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Blackjack is what I call a ‘value’ casino game. For casino players who use basic strategy; blackjack tables with specific conditions and rules offer an opportunity to compete on a level playing field with the casino
Some of those specific conditions and rules that combine to offer up the best blackjack tables are: ‘Dealer Must Draw to 16 and Stand on All 17s’ statement, use a single deck, have no restrictions on doubling down, allow re-splitting, and have a surrender option available.
Let’s review some basic terms of the game:
21 wins: An ace is counted as 1 or 11, face cards 10, all other cards counted as marked.
Hard Hand: a hand that does not include an ace. What you see on your two cards is your total count, such as 9 + 8 = 17.
Soft Hand: a hand that includes an ace in first two cards dealt. It has two values, depending on whether you use the ace as 1 or 11. So, a 5 and an ace could be 6 or 16.
Stiff Hand: a potential bust hand, such as a 13 or 14, but especially a hard 15 or 16, which are the two worst hands you can get (unless the 16 is two 8’s, then you split).
Push: same count as the dealer -- a tie -- no money is exchanged, you do not win or lose.
Burn Cards: number of cards casino discards at the beginning of a new shuffle.
Multiple Decks: four or more decks played in a game, always dealt face up.
Single or Double Decks: played in a game, first two cards are dealt face down.
If you play blackjack with poor strategy or instinct, you give the casino an advantage of over 5%.
Remember, focus on the dealer. The objective is not to get as close to 21 as possible, but to beat the dealer. It’s very possible to win with a 13 or 14 count.
For this first part of your blackjack education, I have included a strategy card that will assist with those crucial blackjack decisions.
| |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
X |
A |
| 5 - 8 |
ALWAYS HIT |
| 9 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 10 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
| 11 |
ALWAYS DOUBLE DOWN |
| 12 |
H |
H |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 13-16 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 17-21 |
ALWAYS STAND |
| A2 |
H |
H |
H |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A3 |
H |
H |
H |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A4 |
H |
H |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A5 |
H |
H |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A6 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A7 |
S |
D |
D |
D |
D |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
| A8 |
ALWAYS STAND |
| A9 |
ALWAYS STAND |
| 22 |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 33 |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 66 |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 77 |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 99 |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
S |
P |
P |
S |
S |
H = HIT S = STAND D=DOUBLE DOWN
P = SPLIT PAIRS
A = ACE X = TEN/FACE CARDS
NEVER SPLIT PAIRS OF FOURS-FIVES-TENS.
ALWAYS SPLIT ACES AND EIGHTS
Until next time we meet...Hit blackjacks and stand on your winnings!
Gayle Mitchell is author of Casino Gambling Made Easier books, Ebooks, booklets & Slots Trilogy.
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