Do X if allowed, otherwise do Y
| |
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
A
|
|
17
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
16
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
Su/H
|
Su/H
|
Su/H
|
|
15
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
Su/H
|
H
|
|
14
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
13
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
12
|
H
|
H
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
11
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
|
10
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
|
9
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
8
or
less
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 19
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
Soft 18
|
S
|
D/S
|
D/S
|
D/S
|
D/S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 17
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 16
|
H
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 15
|
H
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 14
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 13
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
2,2
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
33
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
44
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
55
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
H
|
H
|
|
66
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
77
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
88
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
|
99
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
S
|
SP
|
SP
|
S
|
S
|
|
1010
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
AA
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
Never take insurance!
If double after pair splitting is not permitted use these rules for pair
splitting.
|
22
|
H
|
H
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
33
|
H
|
H
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
44
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
55
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
H
|
H
|
|
66
|
H
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
77
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
88
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
|
99
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
S
|
SP
|
SP
|
S
|
S
|
|
1010
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
AA
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
If the dealer hits soft 17, then double down on 11 against dealer's ace, double
down on soft 19 against dealer's 6, double down on soft 18 agaist a dealer's 2,
and surrender hard 15, hard 17, and a pair of 8's against a dealer's ace.
For European Rules, (dealer does not take a down card until players complete
their hands and all player double down and split bets are lost to a dealer
blackjack) do not split or double down against a dealer's ace, do not double
down against a dealer 10, and do not split a pair of 8's against a dealer's 10.
Using the information in the table, how would you play this hand. You hold 2,2
and the dealer's upcard is a 6. Go across the top and find the dealers 6 upcard.
Go down the first column under Players Hand and find 22. At the intersection of
the row and column you'll find a P which means you should split.
Back to top
How about an, Ace,7 (soft 18) against dealers 3. The table shows D/S. This means
you should double down if they allow doubling on soft hands. If the rules do not
allow you do double on a soft hand, the you would stand.
How about this hand: 2,3,Ace (soft 16) against dealers 5. The table shows D/H.
Since most casinos will not allow to double down on 3 or more cards you should
hit.
The basic strategy in the table should be memorized. This is not as difficult a
task as your first think because you probably know most of it already. You must
be able to play each and every hand dealt to you perfectly. Mistakes will cost
you money so practice the basic strategy and always use it when you play. |
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