Home > Casino Game Strategy > Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack is unusual as it is one of only a few games at the casino where the 'house edge' can be reduced by employing a playing strategy. As a player you know that the casino has a built-in mathematical advantage in all of the games it offers (why else would it offer them to you?) but by utilising what is known as blackjack basic strategy you can almost wipeout that house advantage and the put the game on a much more even footing.

The strategy is devised using computer simulations to perform a complete combinatorial analysis. The computer 'plays' thousands of hands for all possible blackjack situations and produces a statistical analysis on which decision gives the best outcome from any possible blackjack hand. From this analysis, a table can be drawn (reproduced for your convenience here) to aid you in your decision.

The blackjack basic strategy table is a great tool to help you familiarise yourself with blackjack and is quick and easy to use. You can use it with the knowledge that you've got statistics on your side. It does not enable you to win every hand but it will reduce the house edge over time.

The table shows your hand down the left side and the dealer's up card along the top. The key at the bottom of the graphic shows the four possible decisions you can make in a game of blackjack. Use the table much like a multiplication table, find the square which corresponds to the cards in your hand and the cards in the dealers hand.

BASIC STRATEGY - ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE

NB:

1. Online casinos can have slightly different rules for Blackjack such as the number of decks used or how often you can split your cards. This will affect the above basic strategy table very slightly and we recommend that you look at the particular rules for blackjack at your casino of choice. If there isn't one, our basic strategy table will work for you most of the time.

2. Those of you wanting to card count as part of your playing strategy should also check the individual casino rules as many will shuffle the deck(s) after each hand.

[Blackjack Rules] [Blackjack Terminology] [Blackjack Strategy]

BLACKJACK BASIC STRATEGY