There are many skills that a blackjack player
needs to become a consistent winner. Three major areas where
skill is required are:
- knowledge of the game (basic strategy, understanding
of the odds, house rules and money
management);
- the ability to count cards (100 percent adjustment
of basic strategy); and
- the art of deception (fitting ito the crowd,
understanding session time limits, and avoid getting barred.
Be good at all of these things and you should be able to
win and stay a winner for some time to come.
Basic Blackjack Strategy:
HARD HANDS: all hands not containing an
Ace.
SOFT HANDS: all hands containing an Ace coupled with a 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
PAIRS: all hands that contain a pair of cards with the same
value. A simplified approach to basic blackjack strategy
is as follows:
HARD HANDS:
If you have a 9 or lower, hit.
If you have 10 or 11, double down if your total is more
than the dealer's upcard; hit otherwise.
If you have 12 through 16, hit when the dealer's upcard
is 7 or higher; stand otherwise.
If you have 17 or higher, stand.
SOFT HANDS:
If you have 13 through 18, double down when the dealer's
upcard is 5 or 6.
If you have 17 or lower, hit.
If you have 18, hit when dealer's upcard is 6 or less; stand
when dealer's upcard is 7 or more.
If you have 19 or higher, stand.
PAIRS:
Always split a pair of 8's or Aces.
Never split 10's, 4's, or 5's.
Split all other pairs when dealer's upcard is 6 or less.
Insurance is NOT recommended!
Splitting pairs: If your two cards are the same value,
you can 'split' them into two separate hands. The catch
is that you also have to make two bets (one for each of
the hands you now hold). Each split pair can be split again,
for a total of four hands. If you split on an ace, you can
only take one hit, but for all other cards you can take
as many hits as you want.
Doubling down: When your total is 10 or 11 (after being
dealt your first two cards) you can choose to 'double down'.
This is starting a second bet (up to the same amount as
your original wager).
When doubling, you can only take one hit. (NB It is dangerous
to split two fives - you are replacing a hand that is potentially
excellent for drawing on or doubling down on, by what will
probably be two poor hands.)
Insurance: If the dealer's face-up card is an ace, you
can make a side bet. You can wager up to half your original
bet that the facedown card is worth 10 or more (i.e. a picture
card or a 10).
If you are correct, and the dealer has a Blackjack, the
player wins the side bet (the insurance bet) but loses the
original bet. Therefore the player feels no net loss or
gain. If it's not a face card or a 10, you lose the side
bet or 'insurance'.
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