Blackjack Basic Strategy
You have heard it before, and you are going to hear it as long as you keep playing blackjack: basic strategy is the best way you can play.
And this is true.
Basic strategy is a chart that will tell you how to play each hand in blackjack. We’re talking your hand total versus the dealer’s up card. And it covers splitting pairs and double downs too.
The best thing about a basic strategy chart is that each play is the best statistical play that you can make for each hand total versus any dealer’s up card. The plays that you see on the chart have been tested in simulations. And while they may not win every single hand, those plays have a better chance of winning than other plays would.
If you play your basic strategy perfectly you can lower the house edge to 0.5%. Normally the house edge for blackjack will range from 2% to 5%. Because of that range, basic strategy is one of the best tools you can use when playing to give yourself better odds.
But in order to lower the house edge to 0.5% you must play it perfectly. That means making your plays exactly as the basic strategy chart tells you to.
This sounds really easy, I know. But when you have been dealt a stiff hard and the chart tells you to stand, your brain starts telling you to hit. What you need to do to make your perfect basic strategy effective is to bring your brain around to understanding and trusting what that chart says. In other words you want to stand on a stiff hand because you have a greater chance of busting than you do of staying close and under 21.
The other thing you must understand about basic strategy is that it will lower the house edge over time, meaning that you will not win every single hand. You will have a better chance of winning because you will be making the best statistical play that you can. But the lowered house edge will happen in time—it is not instantaneous.
Does this sound like too good of a blackjack strategy tool? Does it sound like something casinos will not let you play with?
Well, you can. You can carry a basic strategy chart with you into casinos, sit down and play. The reason they let you do this is because they are banking that you will believe that you will win every hand, and when you do not, you will return to playing randomly—which makes them more money.
So take advantage of this blackjack tool and start playing with it. It takes a bit of practice to become comfortable and familiar with it, to not allow your brain to override the chart. But once you become accustomed to playing with it your blackjack strategy will improve and so will your skill. And that will help you better your chances of winning.
And this is true.
Basic strategy is a chart that will tell you how to play each hand in blackjack. We’re talking your hand total versus the dealer’s up card. And it covers splitting pairs and double downs too.
The best thing about a basic strategy chart is that each play is the best statistical play that you can make for each hand total versus any dealer’s up card. The plays that you see on the chart have been tested in simulations. And while they may not win every single hand, those plays have a better chance of winning than other plays would.
If you play your basic strategy perfectly you can lower the house edge to 0.5%. Normally the house edge for blackjack will range from 2% to 5%. Because of that range, basic strategy is one of the best tools you can use when playing to give yourself better odds.
But in order to lower the house edge to 0.5% you must play it perfectly. That means making your plays exactly as the basic strategy chart tells you to.
This sounds really easy, I know. But when you have been dealt a stiff hard and the chart tells you to stand, your brain starts telling you to hit. What you need to do to make your perfect basic strategy effective is to bring your brain around to understanding and trusting what that chart says. In other words you want to stand on a stiff hand because you have a greater chance of busting than you do of staying close and under 21.
The other thing you must understand about basic strategy is that it will lower the house edge over time, meaning that you will not win every single hand. You will have a better chance of winning because you will be making the best statistical play that you can. But the lowered house edge will happen in time—it is not instantaneous.
Does this sound like too good of a blackjack strategy tool? Does it sound like something casinos will not let you play with?
Well, you can. You can carry a basic strategy chart with you into casinos, sit down and play. The reason they let you do this is because they are banking that you will believe that you will win every hand, and when you do not, you will return to playing randomly—which makes them more money.
So take advantage of this blackjack tool and start playing with it. It takes a bit of practice to become comfortable and familiar with it, to not allow your brain to override the chart. But once you become accustomed to playing with it your blackjack strategy will improve and so will your skill. And that will help you better your chances of winning.