The basic strategy for Blackjack involves making decisions based on the total value of your hand and the dealer's upcard to minimize the house edge. Generally, if your hand totals 17 or more, you should stand, while if it's 8 or less, you should always hit. For hands totaling 12-16, you should stand if the dealer shows a weak card (2-6) and hit if the dealer has a stronger card (7 or higher).
Doubling down is recommended when you have 11 or 10, especially if the dealer shows a weaker card. You can also double down with a 9 if the dealer has 3-6. When you have pairs, it's usually best to split Aces and 8s, but not 10s. Some hands, like 16 or 15 against a dealer’s 10 or Ace, may call for surrender, if the option is available.
Soft hands (those containing an Ace counted as 11) allow more flexibility, where you might hit or double down instead of standing, depending on the dealer’s card. Avoid taking insurance bets, as they typically result in a loss in the long run. The key to basic strategy is to reduce the risk of busting and capitalize on situations where the dealer is likely to bust.
Doubling down is recommended when you have 11 or 10, especially if the dealer shows a weaker card. You can also double down with a 9 if the dealer has 3-6. When you have pairs, it's usually best to split Aces and 8s, but not 10s. Some hands, like 16 or 15 against a dealer’s 10 or Ace, may call for surrender, if the option is available.
Soft hands (those containing an Ace counted as 11) allow more flexibility, where you might hit or double down instead of standing, depending on the dealer’s card. Avoid taking insurance bets, as they typically result in a loss in the long run. The key to basic strategy is to reduce the risk of busting and capitalize on situations where the dealer is likely to bust.
