Blackjack basic strategy won't make you rich but will save you money

Blackjack basic strategy is a blackjack hand chart that includes all the possible blackjack combinations of your hand against the dealer’s hole card.

While you won’t make money by following the rules of this blackjack 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. In other words:

Casino players have heard it before: The house always wins.

Gamblers accept the fact that they will lose money, but at least they will have fun.

In the process, they tend to forget that, though, and begin devising new methods and strategies to beat the dealer and emerge winners. Eventually, they are doomed to fail since the science behind casino games is nothing more than mathematics.

And mathematics never lies. 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.

First, a few definitions.

What is S17 in blackjack?

S17 in blackjack stands for "Stand on Soft 17."

A soft 17 is a hand that totals 17 and includes an Ace counted as 11 (for example, A6). The rule of S17 means that the dealer must stand or not draw any more cards when their hand totals a soft 17.

This rule affects the house edge and can influence the player's strategy, as it slightly favors the player compared to the alternative rule, H17 (Hit on Soft 17), where the dealer must hit on a soft 17.

What is DA2 in blackjack?

DA2 in blackjack stands for "Double Any Two."

This rule allows players to double down on any initial two-card hand. Doubling down is a move where the player doubles their initial bet in exchange for committing to stand after receiving exactly one more card.

We can double down 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)

The DA2 rule is advantageous to players because it provides more opportunities to double down, potentially increasing their winnings.

What is DAS in blackjack?

DAS in blackjack stands for "Double After Split."

This rule allows players to double down on their bet after they have split a pair of cards into two separate hands.

For example, if a player is dealt two 8s and decides to split them, they can then double down on either or both of the new hands after receiving the second card. If a 2 or a 3 is dealt at either card (for a sum of 10 or 11), I may want to double, depending on the dealer's hole card.

DAS is favorable to players because it provides additional opportunities to maximize their bets in advantageous situations.

Other rules that affect blackjack odds

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. 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.
3. 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 they barred me for counting cards and installing automatic shuffling machines.

Every new player, who wanted to play “correctly”, had to memorize the following Blackjack hand 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 4^th 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 to the 6^th 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 8^th line prompts me to stand on 12! This applies when the dealer shows a 4, a 5, or a 6; otherwise, I need to draw a card.
• Me 97, dealer K: Basic strategy (12^th 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 11^th 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 5 or a 6, my hand would have been a plain 8.
• Me 55, dealer 9: Double. In case the dealer was showing a 10 or an A,, 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 every hour!

The more I deviate from the blackjack basic strategy’s rules, the more the casino’s edge increases.

If I begin:

• standing on 16 against the dealer’s ten
• not doubling my 9 or
• not splitting my 33 against the dealer’s 2 to 7

the house’s edge might increase by 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 by more than 3%, donating more money to the casino!

If you're starting out, you might look for easy ways how to memorize the Blackjack basic strategy hands chart, which is necessary if you want to play blackjack correctly. Unfortunately, the only answer is by practicing.

Start dealing cards to yourself and an imaginary dealer and start practicing. It won't take you long to avoid making a single mistake.

Learning blackjack basic strategy is also required if you want to become a card counter later.

Finally, by adopting basic strategy when playing blackjack, you are not only following the rules of blackjack etiquette but will also earn the respect and trust of other good blackjack players, who might bet on your hand when the odds are in their favor!