Blackjack Basic Strategy: Ultimate Guide for 4-Deck to 8-Deck Games

Basic blackjack strategy is a special set of instructions that increase your chances of winning. It includes recommendations based on the player's and dealer's cards. The main goal of the basic strategy is to minimize the advantage of offline or online casinos.

In this post, we'll provide you with detailed info about the blackjack strategy. Among others, we'll tell you about the following useful things:

• When to surrender in blackjack games
• How to split cards properly in blackjack
• When to declare a hit or a stand
• How to act at the blackjack table depending on the cards
• When to insure a bet

First of all, open in a new window the image that we placed under the main heading. These are blackjack charts you'll need constantly while you're reading. We recommend that you save them to your PC or mobile device. As you learn the intricacies of blackjack, its strategy charts should always be at hand. Here's what the letters used there mean:

The blackjack strategy is simple to use. You first look at the dealer's up card. The next step: you check your cards. After analyzing the situation, you make a decision on further actions, taking into account the blackjack charts that we mentioned above. By the way, it'll be useful for beginners to know what such terms as surrender, pair splitting, soft totals, and hard totals mean.

For example, the dealer's up card is 9. You have 15 points and this is a hard hand. According to the strategy charts, you must hit. How do we know this? It's simple. Take a look at the image that we've already talked about. Find the HARD TOTALS section there. Then determine the letter which is in the cell at the intersection of 9 and 15. This is H which means Hit.

The main problem with blackjack strategy isn't that it's complicated, but that you need to remember an impressive number of different combinations. To do this, you must learn card counting. You'll also have to spend many hours at a real or virtual blackjack table. However, if you're patient, your efforts will bring good results and your skills will reach a new level.

Basic Strategy in Text

The basic strategy in this form will be useful for players who perceive text presentation better. It's no different from the charts we provided at the very beginning of the post. For your convenience, learn the basic strategy starting from the first rule and gradually move on. Consistency is the key to success in blackjack and other games.

Surrender

If you're going to follow the blackjack basic strategy, you must surrender when the dealer's hand has a 9, 10, or ace and you have a hard 16. An exception is possible for a pair of 8s.

The basic strategy assumes one more game situation for the surrender. You must do it if the dealer has 10 and you have a hard 15.

Split

Always split aces! Remember that splitting aces is a mandatory rule for any blackjack game that is played using basic strategy. The same goes for the pair of 8s. When playing blackjack and getting 16, you're unlikely to be able to improve your result. Splitting 8s gives you this opportunity.

You must not split 5s and 10s in regular and online blackjack. 5 and 5 add up to 10. This is a great starting blackjack hand. A pair of 10s is almost a guaranteed win. There is no need to take risks and increase the house edge, or, in other words, the advantage of the casino over the player.

Many casinos allow players to double down after splitting occurs. If you play blackjack and this feature is available to you, follow these rules:

Double

The perfect blackjack strategy is to strictly follow the rules that are summarized in one chart that we give you. This is equally true for both single and double deck games. You can play blackjack using basic strategy even with six decks. Not to mention four or eight decks.

As for the double down, you must place an additional bet when you have a hard 9 and the dealer has 3, 4, 5, or 6. Double is suitable for hard 10 and 11 as well. Still, don't call a double down if you have a hard 10 and the dealer has a 10 or an ace. For soft 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18, double is possible but you must remember the specific rules of blackjack basic strategy before you call it.

Hit or Stand

In most casinos, players usually make decisions about hit or stand randomly. No wonder many of them automatically lose. Other players who adopt the blackjack strategy bankroll wisely. After receiving the first two cards, they evaluate their hands immediately and only then make decisions about further actions. Do the same to avoid losing your original bet in vain.

Blackjack charts clearly indicate when you should take an additional card or declare a stand. The order of your actions is as follows. You determine whether your hand is soft or hard. Next, you see what the dealer shows as an open card. Finally, you recall the strategy charts, make a decision, and reduce the risk of losing your initial bet thanks to this.

For example, you have a hard 8. This means that the dealer's card doesn't matter. Basic strategy requires you to hit anyway. But what if you have a soft 20? In this case, you must always stand. When you have soft 16, hit against the dealer's 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, or ace. Playing this way is a perfect blackjack strategy that often brings excellent results.

Modifications for Dealer Hits on Soft 17

Blackjack charts mean that you must declare a hit if the dealer has the following cards on your soft 17: 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, and ace. When the dealer gets a 3, 4, 5, or 6, your choice is double down. Remember these simple rules to win more often in offline or online blackjack.

Some gamblers claim that online casino blackjack is based on a random number generator. Therefore, strategy charts don't work in it. Actually, following them helps to avoid random decisions and increases the efficiency of the game.

Strategy for Different Dealer Upcards

The development of any game of blackjack depends on 2 important factors. This is your hand and the dealer's up card. A perfect blackjack strategy is built on the fact that you always take them into account and never make random or impulsive decisions.

Let's say you play online blackjack on PLG.BET. After the cards are dealt, you see that the dealer has a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The strategy we talk about in this post will help you quickly navigate the situation. With good cards, you can even split or double more aggressively.

When the dealer's up card is between 7 and 10, an aggressive strategy can result in a loss of the bet. Like any other gambling game, blackjack doesn't forgive mistakes. That's why you should be more careful if the dealer has strong cards like a 7, 8, 9, 10, or ace.

Strategy When a Special Element Like Insurance Is Involved in PLG.BET

Let's remember what blackjack rules say about insurance. You can take it when your main opponent has an ace. The dealer's hole card may well be a 10. If this happens, the dealer hits a blackjack and you lose. Insurance allows you to avoid this.

Once you're insured, you get a 2 to 1 payout provided the dealer is dealt a blackjack. Otherwise, you lose your insurance. Is it beneficial? Well, even professional blackjack players cannot answer this question definitively. Some people say that this is a good option while others insist that it increases the house edge.

The basic strategy rejects any insurance. Should you always follow this rule? This is something you must decide for yourself. We only say that it makes sense to insure when you think the dealer will win with almost 100% chance. In other cases, follow the rules from the blackjack charts.

Strategy for Multi-Deck Games

Many players are confident that any strategy works well in single deck blackjack. At the same time, a huge number of cards reduces the chances of winning. The question arises: does this really happen in multi deck blackjack? It's not easy to answer.

The large number of decks introduces some dissonance into the blackjack gameplay. In particular, lots of players note that this makes splits and double downs less effective. On the other hand, strategy charts should never be discounted.

Basic strategy makes the gameplay of regular or online blackjack more orderly. Regardless of the number of decks, you don't rely on chance and clearly know what to do in different situations. Deviations from the rules are possible only when you're completely confident in your actions.

Psychology of the Game and Its Impact on Strategy in Online Casino

Blackjack players usually lose not because they play badly. Much more often, this occurs due to a loss of emotional control. A lot of gamblers find it difficult to remain calm while playing offline or online blackjack. They feel like they're under constant pressure due to the pace of the game or time constraints. As a result, players make mistakes that they could have avoided.

Blackjack charts are just a great tool to develop gaming discipline. Basic strategy protects against impulsive decisions and makes the game more structured. If it recommends sticking or making a side bet, you just do it. Your actions don't depend on psychology in any way. You're in control of the situation and aren't afraid to make rash decisions.

Conclusion

FAQ

Which blackjack basic strategy is best?

This is the basic strategy we described in our post. It's a great start for beginners. Anyway, experienced gamblers often follow it too.

Is blackjack basic strategy legit?

Yes, but if you count cards and follow it in offline casinos, security may ask you to leave the table. On PLG.BET, this isn't possible. Stick to any strategies. It's up to you how to play.

Is there a trick to winning blackjack?

As with other gambling games, you aren't guaranteed to win at blackjack. Different strategies only increase the chances of winning but don't make them 100%.

Do blackjack dealers know basic strategy?

Of course, they do. Any blackjack dealer stands at the table and closely monitors the players. At the slightest suspicion, a casino employee gives discreet signals to security. For this reason, play on PLG.BET. On our website, no one will monitor your actions.