Basic Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games played today.  Compared to many games, it is relatively simple when you know the rules and the object of the game.  You can improve your game all the more by implementing a basic blackjack strategy.  Many people fail to win at blackjack simply because they are not consistent.  You would be surprised at what you can do with your game when you have even the most basic strategy applied to each and every game.

A very basic blackjack strategy is to assume you should hit if you have sixteen or less.  Some people consider this risky, but what you have to remember is that the dealer is required to hit when they have 16 or less.  What this means is that you are not going to win unless you have a hand that is valued at 17 or more.  This can be tricky because you don’t want to bust, but knowing that the dealer has at least 16 should help you continue to hit, taking the risk of busting.

How do you know when to hit or should you always hit with less than 17?  You should most definitely hit on anything less than 17 when the dealer shows cards including an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, or 8 cards.  You should stand on hands that are valued at 11 or more when the dealer has a four, five, or six because the dealer is likely to bust 4% of the time.

Another basic blackjack strategy is to consider splitting two cards of the same value.  This will allow you to double your bet by playing two hands.  This is always a good idea unless you have 10’s or 5’s.  You should always split sevens and eights if a dealer has a card that is equal to or less than the cards you have.  You should always consider splitting twos or threes when you are playing against the dealers four, five, or six.  A basic blackjack strategy that you should always apply is to always split aces but never split face cards.

Don’t be afraid to double down.  While many people are intimidated by doubling down, this can be a very basic blackjack strategy.  You should consider doubling down when you have a 10 against the dealers nine or less and you should also consider doubling down when you have any hand that values 11.  You may also want to double down with a 9.

These are just some of the most basic strategies that will help you get ahead in the game of blackjack.  While blackjack is about luck, when you use these strategies you will have a better chance of winning.  Knowing the odds and when you should do certain things will help you be a more well rounded player.  When you consistently apply these strategies you will no doubt find yourself on the winning side of the table more often than when you had a different strategy with each card dealt!