Reduce the House Edge with Smart Blackjack Play
Blackjack is one of the few casino games where your decisions directly and significantly impact the outcome. Although you can't control the cards, you can control your actions, and using a solid strategy is the key to lowering the casino's advantage. This strategy is known as "basic strategy," and it's the mathematically optimal way to play every hand.
Understanding the Foundation of Smart Play
It's a complete guide for decision-making in blackjack, dictating your move based on your two cards and the dealer's one visible card. This strategy isn't based on guesswork; it's the result of extensive computer analysis of countless game situations. By following basic strategy perfectly, you can lower the house edge to as little as 0.5% in some games, making it one of the best bets in the entire casino.
Key Decisions in Basic Strategy
Basic strategy revolves around four main actions. Here's a simplified look at the general principles:.
- When to Stop Taking Cards: If your hand is a "hard" 17 or higher (a hand without an Ace or casino where the Ace must count as 1), you should almost always stand. The risk of busting is too high.. You also stand on hard totals of 13-16 if the dealer's upcard is weak (2 through 6), as the dealer is more likely to bust..
- When to Take Another Card: Hitting on 11 or less is a risk-free move. You generally hit on totals of 12-16 when the dealer's upcard is strong (7 through Ace), because you assume the dealer has a 10 in the hole and will make a strong hand..
- Double Down: This is one of the most profitable plays in blackjack. The best time to double down is when you have a total of 11, as you have a great chance of getting a 10 and making 21.. Other good doubling spots include a total of 10 against a dealer's 2-9, or a 9 against a dealer's 3-6.
- Creating Two Hands from a Pair: Always split a pair of Aces and a pair of 8s. Splitting Aces gives you two chances to hit a 10 for a blackjack. Splitting 8s turns a terrible hand of 16 into two much more promising hands starting with 8.. Conversely, you should never split a pair of 10s (or face cards), as a hand of 20 is already a very strong, likely winning hand..
How to Learn Basic Strategy
Using a chart is the most effective method for learning the correct plays. These charts are widely available online and show you the correct move for every single player hand casino vs. dealer upcard combination. Start by studying the chart, then practice playing for free at an online casino to get comfortable with the decisions. It might seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice, following basic strategy will become automatic and casino (Going Here) significantly boost your confidence and performance at the blackjack table.
