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Black Jack Strategy
How to play Black Jack ?
Blackjack is played at a semicircular table. The game is often dealt from
1 to 8 standard 52 decks of cards, infinite decks also exist in the form
of robots mixing the cards all the time. Each card of rank 2-10 is worth
its face value in points. All face cards are worth 10 points and the ace
is worth 1 or 11 points whichever is best for that hand.
Card point values:
Ace = 1 or 11 points
2, 3 ,4 ,5 ,6 ,7 ,8 ,9 = Face value in points
10, J, Q, K = 10 points
The best hand you can get is a total of 21 points on the first 2 cards.
This can be achieved only by being dealt an ace and a 10(10, jack, queen
or king) on the first two cards, this is called a blackjack or natural,
a winning blackjack pays 3:2. If both player and dealer have a blackjack
the bet is a push. All other winning hands pays 1:1. The player wins if
his hand has more points than the dealer, without exceeding 21 points.
If either the player or dealer go over 21 it is called a break or bust
and that hand automatically loses. If both the player and dealer bust
the player loses. If player and dealer tie the hand is a push.
To begin the game each player makes a wager in the betting circle in front
of him. The dealer gives each player and himself a card face up, he then
deals every player a second card face up, and his own second card face
down. If the dealer upcard is an ace, insurance is offered.
Insurance is a side bet and all players may bet an additional half of
their original bets on insurance. If the dealer has a blackjack the insurance
bet wins 2:1 but you lose the original bet so it is more like a push.
If the dealer doesn't have blackjack the insurance bet is lost and the
game continues. If dealer has ten upcard he will also check for a blackjack.
After it has been established that the dealer does not have a blackjack
the player in turn may play their hands. The following options are available.
Stand: Whenever the player is satisfied with his hand he may stand.
And the turn goes over to the next player.
Hit: If the player wishes to take another card he may continue
to do so until he either stands or busts.
Double Down: In most casinos the player may double down on the
first two cards. This means doubling you bet and only receive on additional
card, after getting the card it is an automatic stand for the hand. Sometimes
you may double down on the first two cards after splitting. Often you
may only double down on 9, 10 or 11 totals for the first two cards.
Split: You may split the first two cards if they are of equal point
value, thus getting two hands. This will require making another wager
of the same amount as the original hand. Sometimes you may resplit up
to 2 or 3 times if another splitting opportunity arises. Double down after
splitting is sometimes offered.
Surrender(very rare rule): If you surrender you forfeit half the
bet and the hand is discarded. This option is generally only offered after
the dealer checks for blackjack, known as "late surrender."
After all players have finished playing their hands, it is the dealers
turn. The dealer must hit until either reaching a total of 17 to 21 or
busting. If he busts all the players that did not bust wins. If dealer
does not bust all player hand totals are compared to the dealer hand total.
If players hand total is greater than dealer player wins. If dealers total
is higher the dealer wins. If totals are equal the hand is a push.
Whenever the ace is counted as 11 instead of 1 that is called a soft hand.
On the canvas of blackjack it usually say "stand on all 17"
that means the dealer stands on soft 17 as well. Sometimes it does not
say "stand on all 17" on the canvas in that case dealer will
hit soft 17.
Basic Strategy for Black Jack
|
Basic Strategy Card
|
Dealer Upcard
|
|
Players Hand
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
A
|
| A+A |
Sp
|
Sp
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
| 10+10 |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
| 9+9 |
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
s
|
SP
|
SP
|
s
|
s
|
| 8+8 |
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
| 7+7 |
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| 6+6 |
h
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| 5+5 |
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
h
|
| 4+4 |
h
|
h
|
h
|
SP
|
SP
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| 3+3 |
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| 2+2 |
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Hard 17 and up |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
| Hard 16 |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Hard 15 |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Hard 16 |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Hard 15 |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Hard 14 |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Hard 13 |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Hard 12 |
h
|
h
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| 11 |
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
| 10 |
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
h
|
| 9 |
h
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| 8 and down |
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Soft 19 and up |
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
s
|
| Soft 18 |
s
|
Ds
|
Ds
|
Ds
|
Ds
|
s
|
s
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Soft 17 |
h
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Soft 16 |
h
|
h
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Soft 15 |
h
|
h
|
d
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Soft 14 |
h
|
h
|
h
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
| Soft 13 |
h
|
h
|
h
|
d
|
d
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
h
|
Key to table:
|
h
|
hit |
|
s
|
stand |
|
d
|
double if allowed, otherwise
hit |
|
Ds
|
double if allowed, otherwise
stand |
|
SP
|
split |
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