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Two myths must be exploded before any discussion of blackjack strategy can even begin: the first is that there is such a thing as a system which guarantees that you will win. There isn't. In fact, you have to wonder why if any "expert" had such a system he would be spending his time writing about it when he could be in the casinos making millions each day.
The second myth is that card counting will give you a big edge. Card counting will give that edge to a mathematical genius if he is playing in a land casino. He will let him know when to place bigger bets and when to keep them small. Normal people, however, can not keep track of the cards well enough. Even a genius, however, can't count cards when playing on line as the decks are automatically reshuffled after every deal.
What, then, can this article do for you? It can show you the best way to play each hand you are dealt -- and keep you from making the mistakes which casinos love to see.
When you receive your first two cards, you will have several options. You can "stick" -- which means that you will play the two cards you are dealt. You can take a "hit" -- meaning asking for another card. Indeed, you can keep asking for more cards until you hit 21 or go over it. If the two cards you were dealt were identical (eg: two fours, two aces, two face cards, etc) you can "split" them. This means you put the same bet you originally made on each card and then get a new second card for each. You then proceed to play each hand. Lastly, you can "double down" -- in this case, you double your bet but only get one more card.
The key to good blackjack play is knowing when to take each of these choices.
Different casinos sometimes have unusual rules, but in most cases the dealer must stick if he gets 17 or better, even if that is a "soft" 17. (A "soft" number is one which is reached by counting the ace as an 11. Thus an ace and a 6 are are soft 17. You, as the player, have the choice of counting that ace as a 1 or an 11, whichever is better for you.) Some casinos allow you to split aces and play them both as you would any other hand, but most allow you only one additional card for each split ace.
Most casinos will not allow you to double down after you have split cards and most do not allow you to "surrender". The offer of "insurance" is such a sucker bet that I won't even get into it -- just refuse it each and every time.
The advice I will be giving you is based on the casino playing by the usual rules.
Let's take a look at every possible card total you have (be it from two or more cards) and how you should play it:
2: This is only possible if you have two aces. Always split aces, no matter what the dealer is showing.
3: This is only possible if you have an ace and a 2. Always take a hit but double down if the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6.
4: This is possible with an ace and a 3 or a pair of 2s. If it is an ace/3 combination, take a hit but double down if the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6. If it is a pair of 2s, and the dealer is showing a 2 or a 3, split if you will be allowed to double down; if not hit. If the dealer is showing a 4, 5, 6, or 7, split. If he has an 8 or above, hit.
5: From this point on, it is possible that you will have more than two cards. Still, the advice remains the same no matter how many you have (except that you can only double down or split if you reach this number on your first two cards). If it is a hard 5, take a hit no matter what the dealer is showing. If it is a soft 5, count the ace as an 11 and play as shown with a 16.
6: If you have a pair of 3s, and the dealer is showing a 2 or a 3, split if you will be allowed to double down; if not hit. If the dealer is showing a 5, 5, 6, or 7, split. If the dealer is showing an 8 or above, hit. If it is a hard 6, take a hit no matter what the dealer is showing. If you have a soft 6, count the ace as an 11 and play as showing with a 17.
7: If it is a hard 7, take a hit no matter what the dealer is showing. If you have a soft 7, count the ace as an 11 and play as showing with a 18.
8: If it is a hard 8, take a hit no matter what the dealer is showing. If you have a soft 8, count the ace as an 11 and play as showing with a 19.
9: With a hard 9, double down if the dealer is showing a 3, 4, 5, or 6. Otherwise take a hit. With a soft 9, double down if the dealer is showing a 6. With anything else, stick.
10. Double down unless the dealer is showing a 10 or an Ace. If he is, take a hit. (It is impossible to have a soft 10 and you should never split 5s).
11: Double down no matter what the dealer is showing.
12: If you have two 6s, and the dealer is showing a 2, split if a double down is allowed after the split. If not, take a hit. If the dealer is showing a 3, 4, 5, or 6, split. If he is showing a 7 or above, hit. If you don't have two 6's, stay if the dealer is showing a 4, 5, or 6. Hit with anything else.
13: With a hard 13, stay if the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Hit if he shows anything else. With a soft 13, double down if the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6. Otherwise, take a hit.
14: If you have a pair of 7s, split if the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. Hit if he is showing anything else. Hit With a hard 14, stay if the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Hit if he shows anything else. With a soft 14, double down if the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6. Otherwise, take a hit.
15: With a hard 15, stay if the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Hit if he shows a 7, 8, or 9. If he shows a 10 or an ace, surrender if allowed. Otherwise, take a hit. With a soft 15, double down if the dealer is showing a 4, 5, or 6. Otherwise, take a hit.
16: If you have a pair of 8s, split unless the dealer is showing an ace. If he does show an ace, surrender if allowed, otherwise split. With a hard 16, stick if the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. If he shows a 7 or an 8, hit. If he shows a 9, 10, or ace surrender if allowed, otherwise hit. With a soft 16, double down if the dealer is showing a 4, 5 or 6. If he has anything else, hit.
17: With a hard 17, stick unless the dealer is showing an ace. If he is, surrender if possible, otherwise stick. With a soft 17, double down if the dealer is showing a 3, 4, 5 or 6. If he has anything else, hit.
18: If you have a pair of 9s, split unless the dealer is showing a 7, 10, or ace. He is is, stick. With a hard 18, stick no matter what the dealer shows. With a soft 18, double down if the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Stick if he is showing a 7 or 8. Hit if he is showing a 9, 10, or ace.
19: With a hard 19, stick no matter what the dealer shows. With a soft 19, double down if the dealer is showing a 6, otherwise stick.
20-21: Always stick (and never split 10s or face cards).
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