The Basics
As with anything, you can learn the basics of blackjack in minutes…and then spend the rest of your life trying to become a master. The rules of blackjack are simple. Understanding the real details, and seemingly hidden relationships, are what separates a chump on lucky streak from a dependable winner every time.
Remember: there is almost always ONLY one best move that you can make. Experts know each one.
However, don’t needlessly complicate your experience by trying to learn everything at once; a few skills will certainly give you more than enough to enjoy (and more importantly, succeed!) on a regular basis. Get a solid handle on the basics, one step at a time, and then move on to the next step.
The Game Begins
The first thing you must do is put down the minimum qualifying bet to get you into the hand. Clockwise, ending at himself, the dealer hands out one card, face down, to every player at the blackjack table. Then he deals a second face-down card to each player, and lastly a face-up card to himself. Then, players may raise their bets. Oh yes…just in case you didn’t already know this, the goal is to get closer to 21 than anyone else.
Basic Strategy
Basic strategy teaches you which is the the best play, according to the odds. Ever since blackjack first became popular, precise mathematical simulations have provided every possible hand, every card combination. These are commonly known as card charts, basic strategy charts for blackjack (which are, incidentally, widely available online!). Any hand that you can be dealt, any card that the dealer is showing, will be shown in these charts.
If you want a good solid chance of winning as often as possible, memorizing these charts will certainly increase your odds. However, you won’t learn everything there is to know about blackjack from a basic strategy chart, and you definitely won’t be able to refer directly to them during play unless you’re gambling online. The chart only shows you whether to stand (stick with the cards you have) or hit (have the dealer give you another card) depending on those first two cards.
Blackjack Hitting
Simple rule: if you’ve got 8 or less, hit, and if you’ve got 17 – 21, stand.
If you’ve got 9, look at what the dealer is showing. Is it 6 or lower? Double your bet (double down). Higher? Just hit.
If you’ve got 10, and the dealer has 9 or less, double. If the dealer has a high card, hit. Getting the idea?
If you’ve got 11, and the dealer has 10 or less, double. If the dealer shows an Ace, just hit when you have an Ace.
If you’ve got 12, and the dealer has 6 or less, stand. Otherwise, hit.
If you’ve got 13 – 16, and the dealer has 6 or less, stand. Any higher, hit.
Soft Hands in Blackjack
A “soft hand” is where you’ve got an Ace and something else. Why is it soft, you ask? Well, an Ace can mean two things: 1 or 11. For instance, if you’ve got an Ace and a 5, you’ve got both 6 and 16 at the same time. So your life just got more complicated…but this is a good thing for the strategic Blackjack player. Remember: the reason you play Blackjack is because it give you more choice. More choice equals less dumb luck, which means your odds are better.
So if you’ve got an A-2 or A-3, and the dealer is showing a 5 or 6, double. If the dealer is showing anything else, hit.
If you’ve got an A-4 or A-5, and the dealer is holding 2 – 9, double. Otherwise hit.
If you’ve got an Ace and a 6, and the dealer is showing 3 – 6, double. Otherwise, hit.
If you’ve got an A-7, and the dealer is showing a 2, 7 or 8, stand. If the dealer is shows 3 to 6, double. If the dealer’s got 8 or more, just hit.
And if you’ve got an A-8 or A-9, just stand (I guess that’s Simple Rule #3).
Splitting Pairs
Splitting pairs are a lot like soft hands, because you suddenly have two different choices. If the cards are right, it’s like holding two good hands at the same time.
Remember: always split Aces and Eights.
Only split 2 and 3 if the dealer is showing 2 – 7. If the dealer is holding anything higher, hit.
Split 4′s if the dealer holds a 5 or 6. Otherwise, hit.
When players are holding a pair of 5′s, and the dealer shows a 2 – 9, double. Otherwise, hit.
With a pair of 6′s, you should split if the dealer shows 2 – 6, and hit on a 7 or higher.
If you’ve got two 7′s, and the dealer shows 2 – 7, split. If the dealer holds an 8 or higher, hit.
If you’ve got a pair of 10′s, stand. But you probably didn’t need to be told that, right?
