Blackjack, like any casino game, is tilted in the casino’s favor. When playing casino Blackjack or a Blackjack download, it is important for players to understand that the odds of winning are against them. There are, however, several Blackjack strategies that assist the player in decreasing these odds. Some strategies even manipulate the game so that the odds are in the player’s favor.
Fortunately for those learning how to play Blackjack, the research necessary to understand and prove how to beat the Blackjack odds has already been completed. Over the game’s history and through the use of today’s technology, Blackjack players have compiled these strategies and proven them through thorough calculations. There now exists a “Basic Blackjack” strategy in a user-friendly chart format that presents each Blackjack card combination possibility and how players should react to them. By following these guidelines, which have been tested against millions of random Blackjack games, players can know which game option is the most logical and mathematically sound.
This Blackjack strategy takes into account the three face-up cards involved at the start of every Blackjack game: the player’s two cards, and the dealer’s face-up card. Depending on the values of these three cards, players are recommended to choose the most logical next step of the game, one of four possible options. The first option is to take a “hit” of one more card, the second is to “stand” without changing the hand, the third is to “split” a pair into two separate hands, and the fourth is to “double down.” Doubling down means doubling a bet, taking one hit and then standing until the game’s end. Since the last two options are less common, this article deals with hitting and standing.
If a player has a hand value between 17 and 21, basic strategy recommends that players stand. Taking an additional hit is a risk as it can cause a player to “bust,” or go over 21. Since the dealer must reach a minimum total of 17, having an in-hand value of at least 17 is a reasonably safe bet.
Standing is also recommended if the player has a total of 13, 14, 15 and 16, but only if the dealer’s up card 6 or less. With such a low up card, the dealer will probably be forced to take a hit and subsequently bust. If, however, the dealer’s up card is anywhere between a 7 or an Ace, he may have already reached the required 17, which means a 16 won’t be enough to win. In this case, players should hit.
Hitting is the best option if a player’s card value is between 5 and 8. Players should also hit if they have a total lower than 17 and the dealer has an Ace up card.
For 21 Blackjack players who enjoy playing on Blackjack software, strategic charts can be used during play. For live games, however, players must memorize the information before going into the game.
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