Blackjack Rules Chart

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Blackjack Odds A single deck game with Las Vegas Strip rules and double after splitting allowed actually gives the player a +0.1% advantage Blackjack, or 21, is the most popular casino game. One of the biggest reasons for its popularity is it’s a simple contest between you and the dealer. You need not con. GAMING GUIDE - HOW TO PLAY BLACKJACK 5 Once all players have completed their hands, the dealer deals himself a second face up card. The dealer must abide by the house rules and has to draw a card on any point total of 16 or less and stand on any point total of 17 or more. If the dealer busts by drawing a card to put him over.

There are different theories regarding the origin of blackjack. Despite this, however, the game has hit different countries around the world by storm. Blackjack is one of the most sought after card games in the industry, available across both online and land-based casinos.

Blackjack rules also serve another important purpose for the casino. It is the rules of blackjack which help to determine the house edge. Blackjack has been constructed in such a way that the house is always guaranteed to win in the long run if the player follows the rules. As the strategy recommends only the best decisions from a mathematical point of view, the blackjack strategy chart is the table that contains all the solutions recommended by blackjack basic strategy. This, or any chart for other set of rules, is the most convenient way to consult the strategy each time you play.

Blackjack’s fast-paced gameplay and massive winning opportunities – especially when using a blackjack strategy – is what draws more players to it.

Blackjack Rules Chart

As you play blackjack, your main goal, like the majority of other online casino games, is to help you win! And while the majority of the other online casino games are left to chance, blackjack stands out. With a good blackjack strategy guide, it’s easy to greatly reduce the house edge and increase your winning opportunities.

We’ve included several online blackjack strategies, explaining each one of them in detail. Our main objective is to ensure that even the newest of gamers can play like professionals. The strategies include:

  • Blackjack basic strategy
  • Blackjack strategy chart
  • The famous blackjack card counting strategy
  • Martingale blackjack strategy
  • Splitting and doubling down

The strategies above can be implemented at either land-based or online casinos. It may take some time and practice for you to fully execute them with perfection. Also, it’s necessary to know the basic blackjack rules before using any strategies.

  • Want more knowledge on casino game strategies? Find out in our Best Roulette Strategies article.

Blackjack Basic Strategy

Before we look into the more complicated strategies, it’s important to review some basic ones. These are what we’d like to refer to as industry standards, as they are widely used by players worldwide:

  • If the first two cards give you a hand value of 16, it’s best you surrender
  • Remember when to split a hand
  • Know when to double a hard hand
  • See what is the right time to hit

Blackjack Strategy Chart

Blackjack strategy chart might be a little confusing at first. As we’ve already stated, these strategies take time but with practice every day, you’ll soon be playing like a pro. In fact, after using this blackjack strategy chart, you’ll start observing a pattern, linking the gameplay with certain parts of the chart.

A small blackjack strategy chart will help the players decide when to split, stand or double down.

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Using the Strategy Chart for Blackjack in Four Easy To Follow Steps>

  • Look at the dealer’s up card value and that of your hand.
  • On the blackjack table, identify the cells where these two values coincide.
  • Use the keys at the bottom of the blackjack strategy chart to determine the move you should make.

*Note the blackjack strategy chart is not a sure way of winning. It only represents the best course of action that you should take as you play blackjack. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the ins and outs of the blackjack strategy chart, you’ll realize you are winning more often!

In some instances, it’s best you combine the use of this strategy chart for blackjack with a blackjack hand calculator. This is meant to give you a quantifiable amount that you stand to lose at any particular instance.

Card Counting Strategy

Card counting is perhaps one of the most known forms of blackjack strategy card. So popular is Blackjack card counting that it’s banned across most of the land-based casinos across the world. The majority of people, especially the newbies, believe that it’s sophisticated. However, all one needs to do is practise it a few times to remember it.

Casinos, both the land-based and online ones, have ways of making sure you don’t win at the tables. At the end of it all, they are a business and all they want is to maximize the profits. And in order to render or make card counting blackjack strategy difficult, they are adding multiple decks to the game.

But despite the number of decks they add to their blackjack games, with card counting, you can always win. What you, however, need to remember is you should always factor in the house edge before making any move. You also need to know you’ll have to learn blackjack strategy and perfect it by practicing it severally. You won’t just execute it perfectly from the get-go, but continuous practice will help you get it right and simplify the whole process.

In order to learn the blackjack strategy, you’ll have to follow these three steps below.

Blackjack rules pdf

How Do You Count Cards In Blackjack

Step 1: You’ll have to assign different cards categories to different values. The first category is the group 2-6. The second category is the group 7-9 and the last category is the group 10-A (high-value cards). As they appear, you’ll have to assign them the following values.

  • Group 2-6: Assign them +1
  • Group 7-9: Assign them 0
  • The 10-A group: Assign them -1

Step 2: This step involves accounting for the cards. You’ll have to keep a total based on the cards drawn by the dealer and the player

Step 3: The last step is referred to as True Count (Doing the actual card counting). To do this, you’ll have to number the decks involved in dealing. They’ll tell you the best time to raise a bet as well as give you an indication of when the dealer will cards in your favour.

Should you need more info on how card counting in blackjack works, here’s Mike Aponte of the famous MIT Blackjack team breaking it down:

If you require more information on counting cards when playing against dealers online, check out our article on counting cards at live casinos.

A More Conservative Blackjack Strategy Guide

If the strategy above seems to be a little more overwhelming to you, then you can always try out the more conservative blackjack gambling strategy. This is especially very important and easy to use for those of you looking to try out blackjack. You can execute it as you try to build your bankroll gradually instead of doing it all at once.

The whole procedure involves staking small amounts while taking fewer risks, being very keen on when to surrender, hit or stand.

We know it might be very boring to do this, especially if you are a thrill seeker searching for the elusive once-in-a-lifetime win. However, over an extended period of time, this blackjack gambling strategy will ease you in with the game, enabling you to understand both the rules and the strategy.

Without wasting much time, let’s get down to these two popular conservative blackjack gambling strategy.

Martingale Blackjack Gambling Strategy

The martingale blackjack gambling strategy is the least conservative form of blackjack strategy, while a different form of the same strategy is used in roulette. It dictates that your bet is doubled every time you lose your bet. Should you lose the bet again, you double it again. This continues until you lock in a win.

It’s not only a crazy strategy, but it’s also a risky one, as you can easily get your bankroll depleted within no time, especially if you are staking huge sums of money. However, once you land a win, you’ll not only recover all the amount that you’ve staked over time, but you’ll also be able to lock in a win equivalent to the initial amount you’d wagered.

For instance:

  • Your initial stake is €50 – result; lose
  • According to the Martingale gambling strategy, your next stake should be €100 – result; lose
  • On the third stake, it should be €200 – result; lose
  • On the fourth stake, it should be €400 – result; win

When you do your calculation, amount lost = €(50+100+200) = €350.

Amount won = €400.

Net Profit = €400 – €350 = €50 (which is equivalent to your initial €50 wager).

1-3-2-6 Strategy

The 1-3-2-6 blackjack strategy is slightly less risky than the outgoing strategy. It has found popularity among some of the professional blackjack players because it offers a much better way of managing funds. It’s a systematic form of betting and usually requires you to follow the trail above after your initial win. For instance:

  • The first bet is equivalent to €100. If it results in a win, continue to the second bet.
  • On your second bet, wager €300.
  • If you won the previous bet, wager €200 on your third bet.
  • On your fourth bet, wager €600, if the previous was won.
  • If you won, wager €100 on the fifth bet.

As soon as you’ve recorded the loss, you are required to go back to the initial wager of €100 and start all over again until you record a win.

*The 1-3-2-6 blackjack strategy is highly dependent on the luck of the draw more than any other strategies listed above. Yet despite this, it’s the best way of keeping track of the bets you make, hence enabling you to play for longer.

Splitting and Doubling Down Blackjack Game Strategy

Splitting and doubling down are some of the most common actions taken while playing the game of blackjack.

  • In the simplest definition, splitting means you are simply ‘splitting’ a hand with a pair into two new hands. The new hand will require you to stake a hand that’s equivalent to the first hand, which in turn doubles your winning chances.
  • In some instances, you can opt to double down your initial wager. Once you’ve doubled down your bet, you’ll be dealt one more card after which you are required to stand. Doubling down is usually highly recommended, especially when you know you have a strong hand over the dealer.
Blackjack

When Is The Best Time To Split or Double Down?

Splitting and doubling down Blackjack game strategy is meant to tell you when is the right time to hit or stand. This section of the blackjack strategy guide is to highlight this!

When you’ve been dealt a pair of Aces, the best move is to split irrespective of the situation. It’s the blackjack community consensus that it’s the most effective way of playing a split hand. Generally, you can split as many times as possible. However, there are online casinos that limit the number of times you can split a hand.

If you’ve been dealt a pair of 8s, you should split the hand automatically. This is the best move because a score of 16 is a very weak hand, especially when you’ll be coming up against the dealer’s strong hand. Therefore, instead of hitting and eventually busting, split the pair and play it as new hands. This is the best strategy!

The only time you can split a pair of 7s, 3s or 2s, is when you the dealer’s up-card is 7. Any other card is too risky and you should avoid it at all costs!

Unless this is your first time playing online blackjack, it should be common sense that splitting a pair of 10s is a suicidal move. Having a hand of 20 is a risky starting point unless you are 100% certain that the next cards to be dealt with will be low-value cards. Instead of splitting a pair of 10s, always stand!

In short:

  • Never split a pair of 6s, 5s or 4s
  • Never split a pair of 10s and 9s, not unless the dealer’s hand is a 3 or 2
  • Only split 7s, 3s, and 2s when observing the soft 17 rule
  • You can split and re-split 8s
  • Never hesitate to split aces

Blackjack Rules Chart Basic Strategy

Check out our splitting in blackjack guide to find out more about it!

When Is The Right Time To Double Down?

Doubling down in blackjack is dependent on two factors:

  • The dealer’s up-card
  • The value of your two cards

If the value of your hand is either 11 or 10, then you should double down. However, if the dealer’s up-card is a 10 or 9, then you should proceed and hit as normal

Blackjack Rules Chart 4-8 Decks

If the dealer’s up-card is a low-value card such as a 4, 3 or 2, then doubling down is the best move if you also happen to be having a low-value card. Why? There’s a high chance that the dealer will bust with such cards

You should never double down if your hand value is anything above 11. Should you choose to double down and bust, it will be equivalent to losing twice your bet

What’s The Best Starting Point

All you’ve read can be a little overwhelming, more so if you are new to playing this beautiful card game. So, before you can start playing the game, it’s important you are a little bit comfortable with the blackjack numbers as well as familiarizing yourself with the blackjack strategy chart above. After that, you can always proceed and play blackjack online at recommended online casinos.

Why should you learn how to play blackjack strategy at the online casinos? Well, in addition to playing the majority of the blackjack games for free, you can also receive help whenever you need it. The majority of the online casinos recommended are also optimized fully for mobile play, which means you can always take the game with you whenever you feel like.

Once you are full of confidence and wouldn’t mind switching the play, you can always play the real money live blackjack games. The live dealer platform is energetic, fun and full of players with different characters. When playing the game here, and you implement the best blackjack strategy you’ve perfected, there are very fewer chances you won’t win!

Closing Thoughts on Blackjack Strategy

Above all, it’s important to remind you that there are several other blackjack strategies online. However, regardless of the strategy chart for blackjack you choose, the MOST IMPORTANT rule is to have clear limits from the get-go. This ensures you won’t lose all your bankroll in one sitting (check out our other bankroll management tips).

Also, while the strategies above are sure to improve your blackjack play online, sadly, there isn’t a sure way of winning at every hand that you play. This is because, from the start, the odds are stacked against you all due to the dealer’s experience, the number of decks employed and the casino’s edge.

If you’ve read this far, we would like to believe that the information listed above is sufficient enough to see you off on your quest to becoming a proficient blackjack player.

All the best!

Want to use these strategies straight away? Make sure to play online Blackjack games on CasinoChan to practice the chart above and win!

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Blackjack basic strategy is a blackjack chart that includes all the possible combinations of your hand against the dealer’s hole card. While you won’t make money by following the rules of that strategy, it’s the first step you should take if you want to turn into a winning blackjack player. And that step will minimize the casino’s edge against you. That is you will lose less money by applying the blackjack basic strategy!

Casino players have heard it before: The house always wins. They do accept the fact that they are going to lose money but at least they are going to have fun. In the process they tend to forget that and begin devising new methods and strategies, in order to beat the dealer and come out winners. Eventually they are doomed to fail, since the science behind casino games is nothing more than mathematics. And mathematics never lie. Playing blackjack online isn’t any different.

Blackjack Basic Strategy and Rules

Blackjack basic strategy is tailored towards specific blackjack rules. Depending on 6 rules of the game, there can be basic strategy variations, so that the dealer’s edge is minimized in each occasion.

  1. Number of card decks: There are a definite number of decks in each shoe. Most casinos use 6 decks of cards, although you may find games with as low as 2 decks or as high as 8! Many decks favor the casino, less decks reduce the house’s edge.
  2. Soft 17 (S17): you may have noticed on the blackjack tables: Dealer stands on soft 17 (S17). In other words, they have to stop drawing cards when their cards are A6. The opposite is H17 and favors the casino.
  3. Double any two cards: Blackjack players usually have the option to double any two first cards they get dealt. Even when the sum of the cards is as low as 5! You may also double A9 according to that rule (I still remember when I did that back in my card counting days!). Alternatively you may be allowed to double only when the cards’ sum is between 9 and 11 (D9) and even worse when the cards’ value is either 10 or 11 (D10).
  4. Double after split (DAS): Assuming my hand is 88 I decide to split my hand. In case a 2 or a 3 is dealt at either card (for a sum of 10 or 11), I may want to double. As long as the casino offers me that option and I double, the house’s edge is decreased.
  5. Surrender: Quitting before we hit or stand and losing half of the wager at the start of the hand is called surrender. There are two types of “surrender” depending on the choice given before or after the dealer checks their hole card for a likely blackjack; the very rare “early surrender” and the “late surrender” (ES and LS respectively). You should sit at blackjack tables that offer any type of surrender, as that rule favors your odds.
  6. US/European style: In US blackjack tables, dealers are dealt two cards, one facing down. In Europe the dealer is dealt just one card facing up obviously.

Blackjack basic strategy: 6 decks, S17, DAS, No surrender, European

These are the rules of the blackjack game I used to play almost on a daily basis before the introduction of the automatic shuffling machines. Every new player, who wanted to play “correctly”, had to memorize the following Blackjack chart. They wouldn’t make money in the long run, but their hobby would cost them the minimum.

Blackjack basic strategy examples

  • Me (35), dealer (9): My cards’ value is 8. Reading the 4th line of the blackjack chart I am instructed to hit my hand, given the “H” under the dealer’s “9” column. Besides, whatever the dealer’s card, I must take a card. The real issue here isn’t whether I hit my hand or not. It’s about a “double” being a better option.
  • Me (64), dealer (10): Holding a combined 10 and according with the 6th line of the blackjack Basic Strategy, I have to just hit and avoid doubling up. That course of action (double) should be taken if the dealer’s card was anything but a 10, J, Q, K or an Ace.
  • Me (J2), dealer (5): The blackjack basic strategy’s 8th line prompts me to stand on 12! This applies when dealer shows a 4, a 5 or a 6; otherwise I need to draw a card.
  • Me (97), dealer (K): Basic strategy (12th line) says I have to hit. No matter my position at the table I have to follow that rule. Even if I am sitting at the last seat of the blackjack table, I MUST hit. Although other players sitting at the same table will negatively comment on my action and recommend me to stand on 16, it’s a mistake mathematically to stand.
  • Me (A4), dealer (4): Blackjack basic strategy recommends doubling if the dealer’s card is a 4 to 6. In any other case, I should just hit. In that instance we should consider our hand as a “5” and not a “15”. If a ten comes along, our cards’ value is “15” and basic strategy’s 11th line advises to stand.
  • Me (44), dealer (5): I need to split my 4’s. If the dealer’s card was any other card than a five or a six, my hand would have been a plain eight.
  • Me (55), dealer (9): Double. In case dealer was showing a ten or an Ace, I should hit. Of course you should never split fives. Don’t lose focus when the dealer asks you “Split sir?” when you double your bet. They are trying to win more money from you!
  • Me (99), dealer (7): Blackjack basic strategy’s recommended action is to stand. If I split my nines, I would lose more money in the long run.

Advantages of blackjack basic strategy

By applying blackjack basic strategy when playing blackjack you effectively decrease the casino’s edge. If you follow the rules shown above without making any mistake, the house has a 0.55% edge against you. This means that for every 10 dollars you bet, you lose 5.5 cents long term. If you play 50 hands per hour, your entertainment will cost you about 3 dollars!

The more I deviate from blackjack basic strategy’s rules, the more the casino’s edge increases. If I begin standing on 16 against dealer’s ten, not doubling my nine or not splitting my threes against dealer’s two to seven, the house’s edge might increase more than 1%! I would then lose money twice as much per hour! Making even bigger mistakes, such as never splitting Aces, hitting 15 versus dealer’s six or doubling my 11 against dealer’s low card, my disadvantage could easily skyrocket more than 3%, donating more money to the casino!

Memorizing the Blackjack chart of the basic strategy is necessary if you want to play blackjack correctly. Learning blackjack basic strategy is also required if you also want to become a card counter later. Finally, by adopting basic strategy when playing blackjack, you’ll earn the respect and trust of other good blackjack players, who might bet on your hand, when the odds are in their favor!

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