Everyone that wants to become a successful blackjack player should master the basic Blackjack strategy that is systematically gathered mathematical information that shows the best possible play in every game scenario. To know how to play in every possible gaming situation you should learn the strategy charts by heart. The correct use of the strategy charts might help decrease the house edge from 7-8% almost to 1%.

Basic Blackjack strategy is based on computer simulation studies and statistics. There are lots of blackjack charts for any Blackjack game variation. The mostly used charts are for a one-deck game and for a multiple deck game.

 

Your hand		Dealer's face-up card
		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
H a r d t o t a l s	17-20	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	SU	SU	SU
	15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	SU	H
	13-14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	11	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H
	10	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H
	9	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
	5-8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
S o f t t o t a l s		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
	A,8 A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	A,7	S	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	S	S	H	H	H
	A,6	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
	A,4 A,5	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
	A,2 A,3	H	H	H	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
P a i r s		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
	A,A	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
	10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	9,9	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	S	SP	SP	S	S
	8,8	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
	7,7	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
	6,6	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
	5,5	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H
	4,4	H	H	H	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
	2,2 3,3	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H

Applying the basic strategy

You can learn how to use the Basic strategy by reading and trying to understand the strategy charts. The left vertical column usually represents the player’s hand, while the top horizontal one stands for dealer’s hand. Abbreviations in the charts are the same and mean:

• A-stands for an Ace
• H- Hit
• S-Stand
• D-Double
• Ds- Ds - Double if allowed, otherwise stand
• P - Split
• H/P - Split if allowed double after split, otherwise hit
• H/R - Surrender if allowed, otherwise hit
• P/R - Surrender if allowed, otherwise split
• S/R - Surrender if allowed, otherwise stand

Memorizing the Basic Blackjack Strategy

The basic strategy charts are to be memorized in order to help you make correct decisions with minimum risk. The charts may seem difficult at first, but if you truly aim to become a master of Blackjack, you should look closer and try to understand the logic of every decision.

For beginners, it would be a wise option to purchase a small portable laminated strategy chart cards that are even allowed to be kept on the blackjack table at most casinos.

HOWEVER, the Basic strategy does not guarantee your win. Some players will even try to blame the chart for not bringing them profit when they used it a couple of times, and lost. The Basic Blackjack Strategy shows a proper decision from a mathematical point of view for any gaming situation. It is the basis of all the other Blackjack strategies and must be learned by all determined players.