GambleStrategy - Master Gambling Strategies & Casino Games

What is Basic Strategy?

Basic strategy is a mathematically optimal way to play every hand in blackjack. It tells you the best decision (hit, stand, double, split) for every possible combination of your cards and the dealer's up card. When followed perfectly, basic strategy reduces the house edge to approximately 0.5%.

The Four Basic Actions

Hit

Take another card. Use when your hand total is low and you need to improve.

Stand

Keep your current hand. Use when your hand is strong enough or risk of busting is too high.

Double Down

Double your bet and receive exactly one more card. Use when you have a strong advantage.

Split

Separate a pair into two hands. Use when splitting gives you better odds than playing the pair.

Hard Hands Strategy

Hard hands are hands without an Ace, or hands where the Ace counts as 1. Here are the key rules:

8 or less: Always hit
9: Double if dealer shows 3-6, otherwise hit
10: Double if dealer shows 2-9, otherwise hit
11: Always double (or hit if doubling not allowed)
12: Stand if dealer shows 4-6, otherwise hit
13-16: Stand if dealer shows 2-6, otherwise hit
17 or more: Always stand

Soft Hands Strategy

Soft hands contain an Ace that counts as 11. These hands are more flexible because you can't bust with one card:

A,2 or A,3: Double if dealer shows 5-6, otherwise hit
A,4 or A,5: Double if dealer shows 4-6, otherwise hit
A,6: Double if dealer shows 3-6, otherwise hit
A,7: Double if dealer shows 3-6, stand if dealer shows 2,7,8, hit if dealer shows 9,10,A
A,8 or A,9: Always stand

Pair Splitting Strategy

When you're dealt a pair, you have the option to split them into two separate hands:

A,A and 8,8: Always split
10,10: Never split (too strong as 20)
9,9: Split if dealer shows 2-9 except 7, otherwise stand
7,7: Split if dealer shows 2-7, otherwise hit
6,6: Split if dealer shows 2-6, otherwise hit
5,5: Never split (treat as 10 and double)
4,4: Never split (just hit)
2,2 and 3,3: Split if dealer shows 2-7, otherwise hit

Why Basic Strategy Works

Basic strategy is derived from computer simulations that calculated the optimal play for every possible situation. The strategy takes into account:

The probability of the dealer busting with each up card
The likelihood of improving your hand with each action
The mathematical expected value of each decision
The specific rules of the game being played

Practice Makes Perfect

Learning basic strategy takes practice. Use our interactive blackjack trainer on the homepage to practice these decisions until they become second nature. The key is to follow the strategy consistently, even when your intuition tells you otherwise.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Taking insurance (it's a bad bet with a 7.4% house edge)
Following hunches instead of basic strategy
Splitting 10s (20 is too strong to break up)
Not doubling when you should (missing profitable opportunities)
Standing on soft 17 when you should hit

Ready to Play?

Now that you understand basic strategy, you're ready to play blackjack with the lowest possible house edge. Remember to practice regularly and stick to the strategy even during losing streaks.