Blackjack Basic Strategy Stand On All 17
Blackjack is the most popular casino table game of all drawing in countless numbers of hungry players both in the brick and mortar casino, and in online casinos.
- Basic Strategy for Single Deck Blackjack: Dealer Stands on Soft 17 Wherever you do not find separate information for splitting a hand of 5-pair or 10-pair treat it as a hard hand (hard 10 and hard 20 respectively).
- The Basic Strategy Rules. There are a basic set of rules that apply to all blackjack games: General Always stand on 17 or better. Always hit on 12-16 when dealer shows 7 or higher. Always hit on 8 or less. Doubling Down Always double down on 11. Double down on 10 when dealer shows 9 or lower. Double down on 9 when dealer shows 6 or lower.
Oftentimes, when new to the game of blackjack, many a player stands on soft 17. This is because they think this is a good hand to hold, but the general rule is that you shouldn’t ever stand between soft 13 and soft 17. If you have a hand like that, you need to double down with a good doubling strategy or hit instead.
Are you a player who is knowledgeable about blackjack strategy? In this article, we detail the basic blackjack strategy charts and provide you with other handy tips to give you the best possible chance of leaving the casino – physical or virtual – in profit.
Basic Blackjack Terms
As with every classic casino table game, there is a lot of lingo thrown about which might sound double Dutch to novice blackjack players. What on earth does it all mean?
Ultimately, you will become more familiar with all the blackjack lingo as you develop your game, whether that is in the brick and mortar casino or at an online casino.
Nonetheless, we have listed some handy basic blackjack terminology below:
- Stand. The player stays with the cards they were dealt
- Hit. The player is dealt another card, and they can be dealt more if they wish. If the total of the cards exceeds 21 at any point, the player is bust and loses the hand
- Surrender. This is where the player gives up half his bet to forfeit the hand
- Double down. The player doubles their original bet and is dealt one more card, and it can only be one
- Split. If a player is dealt a pair (two 4s for example), or two ten-valued cards, such as a queen and a king, the player can split those cards into two different hands. The player is then dealt another card to each hand. The player must make a second bet of equal value to the first to use the split
- Hard hand. A hand without an ace
- Soft hand. A hand with an ace
Blackjack Strategy Chart
The first thing to get to grips with is ‘basic strategy’ which is probably the most essential ingredient of blackjack strategy.
The basic strategy detailed below is based on blackjack games played with 4 or more decks. Essentially, the basic strategy is a template which shows you the best course of action to take based on the cards dealt.
The below chart: Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart
More Blackjack Tips
The tables above are based on the standard blackjack rulesets. However, there are many different variations of blackjack both in physical casinos and in the online casino landscape.
These variations have different rulesets, so be mindful of the fact that some of the strategies above may not directly apply to the particular blackjack game you are playing.
In fact, the most useful thing you can do is check the specific ruleset of the blackjack game you are playing as soon as you sit down at the table.
Here are some general pointers and questions to keep in mind when playing your particular game of blackjack:
- How many decks are used?
- Are surrenders permitted and are they early or late ones?
- Are there any restrictions on double downs?
- Are there rules regarding splits?
- Is the dealer obliged to hit on a soft 17?
Here are some extra tips which relate to any blackjack game:
- Do not take on any side bets
- Don’t take insurance. This is a side bet which can be placed if the dealer’s face card is an Ace to ‘insure’ you against the dealer having a blackjack. In reality, the odds are stacked against you and it is not worth taking this bet up
- If it is not possible to split your pair, treat your pair as a hard hand
Basic Blackjack Strategy Guide
The charts above may look a bit intimidating and confusing if you are seeking a simple strategy to take to the blackjack table. However, there is a simpler method you can use to memorise the general points of the blackjack strategy above.
Basic Strategy Blackjack
Also, you won’t be surprised to hear that in brick and mortar casinos you won’t exactly be welcomed with open arms into a casino if you rock up with these charts in hand.
The majority of casinos simply won’t allow you to enter with these kinds of guides. So, here are simplified guides of the charts above:
Player’s Hand Dealer’s Upfacing Card
HARD | 2 – 6 | 7 – A |
4 – 8 | H | H |
9 | D | H |
10 – 11 | D with more than dealer | D with more than dealer |
12 – 16 | S | H |
17 – 21 | S | S |
Player’s Hand Dealer’s Upfacing Card
SOFT | 2 – 6 | 7 – A |
13 – 15 | H | H |
16 – 18 | D | H |
19 – 21 | D | S |
Player’s Hand Dealer’s Upfacing Card
SPLITS | 2 – 6 | 7 – A |
22, 33, 66, 77, 99 | Split | Don’t split |
88, A | Split | Split |
44, 55, 1010 | Don’t Split | Don’t Split |
Extra tips:
- Surrender 16 when the dealer has a 10
- If strategy says to double but it’s not permitted, hit. If you have a soft 18, stand
Are You Ready To Master Blackjack?
Blackjack strategy is all about being mindful of the best action to take. If you memorise the main points of the charts above, you will be well on your way to mastering the wonderful world of blackjack.
There are advanced techniques which you can use, chief of which is blackjack card counting, which is essentially a method of tracking the cards which are dealt. However, this technique will not work with online blackjack games, as the virtual deck is shuffled for every single hand.
The best thing you can do to begin is to be fully aware of the specific ruleset relating to the blackjack game you are playing.
That being said, the majority, if not all, of the information in the charts will be applicable to any blackjack game. We are confident in saying that you will be thanking us for these magical blackjack charts!
Are you a blackjack buff? Are there any specific strategies which you use at the blackjack table? Comment below and let us know!
It’s time to go head to head with the dealer in a thrilling game ofBlackjack. This is a true casino classic that has been around for centuries.Not only has it withstood the test of time but has also succeeded in dominatingthe online casinoworld.
This guide will walk you through the basics of the game and how you can follow a blackjack basic strategy to beat the dealer.
Blackjack through the Ages
To this day, there are still huge debates aboutthe game’s roots. Some think it was the Romans who first shaped the future ofthe game. Some say they used wooden blocks to represent the numbers, to play their own version ofblackjack.
It is also widely thought that this casino classic first startedin French casinos during the 1700s. Following the popularity of card games likeChemin de Fer and Ferme, another game was born – Vingt-et-Un (21).
More traces of blackjack were found in Spain,where it was called One and Thirty More versions of the game includedthe Sette e Mezzo (Seven and a Half) in Italian and the French versioncalled Quinze (15). In all three cases, the objective of the game was toreach each of the respective values mentioned.
Thanks to the French colonists, it also reachedthe States during the 18th century. Nevertheless, its popularitylevels soared up when the state of Nevada legalized gambling in the year 1931.
More players became intrigued after casinosstarted to offer the bet that changed the game completely. A hand with eitherthe Jack of Spades or Clubs along with the Ace of Spades amounted to the10-to-1 payout on the player’s bet.From then onwards, 21 became known as Blackjack, as we know it today.
How to PlayBlackjack
Blackjack is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The face cards – Jack,Queen and King, amount to 10, values between 2-10 stick to their respectivevalues, while the aces amount to either 1 or 11.
The objective is simple – beat the dealer.Place your bets and form a handthat does not exceed the number 21. Remember, you’re playing against the dealer here, so you need tobe able to anticipate what his next move might be. We’ve wrapped up everythingyou need to know to help you form your blackjack basic strategy.
Play BasicStrategy
Now that you have a better understanding of thegame, let’s talk strategies. While no secrets can help you beat the house edge,some of a blackjackbasic strategy can help you have the upper hand. The most important thing you have to keepin mind is to always maximize your chances of winning, whilst minimizingthe losses.
Next, getfamiliar with terms like Stand, Hit, Split and Double Down. In this way, the houseedge will go down from 2% to 0.5%. Here are a few definitions that will help youunderstand the differences between each of them.
Basic Strategy Rules to Keep inMind
After breaking down all the lingo that you needto know to develop your blackjackbasic strategy, it’s important to know when to use them. That’s why it’sessential to know your cards.
At which stages of the game is it best to hit or better yet, increase yourchances of winning by doubling down? Here are a few key points to keep in mindas a beginner player.
Always wait for the Dealer to Bust
Unless you have a very good soft hand that won’t bust with an additional card, don’t hit if the dealer has a hand of 4, 5 and 6.
AlwaysSplit a pair of Aces and 8s
It’s always a good idea to split a powerful card like an Ace regardless of what the dealer’s up-card is. With 8s, it’s a hit or miss situation but it’s still worth a shot.
DoubleDown on a Hard 11
Doubling down on a hard 11 will guarantee you more money.
Nevertake the insurance bet
If the dealer draws an Ace, you can take the insurance bet. In short, if you post a side bet that is half the value of the original bet and the dealer has a blackjack, the side bet is paid 2:1. This is not a reliable way to win, as it only raises the house edge.
Standif you have a Hard 17 or Higher
Things often don’t look too pretty for you ifyou have a hard 17 or a higher value. So as a general rule, always stand if youhave any of these cards.
If you’d like to learn further about this strategy, discover the blackjack basic strategy here by CasinoBonuses Index.
The Blackjack Basic: A Timeless Classic
A game like Blackjack continues to intrigue players from allaround the world. Thanks to all people who played its earlier variations, wecan now enjoy a casino classic that is truly timeless.
Blackjack Basic Strategy Quiz
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Blackjack Basic Strategy Stand On All 17 Ways
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