05.22.09
Basic Strategy in Blackjack
Learning to how to count cards and make a profit in blackjack is really not hard. One can become a very
proficient card counter and blackjack player in a relatively short amount of time. The time and effort that
it takes to become a really great blackjack player is nothing compared to the time and effort that it takes to
become a great basketball player or golfer or master a musical instrument like the guitar. Blackjack is fun,
pretty easy and can be extremely profitable.
The following is a three step process to mastering blackjack:
#1 - Learn Basic Strategy
Basic strategy refers to the set of mathematically correct plays for each hand that you can
potentially be dealt. Basic strategy should be completely 100% memorized before you move on to
counting cards. Basic strategy was developed by complex mathematics and computer simulations that
determined the correct play for any given situation. In the following table, “H” stands for hit, “D” stands
for double down, “S” stands for “stand” and “SPL” stands for split. As you will see, when the dealer has a
good chance at busting (showing a 2 through 6), we are often standing or doubling down. We stand more
on more hands when the dealer shows a bust card because we don’t want to risk busting ourselves and we
double down on more hands because we want to get more money on the table if we think there’s a good
chance that the dealer will bust. You don’t necessarily need to memorize every chart,
just the one that applies to the game that you will be playing. So if there’s not a single deck game that
pays 3 to 2 on blackjack (don’t play 6-5 games) within 500 miles of you are than there’s no need to go
over the single deck charts.
