Understanding the Blackjack Basic Strategy

Blackjack basic strategy is the best strategy to reduce the casino’s advantage in the game and turn the odds further in your favour. Blackjack already has a fairly low house edge compared to other casino games, but you can increase your odds of winning slightly with the right strategy.

If you’re interested in learning more about playing blackjack using a basic blackjack strategy card, this basic blackjack guide will explain it clearly. Keep reading to learn more about this strategy and how to correctly read a blackjack basic strategy table.

What is Basic Blackjack Strategy?

Basic strategy is a method of playing blackjack that involves following a chart that tells you exactly how you should play any hand you get, always based on the dealer’s card. It’s widely considered the best way to play blackjack.

Basic strategy for blackjack was developed around the 1950s, making it one of the oldest blackjack systems. Over the years, it’s been improved further by scientists, mathematicians, and blackjack experts to come up with the most statistically correct way to play the game and reduce the house edge as much as possible.

It’s estimated that playing with basic strategy can reduce the house edge from about 2% to 0.50% in the long run. The exact blackjack basic strategy win percentage also depends on the game’s rules, the dealer’s rules, the number of decks used, and whether the surrender option is available. What’s certain is that the odds of winning blackjack with basic strategy are higher than the odds of playing without it.

How Basic Blackjack Strategy Works?

A blackjack basic strategy guide often looks daunting for players who have never applied the system to a real blackjack game. However, once you understand how it works and how to use it correctly, you’ll realise it makes the game even easier because you don’t have to make any decisions yourself.

Below is a quick guide that explains how the strategy works.

• Basic blackjack strategy is a specific playing strategy that tells you which playing option to take according to your hand total and the dealer’s face-up card.
• Some game options, like doubling down on certain hands or surrendering, might not always be available in some blackjack variants, so the chart gives you the second-best move you can make.
• The blackjack basic strategy odds are higher if you follow the strategy with 100% accuracy. Although the system isn’t designed to beat blackjack every time, playing with perfect blackjack strategy is necessary to ensure the best odds.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart

A basic strategy chart is the most useful tool when playing blackjack at an online casino. It might also be allowed at land-based casinos, but players don’t generally use it when playing in person.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a fairly experienced blackjack player, this chart will always come in handy to ensure you’re making the right moves with your hand, especially if you’re dealt a tricky hand.

Here’s what a typical blackjack strategies chart looks like:

How to Read the Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart

Many basic strategy blackjack charts are available online, and they all have the same components. So, if you understand the basic elements of the chart, you’ll be able to read any blackjack chart you find online.

Below, we’ll examine the basic elements of a chart to help you read it easily.

• Columns – The column on the left shows the player’s hand. The top half is usually for hard hands, while the bottom is for soft hands.
• Colours – A blackjack chart is always colour-coded to make it easier to read. For example, green is used for hit, red indicates stand, and blue is used for double down.
• Rows – The top row is for the dealer’s upcard. The rows below are for the actions.
• Actions – The actions are displayed for each combination between the player’s column and the dealer’s row.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Terms

Understanding blackjack basic strategy charts is very simple once you memorise the abbreviations. You can usually find a key to these terms, which you can always refer to if you’re stuck, but you’ll be able to speed up the game considerably. Learning the basic strategy terms, will also help you get better when it comes to card counting in blackjack.

Below are all the abbreviations used in any blackjack basic strategy chart and what they mean.

♠️ Action	📜 Meaning
👉 H	Hit – Take a third card from the dealer.
👉 S	Stand– Keep your hand as it is.
👉 D	Double (if not allowed, hit) – Doubling down refers to placing a second bet equal to your original wager. This will automatically add a third and final card to your hand.
👉 Ds	Double (if not allowed, stand) – Doubling down is the most optimal move, but it’s better to stand if it’s not allowed.
👉 N	Don’t split the pair. Not all strategy charts use this abbreviation. Some indicate whether you hit or stand on that pair.
👉 Y	Split the pair. If the chart has a section for splitting pairs, you’ll need to check this box if you’re dealt a pair.
👉 Y/N	Split only if doubling after a split is allowed. Check the game rules carefully before joining the table to see the rules for doubling after splitting.
👉 SUR	Surrender. This means you forfeit your cards and skip that round. In return, you get half your initial bet back.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Rules

Understanding blackjack basic strategy is relatively simple if you know how the chart should be read and what the colours/abbreviations indicate. However, it’s impossible to memorise it all right away, so we suggest starting by remembering the key rules of blackjack basic strategy explained below:

• Always stand on 17 or higher  – regardless of the dealer’s upcard, you should always stand on 17 because the chances of busting if you hit are very high.
• Always double down on a hard 11 – A hard 11 is one of the best hands you can get in blackjack, so you’ll want to take advantage of this position.
• Always split Aces and Eights – Playing a pair of eights gives you 16, which is not a great starting hand. Aces should be split because you’ll get a chance to get a 21 by doing so.
• A pair of Fives and 10s should never be split – A pair of 10s is nearly the best hand you can have, so it’s better not to risk ending up with two potentially weaker hands. As for the fives, a hand with a total of 10 is much better to play.
• Hit on a hard 12 through hard 16 if the dealer has a seven or higher – Hitting on a hard 12 is always risky, but basic strategy states you should if the dealer’s card is a seven or higher.
• Stand on 12 if the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6 – Only stand on a 12 if the dealer has these cards; otherwise, hit.
• Stand on 13 through 16 if the dealer has a low card – If the dealer’s card is between two and six, stand on 13 through 16.
• Don’t take the insurance bet – Every basic strategy chart will tell you to avoid it because it’s often a losing bet.

What You Need to Know Before Using the Basic Blackjack Strategy?

Basic strategy may take a while to get the hang of, but if you practice online blackjack basic strategy regularly, you’ll quickly memorise what you should do for any hand you’re dealt. We strongly advise our readers to practice using it at an online casino first because you can keep a chart handy and refer to it whenever necessary.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About Basic Blackjack Strategy