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One very critical point to remember is this: you goal is not to get a card count as close to 21 as possible, but to get closer to 21 than
dealer, without going over. The goal is to beat dealer! Thus, your decisions on whether or not draw additional cards are based on value of dealer’s up card.
DOUBLING DOWN, SPLITTING PAIRS AND INSURANCE There are three special bets you can make after first two cards are dealt. Doubling down means you can double your original bet after you receive your first two cards. You then receive one – and only one – additional card.
Splitting pairs means that when you receive any pair on your first two cards, you can split them into two separate hands and play each one independently (of course, you must place an additional bet equal to your first bet on second hand).
Taking insurance means that if dealer’s up card is an Ace, you can wager an additional amount equal to half your original bet as “insurance” in case dealer has a blackjack. If dealer has a blackjack, you lose your original bet but your insurance bet is paid at 2 to 1, so you break even.
“HARD HANDS” VERSUS “SOFT HANDS” In order to understand and apply any Blackjack strategy, you need to learn difference between "hard" and "soft" hands. This is because strategies for various plays are different depending on whether you have a soft hand or a hard hand.
A "soft" hand is one that has an Ace which is counted as 11 (remember: Aces can be counted as either one or 11). For example, a hand composed of an Ace and a 4 is called a soft 15.
A hand that either contains no Aces or Ace is counted as a 1 is called a "hard" hand. For example, a hand composed of a 6 and a 9 is a hard 15. A hand with an Ace and 4 is called a soft 15 (11 plus 4), but if you then draw an 8 you have to count Ace as 1 instead of 11, giving you a hard 13 (because counting it as 11 would give you a “bust” hand of 23).
FOUR SIMPLE RULES
Here are four Blackjack basic strategy rules that anyone can easily remember. Always adhere to them exactly and you will be playing better then majority of people who sit down at a blackjack table. While these four rules do not represent "perfect" Blackjack basic strategy, they give you a great deal of advantage of a perfect basic strategy and are very simple to memorize. 1.If dealer's up card is 7 or higher, continue to draw cards until you have a hard count of at least 17 or higher, or a soft count of 18 or higher. 2.If dealer's up card is 6 or lower, draw cards until you have at least 12. Stop when you have 12 or higher. 3.Double down when your first two cards total 10 or 11, IF dealer has a 9 or lower. 4.Always split aces and eights. Do not split any other pairs.
And that's it! These four simple rules will take you out of “sucker” category, keep you out of serious trouble and ensure that house edge is around 1.5% or so – some of best odds you'll get in a casino.
Once you’ve mastered this easy system, learn full Blackjack Basic Strategy and you’ll whittle that house edge down to almost zero. Good luck!
Webmaster of www.blackjack-for-everyone.com, a site dedicated to the beginning Blackjack player all the way to the serious recreational player. Rules, strategies and the best places to play, both online and offline, are all clearly explained.
