Re-splitting is a powerful tool when you play blackjack, especially where you can double after a split and where you have Surrender. It allows you to get maximum money in play against the dealer’s weak up card. If a house allows re-splitting but no double after a split, go somewhere else to play blackjack. Split Pairs: Blackjack Basic Strategy Card, Table, Chart. Color-coded chart to learn the best Split Pairs strategy. When you get your first two cards, look at this table first. The pairs occur the least in a blackjack game (5.9%). If your hand is not a pair, move to the next chart: Double Down. Double Down: Blackjack Strategy Table, Card, Chart.
All Blackjack Strategy Cards, Charts on One Page, in Action Color
By Ion Saliu, Founder of Blackjack Mathematics
0. The Best Introduction to Blackjack Basic Strategy
I. Split Pairs Chart
II. Double Down Chart
III. Hit or Stand Chart
IV. Special Blackjack Advice, Tips
V. Blackjack: Software, Content, Resources, Systems, Basic Strategy, Card Counting
0. The Best Introduction to Blackjack Basic Strategy
• Thousands of people pay huge money to learn the blackjack basic strategy in all kinds of seminars or training by videos. You don't have to do that. Save your money for real play at casinos. Just learn, memorize, and apply the three color-coded tables in the recommended order. This is the only, therefore the best sequence of learning and applying the blackjack basic strategy to the casino table.
Do NOT gamble online: You will lose regardless how well you play, including perfect application of the blackjack basic strategy. Internet casinos cheat big-time! The software can do whatever the online gambling operators want it to. You can't see a thing!
All your decisions in blackjack should follow the three sequences listed below. Of course, you are, like every gambler out there, an independent mind. You have your own gambling strategy, including alterations of the basic strategy at the blackjack table. You must have had plenty of experiences in that tough environment. This is mostly for those blackjack players who never seemed to be able to grasp the basic strategy.
It is said that a majority of the gamblers do not have a grasp on blackjack basic strategy. It must be so because the training has been absolutely wrong. They put all the decisions in blackjack in one non-intuitive chart, a spreadsheet-like table that is very hard to memorize. I was NOT able to learn the blackjack basic strategy adequately from that one spreadsheet! My success in learning the blackjack basic strategy came soon after I applied the method of three color-coded charts of blackjack decisions. The average person will learn (near) perfectly the basic strategy in one week or so. It is guaranteed… and it is free.
- #1: Split Pairs Table: If first two cards not applicable, move quickly to the next cheat sheet, #2;
- The first two cards of your hand must be the same for pair splitting to apply; e.g. 7 & 7, or J + J.
- Approximately 3% of 2-card hands should be legitimately split (78total blackjack pairs, counting 10, J, Q, K as different; around 25 hands strongly recommended to be split).
- #2: Double Down Chart: If first two cards not applicable, move quickly to the last cheat sheet, #3;
- The first two cards of your hand must be as shown on the decision chart for doubling down to apply; e.g. the 2 cards sum up to 10 or 11, as 3 + 8; also, soft hands as Ace & 6.
- Around 8% of 2-card hands should be legitimately bet up (262 total total blackjack double-down configurations; 110 strongly recommended to be doubled down).
- #3: Hit (Draw) or Stand Cheat Sheet: A final decision must be made now; a basic strategy player will either stand (stay), or draw (hit the hand).
- If split pairs or double down did not apply to the first two cards, it must be either hit, or stand; some casinos offer the surrender option to the player (e.g. 15 or 16 against Dealer's up-card of 10 or Ace).
#1: Split-Pairs Table, Chart
- The recommended action is colored in red. The non-action is grayed out. For example, your first two cards are 9 & 9; the dealer face card is 6; the corresponding cell (square) is red: You split the pair. If the dealer up-card is 7, the cell is grayed out: You don't split, you move to the next chart (eventually to decision table #3).
- There are special cases regarding splitting pairs: the cells colored in blue. They are applicable (action) only if the particular casino allows doubling down after split (DAS). For example: 4+4 and dealer's face card 5 or 6.
#2: Double-Down Chart, Table
- The recommended action is colored in red. The non-action is grayed out. For example, your first two cards are A & 7; the dealer face card is 6; the corresponding cell (square) is red: You double down. If the dealer face card is 8, the cell is grayed out: You don't double down, you move to the last decision chart (#3).
#3: Stand or Hit (Draw) Final Decision Table
- The recommended action is colored in red. The non-action is grayed out. For example, your first two cards are 9 & 7 (a total of 16); the dealer face card is 8; the corresponding cell (square) is red: You hit the hand (draw another card). If the dealer up-card is 4, the cell is grayed out: You don't hit (you stand).
4. Special Blackjack Advice, Tips
- Always stand on 17 or greater.
- Never split 10 + 10 or 5 + 5.
- Split A + A and 8 + 8 (unless you saw many large cards on the table… without counting).
- Do not take insurance — unless you see very few 10-valued cards on the table (clearly fewer than 1 in 3).
- Buying insurance can be a favorable bet for all blackjack players under special circumstances — if you saw certain amounts of Ten-valued cards in the round.
- Insuring your natural blackjack can be even worse than taking insurance on a stiff hand. It all depends on the amount of Tens and total cards remaining in the deck.
- See mathematical formulas to calculate house edge on insurance, probability, odds for blackjack, natural 21.
- Keep in mind, however, that the insurance bet is not a big deal — the dealer gets a natural 21 about 5% of the time (once every 21 hands). Also importantly, the odds for a simultaneous natural for Dealer and Player are 0.2% (one in about 500 BJ hands).
When my bet is at the minimum, I play fancy sometimes and hit, even double, a 12 or 13 against dealer 5 or 6 only and only when I consider the probability be high to get a low card! I admit it, I had no choice but double up 12 against a dealer's 6 when the dealer made a serious error. The player prior to my hand was not a basic strategy player and stood on less than 11! The Asian dealer turned a 9 card, while the player had said 'Stand!' Rocket science for this very Parpaluck, who doubled down and won (less than $50!!!) The morale: You should never, ever be ashamed if winning because of dealer's gross mistakes! Also, beware of dealers' tendency to cheat by miscounting. If that happens, you could win big time in courts of law! Always look closely at dealers' hands!
- The three blackjack strategy charts are graphics (split-pairs.gif, double-down.gif, hit-stand.gif). You cannot highlight, copy, then paste into a file. You might want, however, to right-click on each image and save to your computer. The images are totally free and non-copyrighted by anybody, although a link to this Web page would be highly appreciated.
- Right-click on each image to print the corresponding blackjack basic strategy (BS) chart. Always print in vivid color, axiomatico/axiomaticule!
- The most important aspect of gambling mathematics, casino gambling especially, is record keeping. The streaks are the most important parameter in gambling. The infamous gambler's fallacy is the only counterpoint employed by casinos: Player will lose forever . . . but not the house — ever! You might want to do the real mathematics of blackjack streaks by running my probability software, Streaks.
- You can see a reduced version of my blackjack gambling system based on streaks, progressions. I call it blackjack mental system because the records are kept in memory (as in human brains). The full-version requires recordkeeping on paper. The casinos don't like it and they may take adverse measures if you open a notebook and start writing. Read one of my experiences: Casinos Bar, Ban Winning Gamblers, Skilled Players.
5. Blackjack: Software, Content, Resources, Systems, Basic Strategy, Card Counting
Click the link to visit a directory of pages and materials on the subject of blackjack, software, systems, basic strategy.Of major interest: Blackjack; Charts, Tables, Probability, Odds, Software.
- Split Pairs: Blackjack Basic Strategy Card, Table, Chart.
Color-coded chart to learn the best Split Pairs strategy. When you get your first two cards, look at this table first. The pairs occur the least in a blackjack game (5.9%). If your hand is not a pair, move to the next chart: Double Down. - Double Down: Blackjack Strategy Table, Card, Chart.
Color-coded chart to learn the best Double Down strategy. After consulting the Split Pairs table, look next at this table. The Double Down situations occur more often than pairs at blackjack (8% recommended to double). If your hand is not a Double Down situation, move to the next chart: Hit or Stand. - Hit or Stand: Blackjack Strategy Chart, Card, Table.
Color-coded chart to learn the best Hit or Stand strategy. After consulting the Double Down table, finally look at this table. The Hit or Stand decisions are by far the most frequent and important situations in blackjack. - Blackjack Basic Strategy: Free Card, Table, Chart, Spreadsheet: Split Pairs; Double Down; Hit Stand.
The traditional method of learning the BJ basic strategy: all decisions in a table. The dealer up-card is listed across (horizontally), while the player's first two cards are listed vertically in the leftmost column. For example, dealer's face-card is 5. Player's first two cards: A+4; the right move: D (double-down). It makes it more difficult to learn the best blackjack decisions accurately and quickly. It is best to combine similar situations that require the same action — as the blackjack cheat sheets on this page. - Gambling Mathematics in Blackjack Proves Deception of Card-Counting Systems.
- New Casino Games by Ion Saliu:Parpaluck Blackjack.
- The Best Blackjack Strategy, System Tested with the Best Blackjack Software.
- Download Casino Gambling Software: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat.
Comments:
One of the best and most exciting options available in blackjack is when we have the opportunity to double down on a bet. As a ‘twice the risk, twice the reward’ option, it has the potential to net us a sizeable return, if we know how and when to properly employ such a tactic. As explained on our terminology page, to double is to place another wager on your hand, equal to the amount of your initial bet, in exchange for only one additional card, and the obligation to stand after that one card is dealt.
For example, if you have been dealt a Six and a Four (a total value of 10), you may choose to double your original wager of $100, as drawing a card valued from seven to 11 is a strong possibility and will stand you in good stead to win the hand. If you do win the hand, instead of receiving a $100 profit if you did not double, you will net a return of $200.
Double Down in Play
Doubling is an essential tactic, and if used correctly, helps to lower the casino’s house edge. A knowledgeable player should know when to employ this move for an advantage in the long run, but the decision needs to be carefully considered before commitment, based on a the following important factors:
- The total points value of your current hand
- The dealer’s up-card
- The house rules and edge
- The version of blackjack being played
If you are playing a game with eight decks and you can double on any total, the house edge is 0.55%. If you can double after splitting, this reduces the house edge by 0.13%, but if you can double only on totals of 10 and 11, this increases the house edge by 0.21%. And obviously we want the lowest house edge possible.
Mastering basic blackjack strategies is key to winning. Here are some guidelines worthwhile remembering in order to maximise our chances and avoid unfavourable odds when opting to double:
Take Advantage of 9, 10 & 11 Totals
The best hands to double down on are considered to be those with a value of nine, 10 or 11. We already have the ideal hand to hit on and end with a strong total with just one additional card. If you find yourself dealt a hand with these totals, consider doubling down to maximise your winning payout. There will always be a risk present in every decision you make, but the key to winning more games than losing is to take advantage of an edge while you have it. If you are hesitant to double down because of the size of the bet and your potential loss, you might be playing at a table with too high stakes.
Don’t Split Fives, Go For The High Five: A common tactic for players who find themselves with low pocket pair hands such as Deuces or Treys is to split them and improve their chances of winning with two separate hands, which is fine. But if you find yourself with a pair of Fives, refrain from splitting and consider doubling. A total of 10 points is a strong position to be in (as explained above), so with a pair of Fives and roughly a 24% chance of drawing a card valued at 10 points on the next hit (to give you a total of 20), doubling is in your best interests. You also have a solid chance of drawing an Eight, Nine or Ace, resulting in favourably high hands of 18, 19, or 21.
The Rule of 9
The ‘Rule of 9’ is an established guideline regarding when and when not to double if you are dealt a soft hand (a hand with an Ace). Knowing when to double with a soft hand is crucial, so it is worthwhile understanding the rule’s instructions which explain how to maximise our chances of winning. As always, these are recommendations and you don’t have to double just because these rules say so.
The ‘Rule of 9’ works as follows: if you hold a soft hand, add the value of the dealer’s up-card with the value of your non-Ace card. If the total value is greater than nine, it is suggested to double down. If the total value is less than nine, proceed to hit instead.
For example, if the dealer’s up-card is a Four and your hand contains an Ace and a Seven, you should double because the total sum would be 11. In contrast, if the dealer’s up-card is a Five and you hold is an Ace and a 3, you should hit, as the sum, according to the rule, is eight. There are a few exceptions to this rule: never double down if the dealer’s up-card is above Seven, as they are in a strong position to beat you. If the dealer is showing a Deuce, don’t double either as the odds favour the dealer. Also, when the dealer’s up-card is a Five or Six, you should double down with a hand of an Ace and a Deuce through to a Six, as you are in the stronger position.
Be Mindful of the Dealer’s Up-Card
It may seem like common sense, but plenty of players often forget to keep the dealer’s up-card in mind before opting to double down. All of the above tactics should be dependent on the dealer’s up-card, and while it’s good to be aggressive, it can be unwise to double with a soft hand if your dealer has a Nine or Ten showing. The worst cards for the dealer are up-cards of a Deuce through to a Six because those cards give the dealer the highest chance of busting, and this is when we should pounce and double down. Dealer up-cards of Five and Six give their hand the highest chance of busting at roughly 42%.
Here are the most commonly recommended hands to double down on, taking in to consideration the dealer’s up-card:
[table id=1 /]
If you are dealt an Ace with a Deuce through to a Seven, this leaves us in a relatively strong position to double (depending on the dealer’s up-card, as specified in the table). If your soft hand is an Ace and an Eight or Nine, then doubling is not favourable; standing is your best bet.
Blackjack Split And Double Down
Being dealt an Ace and a Six or Seven is the ideal hand to double down on. Many people may opt to stand with a soft total of 17 or 18 which is fine, but doubling is often advised. As the table suggests, your decision needs to be dependent on the dealer’s up-card. If you do opt to double with a soft 17/18, you have a strong chance of receiving a card valued at 10 (giving you a hard total of 17 or 18) which leaves you in the position you began in, just with the chance to win double the cash. If you are dealt an Ace, Deuce or Trey, you now hold an even stronger total of either 18, 19, 20, or 19, 20 or 21. If you are dealt a Four on the soft-17 hand, that will also leave you with an unbeatable 21. The point is to take advantage of strong starting soft hands, because of the unique value the Ace holds.
Know Which Variant You’re Playing
Blackjack Split Vs Double Down
American blackjack (unlike American Roulette) has more favourable odds for the player, so where possible, play American versions of the game.
American rules are as follows:
– You are not restricted when doubling down; you can have a hand with any value and choose to double.
– You can also surrender at any time, and the dealer must stand on a soft-17.
Blackjack Double Down
European blackjack has the following rules:
– When offered the chance to double, you may only do so if your hand totals nine, 10 or 11.
– The dealer must hit on soft-17, and you cannot surrender.