Basic Strategy is the mathematically optimal way to play every blackjack hand. It reduces the house edge to around 0.5% - making blackjack one of the best casino games for players.
Key Concepts:
• Always assume the dealer's hole card is worth 10
• Your decision depends on YOUR total and the dealer's UP CARD
• Never deviate from basic strategy based on "hunches"
• Basic strategy is based on millions of computer simulations
Hard Hands vs Soft Hands:
• Hard Hand: No ace, or ace counted as 1 (e.g., 10-7 = 17)
• Soft Hand: Ace counted as 11 (e.g., A-6 = "Soft 17")
• Soft hands are more flexible - you can't bust by hitting
The Four Basic Actions:
1. Hit: Take another card
2. Stand: Keep your current total
3. Double Down: Double your bet, get exactly one more card
4. Split: Turn a pair into two separate hands