Blackjack Basic Strategy and Blackjack Tips

Welcome to the Black Jack information page.

Blackjack is perhaps the most exciting and most popular casino game. Blackjack is a game of skill where the player with his expertise tries to beat the dealer. Your objective is to draw cards until your hand adds up to 21 or beat the dealer's hand by getting as close to 21 as possible, without going bust (exceeding 21). If you bust, you lose, whatever the dealer's hand totals. It is played with between one and six standard decks of cards, depending on the type of blackjack game you are playing.

You have to understand the nature of the game and play correctly to maximize your chances of winning.

Blackjack is one of the easiest games to understand and there are proven techniques which can be used to maximize your chances of success. It's mathematically proven that an experienced player can have 1-2% advantge over the casino. To realize this advantage, you need to have some basic qualities: Must know the rules, self-controll, concentration, understanding the odds, game plan and money management.
If you follow this strategy, you reduce the house edge to a bare minimum. This strategy and the charts are based on research and laws of probability and combinatorics.

Card Values:

From 2 to 10 - face value
Jack, Queen, King - 10
Ace - 11 or 1
Suits have no significance on the game.

• Regardless of what the dealer's up card is, always split Aces and 8's.
• Never split 10's, 4's and 5's.
• Increase the amount of your bet only when you are winning.
• Multiply your normal bet by 40 in order to determine an appropriate bankroll.
• Your expected loss will be much greater if you imitate the dealer ( Hitting all 16's, standing on 17's and never splitting or doubling.) rather than playing by the strategy chart.

Want to know whether to "hit' or "stand"?

The strategy charts can act as a guide when deciding on whether to ask for an additional card or not.. Look through the charts and make sure you understand how they work.

The value of your hand is in the left hand column, the dealer's is on the top row.

Table A. Drawing rules for hard totals.

Table B. Drawing rules for soft totals.

Table C. Drawing rules for pairs.

Table D. Drawing rule descriptions.

Blackjack Terms:

21
This is when the value of the cards dealt equal 21, but is not a Blackjack. For example, a Nine of Spades, a Four of Diamonds and an Eight of Clubs equals 21. Note: Blackjack always beats a hand with a value of 21.

Blackjack
This is when your hand contains an Ace and a card with a value of 10. It is the strongest hand, and automatically Stands. It cannot be beaten, only matched.

Bust
If your hand value exceeds 21, your hand is bust. The hand is over and you lose your bet

Denomination
The face value on the cards, Ace, King, Queen, Jack and from 2 to 10. Note: A Jack, Queen or King have the value of 10, and the Ace has the value of either 1 or 11.

Double Down
This is a side bet that your hand will beat the Dealer’s with only one more card drawn. You can Double Down on any combination. You are dealt one card and your hand automatically stands. Doubling costs the same as your original bet. If you win you are paid double your total bet. This win amount is equal to four times your original bet.

Hit
This is when you request another card from the shoe because your hand is not strong enough to beat the Dealer’s hand. You are dealt one card.

Hole Card
The Dealer is dealt two cards, one face-up and one face-down. The face-down card is called the Hole Card.

Insurance
This is a side bet against the possibility of the Dealer getting Blackjack. You can take Insurance if the Dealer’s first card is an Ace. Insurance costs half your original bet

Push
This is when your hand and the Dealer’s hand tie. You are paid your original bet.

Split
You can split two cards with the same Denomination or Value, such as a Queen and a Ten, or two Fours. Your hand is divided into two separate hands and a bet equal to your original bet is placed on the second hand. Therefore, your bet is doubled. A new card is dealt to each hand and you play these hands as normal. Note: You can Split a maximum number of 3 times. This equals 4 hands. This rule excludes Aces. Aces are only Split once.

Stand
This is when you are satisfied with the value of your hand and do not want to draw any more cards. This ends the play of your hand. The Dealer plays their hand and both hands are compared.

Value
Value refers to the numerical value of a card. Jack, Queen and King have the value of 10. The Ace card has a value of either 1 or 11. 

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