Simple Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack basic strategy is based on the mathematics of the game.
Hitting and Standing
The basic hitting and standing strategy in blackjack is:
- Hit anything below 12
- Stand on anything above 16
If you have 12 to 16 you should either:
- Hit if the dealer's card is between 7 and Ace (11)
- Stand if the dealer's up card is below 7
Hitting and Standing with Soft Totals
Soft totals are made up out of an Ace and another value card(s).
An Ace can be counted as 1 or 11 in blackjack.
If you have an ace in your hand but no 10 value card:
- Hit if the soft total is 17 or less
- Double if the soft total is 17 or less and the dealer has a 4, 5 or
- Stand with soft total of 19 or 20
Doubling Down
Simple Blackjack Strategy for making the decision to double down should be:
- Never double if your hand totals less than 8
- Always double down on 11
- If you have 10, double down if the dealer has 2 to 9
Splitting
The basic rules for splitting in blackjack are:
- Always split 8s and Aces
- Never split 4s, 5s and 10 value cards
Blackjack is one of few games in which the player is actively involved indetermining his own fortune.