What could be more normal when engaging in a game of blackjack than wanting to increase one's chances of having the upper hand against the house? But for that, one would need to already know and adopt the right strategy. This is where basic blackjack strategy comes in. This technique conceived by enthusiasts of this game based on mathematical probabilities is considered the best way to play blackjack and significantly reduce the house advantage through a few simple tricks. In this guide, we present this strategy and everything that makes it unique.
Summary
- 1What is Basic Blackjack Strategy?
- 2What is the origin of basic blackjack strategy?
- 3The soft hand and the hard hand (Hard and Soft totals)
- 4The Risks of Basic Blackjack Strategy
- 5The number of games
- 6The Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart
- 7How do you memorize and achieve a good command of basic blackjack strategy?
- 8game deviations
What is Basic Blackjack Strategy?
Blackjack is a game of decisions, and basic strategy can be understood as a set of guidelines that enables the player to know when to request another card from the dealer (Hit), when to stay or keep the cards in their possession (Stand), when to double their initial bet (Double Down), or when to split their first two cards (Split a Pair).
Although basic blackjack strategy doesn't necessarily guarantee you'll win, it's the optimal method for you to play any hand, and essentially the best way to play blackjack . It is a technique formulated from statistical probabilities and blackjack can be highly rewarding when the basic strategy is applied correctly.
In addition, the application of the basic strategy can Contribute to reduce the advantage of the house without however canceling it This advantage in a typical blackjack game is 0.50% when you properly apply this basic strategy. However, it can go up to over 2.5% when you do not use it. These factors make it clear how important it is to understand the basic blackjack strategy and never play a game without applying it.
What is the origin of basic blackjack strategy?
The term basic strategy refers to a technique put in place to gain the greatest advantage during a game of blackjack. He is a math teacher named Baldwin who, in the 60s, set up this strategy. For this, he had to compile in an article and using a computer all the variables of the game, as well as all the situations in which you can find yourself as a player, facing the dealer.
Edward Oakley Thorp, an American probability specialist, made this technique famous in 1962, through his book entitled beat the dealer (ISBN 9780394703107)which subsequently became a bestseller. This book has, on numerous occasions, allowed many players to turn the advantage of the game in their favor. From then on, while blackjack was at that time considered the exclusive domain of women, more and more men began to take an interest in it and to carefully study the basic strategy. In response, gambling establishments, in order to reduce the player's advantage and restore their own, incorporated additional card games and rules into the shoe.
The soft hand and the hard hand (Hard and Soft totals)
There are two main basic strategies in blackjack. The first assumes that the player has not been dealt an Ace (hard hand), while the second implies that they have received one (soft hand). The most important aspect to remember at this level is that the difference between a hard hand and a soft hand is directly related to the Ace.
- SoftTotal A hand that contains an Ace is considered a soft hand when the Ace is counted as 1 or 11, without exceeding a total of 21. For example, the combination Ace+7 is a soft 18; the combination Ace+King is a soft 21, also known as Blackjack or Natural. Another example is if you have 3+6=9. You draw a third card, which is an Ace. Your total will either be 10=3+6+Ace (1), or 20=3+6+Ace (11). Obviously, you would prefer the Soft 20 total in the previous example. A soft hand offers more flexibility and better choices for the player. It also allows the player to draw another card for a Soft total without going over 21 (Bust).
- HardTotal A hard hand in blackjack means that the total number of points in a hand does not contain any Aces, or contains Aces that each count as 1 in value. A hand composed of Ace+7+10 is a Hard 18, since the Ace only counts as 1. If counted as 11, the hand would exceed 21. If you get 10+6, you have a Hard 16; if you get 10+6+Ace, you have a Hard 17.
It is important to understand the difference between a soft hand and a hard hand, as this can affect the basic strategy that you use. It is also worth noting that blackjack involves a bit of skill, so experienced players will have a better chance of taking advantage of the house's small edge than beginners.
The Risks of Basic Blackjack Strategy
If you decide to follow basic blackjack strategy to the letter while avoiding deviation from it, the redistribution rate According to standard rules, the RTP (Return to Player) for blackjack is 99.63%. This is an extremely high RTP, both in a physical casino and online platforms. This is why blackjack is such a popular card game. However, despite this high RTP, it has a low variance, as the highest payout for a single hand is limited to only 3 to 2 when you get a blackjack.
Therefore, it is not possible for a blackjack player to win huge amounts in a single game, as is the case with slot machines. You should keep in mind that applying basic strategy does not guarantee a sure win, because even if you decide to follow it scrupulously, the RTP will always be below 100%. On the flip side, it is in your best interest to use it even if you have a few bad hands.
Those who use basic strategy consistently show better performance than those who make decisions based on their instinct. Furthermore, always resort to the basic strategy for every decision you make instead of only using it on the initial drawn card, as most players tend to do.
The number of games
It is always a good option to start by doing some research on the number of decks used in the blackjack variant you wish to participate in before committing. Indeed, this is an aspect that can impact the house edge, even if only slightly. We present below these different decks, as well as the house edge in percentage:
- Single deck of playing cards: 0.17%;
- A double deck of playing cards: 0.46%;
- Four decks of cards: 0.60%;
- Six decks of cards: 0.64%;
- Eight decks of cards: 0.65%.
You will notice that the difference between the number of games used is rather small, but also that it is to your advantage that the fewest possible games are used. You will also realize that double and eight-game variants are rarely available online, unlike four and six-game variants which are the most common. The variant with a single game is the one that casinos offer the most, but you will be limited to one hand and the cards will be shuffled after each round.
The advantage can only manifest itself with exceptional hands in which a large number of a particular card will appear repeatedly, which is a decisive factor when making a decision.
The Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart
Very few players know that basic blackjack strategy charts differ depending on the number of games and the specific rules of the table. THE blackjack variants Popular courants among players don't have much impact on the basic strategy of blackjack and you can play confidently knowing that the chart will be good enough to cover popular variations where the dealer hits on Soft 17 and when you double after a Split. Here's the basic strategy chart for blackjack in its standard version.
| Hand | Dealer's hand | |||||||||
| of the player | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | HAS |
| 17+ | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| 16 | R | R | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 15 | R | R | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 14 | R | R | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 13 | R | R | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 12 | T | T | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | T |
| 10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | T | T |
| 9 | T | D | D | D | T | T | T | T | T | T |
| 5 à 8 | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-8 to A-10 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| A-7 | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | T | T | T |
| A-6 | T | D | D | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| AT 5 | T | T | D | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-4 | T | T | D | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-3 | T | T | T | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-2 | T | T | T | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-A and 8-8 | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI |
| 10-10 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| 9-9 | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | R | DI | DI | R | R |
| 7-7 | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | T | T | T | T |
| 6-6 | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | T | T | T | T | T |
| 5-5 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | T | T |
| 4-4 | T | T | T | DI | DI | T | T | T | T | T |
| 3-3 | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | T | T | T | T |
| 2-2 | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | DI | T | T | T | T |
T = Pull
R = stay
DI = Divide
D = Double
Although the rules are quite similar for both land-based and online casinos, there are a few peculiarities that you should know. The most important rule that usually makes all the difference and has a significant impact on the blackjack strategy is whether you will have the option to surrender and whether the dealer must hit on Hard/Soft 17.
How do you memorize and achieve a good command of basic blackjack strategy?
Keeping the basic blackjack strategy in mind is important, but mastering it in order to apply it effectively is just as important. There is no other magic formula for this than diligent practice. Fortunately, in the face of the difficulty of regularly going to a gaming hall, there are other less costly methods to get enough practice in this game.
- Live blackjack games It is a trick that requires almost no effort, as you are only there as an observer. This will allow you to enjoy the game and closely observe the various actions initiated by the players, which will familiarize you with the rules more or less quickly. On the YouTube platform, you will find an abundance of these live streaming blackjack sequences, but also on other platforms designed by card game pros.
- Free online blackjack games jeux en ligne pour tester vos compétences et voir votre progression. Alors, qu'attendez-vous ? Venez découvrir nos jeux et améliorer votre stratégie de base dès maintenant ! free blackjack games on our website and you don't even need to bet real money. There are no stakes here other than practicing and developing the necessary skills to become a seasoned player.
game deviations
A deviation or a playing deviation is a phase during which the player deviates from the basic strategy due to a change in the card composition caused by a change in the true count. As an example, you should normally hit a 12 against a 2; however, if the true count goes beyond 3, it is statistically more appropriate to stand with the 12 against the 2, so that at any moment, you can hit 12 against 2 before a True 3.
About 60-80% of a card counter's advantage comes from basic strategy, perfect counting and betting based on True Count The deviations account for the remaining 20 to 40%. That's why it is strongly advised to primarily focus on the basic strategy, counting, and converting the True Count until they are always accurate to 100%. The reason is that you cannot beat blackjack without a reliable bet, basic strategy, and counting.
Game deviations can be valuable in several ways. First, they have the ability to increase the expected value; therefore, rather than considering these deviations as a deviation from the basic strategy, you can consider them as the appropriate basic strategy for each True Count. Let's take the example of the decision to hit 12 against 2. With a True Count below 3, you will make a lot of money in the long run if you always hit. But you will make even more with a True Count above 3 if you always stand.
Another aspect for which playing deviations is exciting is that they reduce risk and variance. By always making the right decision, your bankroll will experience fewer setbacks. For example, if you always take insurance at a True 3, you protect your bankroll and it will have less risk than if you abstain from using deviations.
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