Blackjack Basic Strategy

Blackjack Basic Strategy

A man named Roger Baldwin changed casino gaming forever in 1953 by taking a statistical approach to blackjack strategy. Using their understanding of statistics and a few other calculations, Baldwin et al attempted to make an impact on the casino's edge in the game of blackjack. Their studies were published in 1956 in the last place a gambler would ever look, an academic journal. The title of their study? "Optimum Strategy in Blackjack."

Just six years later, Edward O. Thorp refined their ideas and used new technology and mathematical theory to invent his own system, published in a book called "Beat the Dealer." This was the invention of the first effective blackjack betting strategy, known today as "card counting." Thorp's book quickly moved to the top of the New York Times' best seller list.

Thorp and Baldwin (along with a few other innovators) are the godfathers of basic blackjack strategy. Using the tools they came up with, blackjack players following basic strategy face a house edge of just about 0.5%, making blackjack played with strategy one of the more attractive bets in the casino.

A Proper Play for Every Hand

The work of blackjack's strategy pioneers created a system whereby every hand you are dealt in a game of blackjack has an optimal play. The idea behind playing every hand according to proper blackjack strategy is to maximize your chances of winning.

About eight out of every ten hands can be played according to basic blackjack strategy without much memorizing or any card counting. Here is the proper play for 80% of dealt hands in blackjack:

Dealer's up card is 2 or 3--hit until you have at least 13.

Dealer's up card is 4, 5, or 6--hit until you have at least 12.

Dealer's up card is 7 or higher--hit until you have at least 17.

Double down with an 11 against any dealer card except an ace.

Double down with a 10 against any dealer card except 10s, face cards, or aces.

Double down with a 9 against any dealer card lower than 7.

Split all pairs of aces or 8s.

There are a few more tactics to learn besides these, but if you can memorize this list of plays, you'll find you have the proper play for most hands dealt to you in blackjack.

These tactics are based on the mathematical odds of creating a better hand, standard blackjack rules on dealer play (standing at soft 17, etc.), and the possible outcome of your own hand from taking a hit or standing.

The Most Powerful Cards in Blackjack

If you understand the power of cards with a ten point value, you'll know how to play most hands in blackjack. In a fifty-two card deck, there are more cards worth ten points than any other point value. Tens and face cards of each suit are worth ten points, meaning there are sixteen cards worth ten points. Four of the thirteen cards in each suit are tens, meaning you are more likely to draw a card with a ten point value than any other card.

Knowing this, we know that a dealer with a small up card (six or less) is more likely to bust. The assumption is that a dealer's six will be matched with a ten (for a total of 16) at which point the dealer is required to hit again, and the odds of drawing a card higher than 5 are high. A small card held by a dealer is sometimes called a "bust card" for this reason. When a dealer's up card is a bust card, blackjack players using basic strategy stand at 12 or higher, hoping to wait out a dealer bust.

Soft and Stiff Hands

No, these aren't dermatological problems, they are hands in blackjack.

A soft hand is any blackjack hand containing an ace. These hands can't be busted by taking a single hit--if you're holding and ace and a deuce and you draw the largest card in the game (a ten), your ace will take the lower value of 1 and keep you from busting.

A stiff hand is a "hard hand" with a value between 12 and 16. These are the worst possible hands for blackjack players--being dealt a ten and a deuce or a nine and a seven is a tough spot because you are in danger of busting. If you're holding a hand with a value of sixteen, you'd be foolish to take a hit and risk a bust. The only time you should hit with a stiff hand is if the dealer is holding a seven or higher.