The aim at winning at Blackjack is to understand the correct basic strategy in playing the various hands. In other words the decision you make on hitting, standing, doubling or splitting pairs is based on the correct mathematical play for that particular hand. You can't make a guess when it comes to basic strategy; it's imperative you make the "percentage" play each time. Even if you've doubled an 11 against a dealer's 10 five times in a row and lost, when that hand comes up a sixth time you must double. To be consistent is a big part of playing a winning game, so resolve right now that you are going to make the proper play, regardless if the dealer rolls his eyes upward or the other players at the table groan quietly when you do it. You are there for the money! There's no other reason to play blackjack and the application of proper basic strategy is going to get that money for you; what others think of your play is not important. Blackjack depends upon the rules of the casino where you will be gambling at. The strategy differs from game to game take for example a single deck game in Reno, , is a bit different than the strategy for an eight-deck game in Atlantic City. We're going to show you how to learn the basic strategy ; exactly what that strategy is will depend on you. Here's what it looks like for a fairly common game: Six decks, double on any first two cards, double after splitting pairs is permitted and the dealer stands on A-6.
Splitting Pairs
Key: * Y = Yes, split the pair * N = No, don't split the pair Soft Totals
Key: * H
= Hit Hard Totals
Key: * H
= Hit
Pay attention at the strategy for a player's hand of 9 on the matrix above; it says to double against a 3,4,5 or 6 and hit it against everything else. We can turn that information into a simple rule: "With a hand of 9, double versus 3 through 6, otherwise hit." See how this works? We are going to take each player's starting hand and convert the proper play of that hand into one easy-to-understand rule. Now look at a hand of A-2. Proper basic strategy says to double against 5 and 6 and hit it against everything else, so our rule for A-2 is "Double vs. 5 & 6, otherwise hit." As a bonus, we can group A-2 with A-3 since the play for each is identical. So we end up with a rule like this "A-2 , A-3; double vs. 5 & 6, otherwise hit." One more example; a pair of 3's. When double after split is permitted, proper basic strategy says to split 3's whenever the dealer is showing a 2,3,4,5,6, or 7. Against any other dealer up card, we do not split; we should just hit the hand. Thus, our rule for a pair of 3's becomes "3,3; split vs. 2-7, otherwise hit". Clear on all that? Good! Below is the basic strategy chart for the matrix shown above. Basic Strategy Chart
Remember, "The Basic Strategy Chart" depicted above applies only to the game as described earlier; you must produce your own that applies to the rules of your favorite casino. Once you've made your Basic Strategy Chart, you can begin to memorize it. To do that, l produce a set of "flashcards". Remember those? You've probably learned how to add or subtract using these cards and they will teach you how to win at Blackjack. You need to make one flashcard for each starting hand by reproducing the information above on a 2" x 2' piece of paper. (Manila file folder material does well for this.) Here's what one looks like:
When you're finished, you'll have a pack of flashcards which will help you to memorize the proper basic strategy for the game you've chosen. Start carrying them with you and as you encounter those "lost" moments we each seem to have in our day -- waiting for a plane, sitting at the dentist's office or even while watching TV, pull your cards out and start reciting the rule for the hand shown. Check your accuracy by flipping over the card and then put it on the bottom of the pack. You'll be amazed at how quickly you begin to learn all these rules. Homework To be good at Blackjack you need to take the above to heart. We didn't say it's gonna be easy, but it will most definately be worth the effort! So start learning studying and good luck!!!
Flashcards: Spend a minimum of one hour each day going through the cards.
Next we'll finish with how to learn basic strategy through a discussion and demonstration of additional training aids and exercises which will give you the means to check your accuracy. It is not necessary for you to have your chosen basic strategy memorized perfectly at that point; all you need to know now is HOW to learn basic strategy. Exactly WHEN you learn it is up to you, since each part of this course is separate and does not depend on you knowing perfectly what came before.
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