Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart and 21 Game Variations

Basic Strategy
The game of blackjack has a distinct advantage for the “house” or casino. This advantage differs based on the specific rules that the casino applies to the blackjack games they offer. The player disadvantage on a typical blackjack game is on average about 2%. Translated this means a player who does not implement a strategy will lose on average $2 for every $100 that is bet during the time of play. Here’s a brief example and breakdown:

Player sits at a table and bets $25 per hand for a total of 4 hours. During the 4 hour period the player is dealt 30 blackjack hands per hour. The player makes all player decisions without the help of any “basic strategy”. How much should this player expect to lose?

Answer: (25 x 4 x 30 x 2%) = 60
Breakdown: $25 per hand x 4 hours played x 30 hands per hour x .02 house
advantage = $60 in total losses.

The player in the above example would lose $60 every four hours by playing without any type of “basic strategy”. If you take that number and multiply by the number of players at any given time in a casino you can understand why the business is so very profitable. If 100 players were at a casino and they all played at the above levels the casino would profit $6000 every 4 hours or $1500 an hour.

The above example is based on a player with no experience or a player who has not learned the strategies involved in the game. In order to succeed at the game of blackjack every player must learn how to implement a “basic strategy” to their game when making decisions.

Basic strategy is a term associated with the mathematical edge that has been created for the player to reduce the “house advantage” or the money won by the casino. Millions of computer simulations have been done in order to create charts which tell the player the correct move to make when faced with a decision. If the player follows these charts and “hits”, “stands”, “doubles” and “splits” at the correct times the “house advantage” is reduced to a minimum from the 2% average to as low as .5%. This reduction makes your odds as a player much better if you want to win for the night or over the course of your lifetime. If you want to be a successful blackjack player learning and applying “basic strategy” is mandatory.

Let’s take a look at the difference in the above example for a player who implements a “basic strategy”:

Player sits at a table and bets $25 per hand for a total of 4 hours. During the 4 hour period the player is dealt 30 blackjack hands per hour. The player makes all player decisions WITH the help of a pre-determined “basic strategy” based on the specific rules of that casino. How much should this player expect to lose?

Answer: (25 x 4 x 30 x .5%) = 15
Breakdown: $25 per hand x 4 hours played x 30 hands per hour x .005 house
advantage = $15 in total losses.

The above example shows the substantial difference in favor of the player by implementing a “basic strategy”. The player above used a “blackjack chart” and was able to “hit”, “stand”, “double” and “split” at all the right times. The end result was a reduction in the “house advantage” from 2% to .5% or ½ of 1%. The monetary difference over the four hour period was a reduction of $45 in profit for the casino.

Game Variations
“Basic Strategy” has many different variations. Each casino has its own set of rules at the blackjack tables so it is very important that a player implements the correct “basic strategy” based on the rules of the table they are playing. Some of the many different variations which will determine which “basic strategy” to use include the following:

• Number of Decks used

Casinos offer different blackjack tables and some of those tables vary in the number of decks used. Some tables may be listed as single-deck tables and others may use up to eight-decks for every “shoe” or individual game before the re-shuffle. To choose the correct “basic strategy” the player must first determine how many decks are being used during the game.

• Dealer “soft 17” rules

Whether a dealer must “hit” or “stand” on a “soft 17” is another rule which varies from casino to casino. If a dealer has a “soft 17” (Ace plus a card combination totaling 6) then the dealer is either forced to “stand” or “hit” on that hand. Often the rule is listed right below the dealer chip rack on the casino table felt. The player must make sure which rule the casino uses before deciding on a “strategy chart”.

• “Double Down” rules

When a player can “double down” also greatly affects which chart to use. The casino may allow a “double down” on any two cards or may allow a “double down” only on a nine, ten or eleven. The casino may also vary in whether or not they allow a “double down” after a split. These rules are very important to know for the player. They greatly affect the “house advantage” as well as the decision on which chart to use.

• “Surrender” rules

Some casinos offer an option called “surrender”. When a player decides to “surrender” they feel that no matter what decisions they make with their hand it will still not be able to beat the dealer. When the player opts to “surrender” the hand half of the original bet is returned to the player and the other half is kept by the “house”. Some casinos do not offer “surrender” while other offer “early surrender” after the first two cards as well as “late surrender” deeper into the hand. The “surrender” rules at the casino you are playing are very important in determining which strategy chart to use.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart

The Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart engine listed here is a dynamic product offered by playblackjack.com which will generate the correct “basic strategy” for the player to use based on the listed variations. Choose the rules for “soft 17”, “double down”, “double down after split” as well as “surrender” and the engine will generate a chart for you to print and keep on hand the next time you play.