Black Jack / Twenty-One Basic Strategy

The Game
The game of blackjack is called twenty-one by some players. But regardless of what you call it, the object of the game is to beat the dealer. In fact, "Beat the Dealer", a best selling book from 1963, authored by Edward O Thorp, a professional gambler banned from countless casinos, began the blackjack revolution.

Depending on where you are in the country, blackjack is played with one, two, four, six or eight decks of cards. There are even some casinos that still feature single and double deck games where the dealer holds the cards and deals (pitches) them out to players. In multi-deck games (four decks or higher), the cards are dealt out of a device called a shoe.

In pitched or hand-held blackjack, the cards are dealt face down and the player is allowed to hold the cards in their hands. If you are playing at one of these tables, remember that even though you can hold the cards in your hands, they must be visible to the dealer and other casino personnel at all times. This means you can't bring them close to your chest or lower them into your lap.

If you are at a shoe-dealt game, your cards are placed face up in front of you, and you may not touch them. Whether you are playing a pitched game or a shoe game, the rules remain the same.

Objective
You are not competing with anyone at the table except the dealer (house), and your objective is to beat the dealer. If the total of your cards is less than 21 but higher than the dealer's cards, you win! You don't even have to try to get close to 21 to win, which the Basic Strategy, below, will illustrate. If your hand or the dealer's hand goes over 21, it's called a "bust", and it is an automatic loss. If the dealer busts and you do not, you win. Player's always act first, so if the player busts, it is a loss regardless of whether the dealer busts or not.

Card Values
Card decks have four suits (spaded, hearts, diamonds, clubs), but these suits do not have any impact on the game. Cards 2 - 10 are counted at face value. All face cards (jack, queen, king) have a face value of ten. An ace is very versatile, as you can count it as a one or eleven, depending on your other card or cards. For example, a jack and a three have a value of 13. If you have an ace and a three you could make it either 4 or 14. A hand with no ace, like the jack and three, is called a 'hard hand' because it can have only one value. A hand that contains an ace, such as the Ace and three, is called a 'soft hand' because you can change the value depending on what you draw (hit). Let's say you hit the 'soft' four or fourteen. Your hit card is a queen (value 10). If you used the ace as an 11, your had would add up to 24, so the ace now must be used as a 1 to keep your hand under 21. However, if your hit card were a 6, you would use the ace as an 11, making your hand a very healthy 20 (Ace=11 + 3 + 6). Just remember that the ace is a flexible card, and its value of 1 or 11 can be changed, depending on what you receive when you take a hit.

Blackjack Table
Blackjack is played on a special layout and table, shaped as a half-moon. There are typically 7 places, or betting spots, at these tables. If you're just getting started, you must convert your cash into gaming chips, which you buy from the dealer. Just put your cash out in front of you, and the dealer will handle it from there. If you've already been at another gaming table and have chips in hand, you're ready to go. All gaming tables will have signage saying what the table minimum and maximum bets are. To be included in the next hand (dealt in), you must place a bet of at least the table minimum in the playing spot in front of you. Only the chips that are in the betting spot are considered 'in play', so it's ok to release the death grip on your other chips and neatly stack them behind the betting spot near the edge of the table, where they're easily accessible.

The Play
As a high percentage of casinos deal multi-deck games out of shoes, we will use that for this example. The deal begins at the dealer's left (first base), with each player receiving one card, face up. The dealer's first card is dealt face down and is called the 'hole card'. The dealer then repeats this, giving each player a second card face up. The dealer's second card is dealt face up, with the hole card still face down directly underneath it. It is now decision time for the players. Beginning at the first position to the left (first base), each player will decide what they want to do. They can either take more cards (hit), take no card (stand), double down or split (these are explained later). Once the first base player has decided what to do with their hand, the dealer proceeds to the next player, repeating this process until they reach the last player on the right (third base). How players decide to play their hands is based on the dealer's up card and the two cards they were dealt. As a beginner, always assume the dealer has a ten as their hole card. (While not always the case, this assumption makes it easier to decide how to play your hand.) Since this is a shoe-dealt game, you cannot touch your cards, so you will need to use hand signals to let the dealer know what you want to do.

The use of hand signals has a three-fold purpose. It keeps the game moving, it helps to ensure there are no verbal misunderstandings, and it permits the ever-present 'eye in the sky' (security cameras) keep track of the play. How to make your hand signals is defined below.

Blackjack
This is your objective! If you or the dealer is dealt an Ace and a ten-value card, that's 21, or blackjack (also called a 'natural'). A blackjack pays 3 to 2, or one and a half your bet, providing the dealer does not get one at the same time. If you and the dealer both have blackjack, it's a tie (push). If only the dealer has blackjack all players will lose.

Hitting
Taking a hit means that you want another card. The hand signal for a hit is to tap the table in front of you or make a beckoning gesture with your hand. If you want to take additional hits, use these same gestures.

Standing
At some point, if you're satisfied with your fist two cards or after hitting, you will need to signal the dealer that you wish to receive no more cards (stand). To do this, simply wave your hand, palm down, over the top of your cards.

Doubling Down
Doubling down allows you to double your bet after receiving your first two cards. If you double down, you will receive one card only on your hand. Most casinos allow doubling down on any first two cards. Other casinos limit doubling to hands that total ten or eleven, or sometimes nine, ten or eleven. Doubling down is favorable to the player. To signal that you are doubling down, place an additional bet next to your original bet. Most casinos allow you to double down for less than your original bet, providing it meets the table minimum. Don't go there! If you are doubling down, it's a favorable situation for you, so it's to your advantage to double for the maximum.

Splitting
A pair (two cards of the same rank) can be split to make two separate hands. You are required to make an additional bet equal to your starting bet. You signal the dealer that you are splitting by placing your second bet next to (not on top of) your original bet in the betting circle. A common hand signal to indicate you want to split would be to place your index and middle fingers in a V behind the two bets. Remember, you may not touch the cards, so do not separate them yourself. The dealer will do this for you. You now have two one-card hands to play. The dealer will give you a second card to go with the first split card. You then decide to hit or stand. After the first split card is played out to your satisfaction (or you bust), give the signal to stand, then point to the second split card and repeat the process. If, when you take a hit, the card you receive makes another pair, most casinos will allow you to split again, usually up to 4 times. To do this requires an additional bet for each additional split. Also, many casinos allow you to double down on your first two cards after splitting. Play this as if you were doubling down on your first two cards.

Insurance
If the dealer's up card is an ace, you are offered the 'opportunity' to buy insurance against their possible blackjack (remember, you're assuming the hole card is a ten). While called insurance, this is only a side bet made by wagering up to half your original bet on the insurance line that the dealer has a ten in the hole. If you take the insurance and the dealer has the ten, you are paid 2 to 1 on the insurance. You lose your original bet, but win the insurance bet, resulting in a push of your original bet. If you are dealt a blackjack and the dealer has an ace, you will be asked if you would like even money for your blackjack instead of 3 to 2. If you don't take even money and the dealer has a blackjack, it will be a push. Insurance and even money bets are considered 'house bets', which means they are not in your favor. Typically, the dealer's hole card will NOT be a ten many more times than it will be a ten.

Surrender
While uncommon in most casinos, there are still a few out there that allow you to surrender your hand, giving up half your bet on your first two cards after the dealer checks for a blackjack. It is to the player's advantage when played correctly. Unfortunately, when offered, many players surrender more hands than they should, negating the advantage gained by this option.

As you see, there are many decisions to make when playing blackjack. Played properly, you can reduce the house edge of 4-6% to less than one percent. But to gain this edge, you must learn the Basic Strategy, which is a mathematically proven method to determine when to hit and stand.

A Simple Strategy
Here is a simple strategy to get you started.
If your first cards total 12-16 you have a "Stiff" hand (one than can be busted with a hit).
If the dealer's up card is a 2 - 6, it is a "Stiff" hand for the dealer.
If you have 17 or better it is a Pat hand and you should stand.
If the dealer shows a 7 -Ace, consider it a pat hand.
If you have a stiff and the dealer has a stiff you STAND.
If you have a stiff and the dealer has a pat hand you HIT.

Here's a little mantra to help you remember: "If a dealer has a 6 or less showing, if a ten will put you over, you should stand".

This simple strategy will get you by for the first few times you play, but you really should make the effort to learn the Basic strategy. If you don't want to memorize it, you can bring a basic strategy chart to the casino. Most casinos will allow them at the table, provided you don't slow down the game.

If you are attempting to memorize the Basic Strategy, realize that all the decisions you need to make can be categorized into 5 groups:

Group 1 -Stiff Hands
• Player hands: 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
• Stand against dealer low cards (6 or less)
• Exception: Hit your 12 vs. a dealer's 2 or 3

Group 2 - Hard Double Down Hands
• Player hand 9: Double against most dealer low cards (3, 4, 5, 6)
• Player hand 10: Double against all dealer cards except 10 and ace
• Player hand 11: Double against all dealer cards except ace

Group 3 - Soft Double Down Hands
• Player hand A2, A3: Double against dealer's 5 and 6
• Player hand A4, A5: Double against dealer's 4, 5 and 6
• Player hand A6, A7: Double against dealer's 3, 4, 5 and 6
• Player hand A7: If you can't double, always hit A2 > A6, and stand on A7
against 2-8 only. Also, always hit A7 against 9, 10 and ace

Group 4 - Pair Splitting Hands
• Player hand AA, 88: Always split aces and eights
• Player hand 22, 33: Split against 7
• Player hand 44: Split against 5 and 6 only if double after split (DAS) is allowed
• Player hand 44: Split against 5 and 6 only if double after split (DAS) is allowed
• Player hand 55, 1010: Never split 5 and 10 valued cards. Treat 55 as 10 and
double if favorable
• Player hand 66, 77, 99: Split 66 against 6, 77 against 7, 99 against 9,
except for 7

Group 5 - Obvious Hands
• Player hand 5, 6, 7, 8: Always hit these hands
• Player hand A8, A9, A10, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21: Always stand on these hands.

Blackjack can be the best game in the casino with the lowest house edge if you play the Basic Strategy flawlessly, Even if you apply only some of the decisions in Basic Strategy, you will improve your chances. However if you play by your gut, or by hunch, blackjack quickly becomes one of the worst games to play.

Return to Resources to get more tips and information to improve your odds at the gaming tables.