Blackjack Strategy Part 2

This strategy guide is provided for information only and is intended to be used with standard single player, 3-player and 5-player Blackjack games.
Because of the random way in which cards are dealt in Blackjack, sustained winning and losing streaks are possible and using this strategy is no guarantee of any specific outcome.
Playing Optimal Strategy Blackjack is no guarantee of success but does offer the best odds over a sustained period of time.

The random nature in which cards are dealt in Blackjack means that there can never be a system that guarantees a successful outcome of any hand for a player. However, there are ways in which you can maximise your chances of taking advantage of the best odds available to the player in any given situation.

Depending upon which cards you hold and the value of the dealer's face-up card there are courses of action you can take which are considered to be statistically the most advantageous way to play.

A "hard number" is one which is made up of two cards not containing an Ace. A "soft number" is one which contains an Ace and has two potential values. For example, if you have A-5 then you have either 6 or 16, giving you more options than if you have 10-6 to make 16.

This strategy recommends that you should not split 10s, that you should look to double down when you have eleven, against anything other than a dealer's Ace, and that you stand with 12 against a dealer's 6.

This may not be the way that you usually play but it has been mathematically determined to be the best way of increasing the odds in your favour.

Feel free to use our special strategy guide to see how the experts think you should play the game and see how it fits in with your own tactics and approach. Remember though that no strategy guide can account for betting patterns and size of bets, so it's up to the player to determine those for themselves. Even then though there are some basics which you should always look to adhere to;

* Always split Aces, except when the dealer is showing an Ace
* Do not split a pair of 5s
* Stand on a hard 13 through to 16 if the dealer is showing a 6 or lower
* If the dealer is showing a 4,5 or 6 you should stick on 12
* You should always continue to hit until you have 17 or better if the dealer is showing a ten
* Always stand once you have a hard 17 or higher. The odds of you not busting are far too low for it to be worth the risk
* Always stand when you have A-8 or A-9

Every casino player knows that instinct plays a big part in playing and so, ultimately, guide or no guide, you're going to have to make the big decisions yourself!