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Blackjack
Blackjack: Lesson 2 - Advanced Blackjack: The Secrets of Success
By
Oct 14, 2001, 11:06

Basic Strategy

Basic strategy explains the safest way to play out your blackjack hand in order to increase your odds of being a winner.

In order to determine which basic strategy chart applies use these house rules as a basis:
  • The dealer must draw cards until his hand totals at least hard 17, and must stand at hard 17 or higher. The dealer must draw on soft 17.
  • The single deck is shuffled after each round. (In traditional casinos, players can better their chances of winning by learning how to count cards in an effort to predict the cards still left in the deck. However, since the deck is shuffled after each round at DrHo.com LITE, card counting is not possible).
  • Players are allowed to double after splitting, but are not allowed to re-split a split hand.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart

In the following chart, look for the value of your hand in the left-hand column. Then look for the value of dealer's upcard in the top row (A = Ace, 10 = 10 or Picture Card). The chart will tell you which option is statistically favorable:

S = Stand
H = Hit
D = Double Down
SP = SPlit

The Dealer's Upcard

Your Hand 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
17 S S S S S S S S S S
16 S S S S S H H H H H
15 S S S S S H H H H H
14 S S S S S H H H H H
13 S S S S S H H H H H
12 H H S S S H H H H H
11 D D D D D D D D D D
10 D D D D D D D D D H
9 D D D D D H H H H H
5+3
6+2
H H H D D H H H H H
A+8 S S S S D S S S S S
A+7 S D D D D S S H H H
A+6 D D D D D H H H H H
A+5 H H D D D H H H H H
A+4 H H D D D H H H H H
A+3 H H D D D H H H H H
A+2 H H D D D H H H H H
A+A SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP
9+9 SP SP SP SP SP S SP SP S S
8+8 SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP
7+7 SP SP SP SP SP SP SP H S S
6+6 SP SP SP SP SP SP H H H H
5+5 D D D D D D D D H H
4+4 H H SP SP SP H H H H H
3+3 SP SP SP SP SP SP H H H H
2+2 SP SP SP SP SP SP H H H H


Here are some strategies. No matter what the dealer's upcard is:

  • Always split a pair of aces.
  • Always split a pair of 8s.
  • Always stand on 17 and up.
  • Always double on 11.
Good Luck!

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