Hard Hands Strategy
A "hard hand" is any hand that either doesn't contain an Ace, or contains an Ace that must be counted as 1 to avoid busting.
| Player |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
Key Points for Hard Hands:
- Always hit hard 8 or less, regardless of dealer's upcard.
- Stand on hard 17 or higher, regardless of dealer's upcard.
- Consider doubling down on hard 9, 10, or 11 when the dealer shows a weak card.
- When the dealer shows a strong card (7-A), be more aggressive with hitting.
- Surrender 16 vs. dealer's 9, 10, or A if the option is available.
- Surrender 15 vs. dealer's 10 if the option is available.
Soft Hands Strategy
A "soft hand" is a hand that contains an Ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11 without busting.
Ds = Double (if allowed), otherwise Stand
Dh = Double (if allowed), otherwise Hit
| Player |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
Key Points for Soft Hands:
- Always stand on soft 19 or higher, regardless of dealer's upcard.
- Double down on soft 13-18 when the dealer shows a weak card (4, 5, or 6).
- Hit soft 18 when the dealer shows a 9, 10, or Ace.
- The advantage of soft hands is that you can't bust with one hit.
- Soft 17 is a hand where you should be aggressive with doubling against weak dealer cards.
Pairs Strategy
When you're dealt a pair (two cards of the same value), you have the option to split them into two separate hands.
| Pair |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
Key Points for Pairs:
- Always split Aces and 8s, regardless of dealer's upcard.
- Never split 10s, 5s, or 4s (with some exceptions for 4s).
- Split 2s and 3s against dealer's 2-7.
- Split 6s against dealer's 2-6.
- Split 7s against dealer's 2-7.
- Split 9s against dealer's 2-6 and 8-9.
Blackjack Basic Rules
Understanding the basic rules and terminology of blackjack is essential before applying any strategy.
Game Objective
The goal of blackjack is to beat the dealer by having a hand value closer to 21 without exceeding it. You win if:
- Your hand value is higher than the dealer's without busting (exceeding 21)
- The dealer busts
- You get a "blackjack" (an Ace and a 10-value card) and the dealer doesn't
Card Values
- 2-10: Face value
- Jack, Queen, King: 10 points each
- Ace: 1 or 11 points (whichever is more favorable)
Player Actions
Hit
Take another card. You can hit as many times as you want until you either stand or bust.
Stand
End your turn and keep your current hand value. The dealer will then play their hand.
Double Down
Double your initial bet and receive exactly one more card, then stand.
Split
If you have a pair, you can split them into two separate hands, each with its own bet equal to your original bet.
Surrender
Give up your hand and lose half your bet. Only available as the first decision in some casinos.
Insurance
When the dealer shows an Ace, you can place a side bet up to half your original bet that the dealer has blackjack.
Dealer Rules
Unlike players, dealers must follow fixed rules:
- Dealers must hit on 16 or less
- Dealers must stand on 17 or more
- Some casinos require dealers to hit on "soft 17" (Ace + 6)
Common Rule Variations
Number of Decks
Casinos use between 1 and 8 decks. Fewer decks slightly favor the player.
Dealer Hits/Stands on Soft 17
Dealer standing on soft 17 favors the player. Hitting on soft 17 favors the house.
Doubling Restrictions
Some tables only allow doubling on 9, 10, or 11. Being able to double on any two cards favors the player.
Splitting Rules
Rules vary on re-splitting, doubling after splits, and splitting Aces.
Card Counting Basics
Card counting is a strategy used to determine when the player has an advantage over the house. The most common system is the Hi-Lo count.
Note: Card counting is legal but casinos may ask you to leave if they suspect you're counting cards. This information is provided for educational purposes only.
Hi-Lo Counting System
In the Hi-Lo system, each card is assigned a value:
| Card |
Count Value |
| 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
+1 (Low cards) |
| 7, 8, 9 |
0 (Neutral cards) |
| 10, J, Q, K, A |
-1 (High cards) |
Start with a count of 0. As cards are dealt, add or subtract according to their values. A positive count means the deck is rich in high cards, which favors the player.
True Count Calculation
To account for multiple decks, convert your running count to a "true count":
True Count = Running Count Ć· Decks Remaining
Example: If your running count is +8 and there are approximately 4 decks remaining, your true count is +2.
When to Adjust Your Bet
- True count of 0 or negative: Bet the minimum
- True count of +1: Bet 2x minimum
- True count of +2: Bet 3x minimum
- True count of +3 or higher: Bet 4-5x minimum
Strategy Adjustments Based on Count
When the count is high (positive), make these adjustments to basic strategy:
Insurance
Take insurance when the true count is +3 or higher.
16 vs. 10
Stand (instead of hit) when the true count is +0 or higher.
15 vs. 10
Stand (instead of hit) when the true count is +4 or higher.
10,10 vs. 5
Split (instead of stand) when the true count is +5 or higher.
Other Counting Systems
KO (Knock Out) System
Similar to Hi-Lo but starts at a different value based on the number of decks. Doesn't require true count conversion.
Red 7
Like Hi-Lo, but red 7s count as +1 while black 7s count as 0.
Hi-Opt I & II
More complex systems that ignore certain cards for more accuracy but require more concentration.
Wong Halves
Uses fractional values for greater precision but is much more difficult to master.
Blackjack Odds & Payouts
Understanding the odds and payouts in blackjack helps you make informed decisions and manage your bankroll effectively.
Standard Payouts
| Outcome |
Payout |
| Regular Win |
1:1 (Even Money) |
| Blackjack (Natural 21) |
3:2 (Traditional) |
| Blackjack (Some casinos) |
6:5 (Avoid these tables!) |
| Insurance Win |
2:1 |
| Push (Tie) |
Bet Returned |
| Surrender |
Lose Half Bet |
Important: Always look for tables that pay 3:2 for blackjack. 6:5 payouts significantly increase the house edge.
House Edge
The house edge varies based on the rules and your strategy:
| Scenario |
House Edge |
| Perfect Basic Strategy (3:2 BJ) |
~0.5% |
| Perfect Basic Strategy (6:5 BJ) |
~1.9% |
| Dealer Hits on Soft 17 |
+0.2% |
| No Doubling After Split |
+0.14% |
| No Resplitting |
+0.05% |
| Each Additional Deck |
+0.02% |
Probability of Busting
Understanding the probability of busting can help you make better decisions:
Player's Hand
| Hand Total |
Bust Probability |
| 11 or less |
0% |
| 12 |
31% |
| 13 |
39% |
| 14 |
46% |
| 15 |
54% |
| 16 |
62% |
| 17 |
69% |
| 18 |
77% |
| 19 |
85% |
| 20 |
92% |
Dealer's Hand
| Dealer Upcard |
Bust Probability |
| 2 |
35% |
| 3 |
37% |
| 4 |
40% |
| 5 |
42% |
| 6 |
42% |
| 7 |
26% |
| 8 |
24% |
| 9 |
23% |
| 10, J, Q, K |
21% |
| A |
17% |
Expected Return
The expected return for different blackjack bets:
Basic Strategy
Expected return: -0.5% (house edge of 0.5%)
This means for every $100 bet, you can expect to lose about $0.50 in the long run.
Insurance
Expected return: -7.7%
Insurance is generally a poor bet unless you're counting cards and know the deck is rich in 10-value cards.
Card Counting (Hi-Lo)
Expected return: +0.5% to +1.5%
With proper bet variation based on the count, you can gain an edge over the house.
Intuitive Play (No Strategy)
Expected return: -2% to -5%
Playing by intuition or "gut feeling" significantly increases the house edge.
