One of the best ways to increase your chances of winning at blackjack is by learning about basic strategy. Basic strategy is based on the mathematics of the game of blackjack. Mathematicians, statisticians and computer simulations have tested and discovered the best move in any situation in a game of blackjack, based on the player’s cards and the dealer’s up card. When you have a good understanding of this strategy of odds you can greatly reduce the house advantage and win at blackjack a majority of the time.

His website is operated by MT SecureTrade Limited ('us', 'our', 'we' or the 'Company'), a company incorporated under the laws of Malta with registration number C56545 and registered address mit blackjack team basic strategy chart at @GIGBeach Triq id-Dragunara, St. Julians, STJ 3148, Malta. Basic Strategy Chart. World Series of Blackjack Champion The MIT Card Counting Team. Latest Blog Post. Wicked Learning Environments. Learn how to count cards - Winning blackjack strategy taught by Mike Aponte from the infamous MIT Card Counting Team. Live Virtual Coaching. Basic strategy. Each blackjack game has a basic strategy, which prescribes the optimal method of playing any hand against any dealer up-card so that the long-term house advantage (the expected loss of the player) is minimized. An example of a basic strategy is shown in the table below, which applies to a game with the following specifications.

If you are interested in learning basic strategy you can find a number of basic strategy charts online, as well as in books about the game of blackjack. The chart will show your hand on one axis and the dealer’s card on the other axis. Match them up on the chart to find out what the best move is (i.e. to hit, to stand, to double down, to split or to surrender).

Basic strategy changes slightly depending on the blackjack variation you are playing, as well as the number of decks in play. However, the strategy is still pretty much the same across the board. Read on for some tips that you can use to apply basic strategy to your blackjack games.

The following strategies should be applied when you have a hard hand. A hard hand is one that does not contain an Ace:

• Always hit on a hand worth a value of 8 or less.
• When you have 9, double down when the dealer has a 3, 4, 5 or 6. Otherwise hit.
• When you have a 10, double down when the dealer has 2 through 9. Otherwise hit.
• When you have an 11, hit if the dealer has Ace. Otherwise double down.
• When you have 12, stand if the dealer has 4 through 6. Otherwise hit.
• When you have 13 through 16, stand if the dealer has 2 through 6. Otherwise hit.
• Always stand on hard hands valued at 17 through 21.

If you have a soft hand, containing an Ace, then the following basic strategies should be used:

• If you have Ace-8 or Ace-9 you should always stand.
• If you have Ace-7, double when the dealer has 3 through 6 and stand when the dealer has 2, 7 or 8. Otherwise hit.
• If you have Ace-6, double when the dealer has 3 through 6. Otherwise hit.
• If you have Ace-4 or Ace-5, double if the dealer has 4, 5 or 6. Otherwise hit.
• If you have Ace-2 or Ace-3, double down when the dealer has 5 or 6. Otherwise hit.

Pairs should be played as follows:

• Split 2s and 3s when the dealer has 2 through 7.
• Split 4s when the dealer has 5 or 6.
• Split 5s when the dealer has 2 through 9.
• Split 6s when the dealer has 2 through 6.
• Split 7s when the dealer has 2 through 7.
• Always split 8s.
• Split 9s when the dealer has 2 through 6, 8 or 9 and stand when the dealer has 7, 10 or Ace.
• Always stand on 10s or Face cards.

Make sure to also read:

• How to Play Like a Blackjack Pro.
• Learn more about Blackjack cheating.
• Find out which Blackjack you play – European Blackjack or American Blackjack.
• Like the other card games, find out what’s the Blackjack house advantage.
• Blackjack Tips to help you get past the myths and play to your full potential are included.

Chart for Blackjack Play

Many blackjack players are intimidated or scared of the idea of memorizing basic strategy.

I’ve got two pieces of great news if you fall into this category and / or haven’t tried to learn basic strategy yet.

The first piece of good news is you don’t have to memorize the best blackjack strategy in order to use it. I’ve included a handy chart below that includes everything you need to know. Just print it off and use it whenever and wherever you play blackjack.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Practice

If you play online keep it with you at the computer and if you play at the casino take it with you. The casino doesn’t care if you use it.

The second piece of good news is if you want to learn basic strategy so you eventually don’t need a chart it’s pretty easy. I offer some advice on how to do that below the chart.

Basic Strategy Chart

Here’s a basic strategy chart you can print off to use while you learn the proper plays. It was designed for a shoe game (usually 6 to 8 decks) where the dealer stands on a soft 17. It represents the best basic strategy chart for general play. If you only play a certain set of rules you can find a chart specifically for your game, but most players have to play a variety of rules, so I’ve listed the best strategy chart here.

The easiest way to read the chart is find your hand down the left hand side and the dealer’s up card along the top. Where the two hands meet lists the best play.

Each starting blackjack hand falls into one of three categories. Hard hands are ones that don’t include an ace. Soft hands include an ace. The third type of hand is one that contains a pair, which can be split.

Hard hands start with “H” and soft hands start with “S”. The split hands are listed at the bottom of the chart.

You don’t split 4’s, 5’s, or 10’s so they don’t have lines in the split section. Play these hands based on their hard hand totals in the first section.

I’ve color coded the chart to make it easier to read.

Hit stands for hit. I used green for go.

DBL stands for double. I used blue for double.

Stand stands for stand. I used red for stop.

Split stands for split. I used purple for split.

In games that allow surrender you need to play a few hands differently. Here’s a list.

• Surrender a hard 15 against a dealer 10.
• Surrender a hard 16 against a dealer 9.
• Surrender a hard 16 against a dealer 10.
• Surrender a hard 16 against a dealer ace.

In games where you aren’t allowed to double after splitting a pair, make the following adjustments.

• Hit with a 2 – 2 against a dealer 2 or 3.
• Hit with a 3 – 3 against a dealer 2 or 3.
• Hit with a 4 – 4 against a dealer 5 or 6.
• Hit with a 6 – 6 against a dealer 2.

Advanced Blackjack Strategy Chart

The only other possible adjustment is if you play in a game where you can’t double certain hands. If you aren’t allowed to double, hit every hand that is listed as double except for soft 18. Stand on soft 18 if you can’t double.

Memorizing the Chart

Blackjack Basic Strategy

Print the chart off and use it when you play. Sign up for a free account at an online casino and start playing with your new chart. Check every play before making it to see what the best option is.

When I started learning basic strategy I always tried to guess the best play and then checked the chart. At first I missed many of them but I quickly learned where I was thinking incorrectly and learned the best plays in no time.

You can take a look at the chart and try to get a feel for the best plays, but don’t worry about memorizing it. Let you brain do all the hard work as you play. Every time you look up a play you’ll plant a little memory in your mind. If you plant the same memory enough times you’ll be able to recall it in the future.

Continue using your chart in live play until you can play perfect basic strategy. Even if you just need it for the hardest plays, having it with you is a good idea as it only takes a moment to check for the best play.

Conclusion

Learning and using basic strategy is one of the best ways to reduce the house edge while playing blackjack. By using the color coded chart included above you can quickly and easily see what the best play is and start committing all the plays to memory.