DETAILED EXPLANATION:
Using a basic strategy in every play action is the defining moment of consistency and the beginning process of building a business like method that wins. Taking the guesswork away from play action is an immeasurable key to this method’s success.
There are two basic strategies to learn and implement in every play action you make at the blackjack table.
The first strategy to learn is the one you will use with 4 or more decks. This will most probably be the situation you will be facing in most casinos.
We will describe each possible hand you will encounter during your play.
Here is an explanation of the 4 or more decks strategy you see in the image above.
The numbers in the first row at the very top line in orange represents the dealer’s up card. The numbers in the first column at the very left in orange represent your two cards that were dealt to you.
The following represents the action you will take when it comes to your turn:
D = Double down and has a green background.
H = Hit and has a blue background.
P = Split and has a yellow background.
S = Stand (or stay) and has a red background.
There is also three terms you must understand. The first one is a soft hand. This is a hand with an ace that is not a blackjack. A hand with an ace two is referred to as a “soft thirteen” this means your hand could be read as a total of thirteen or three.
The second term is a hard hand. This is a hand without an ace or a matching card. A hand with two and a three can be referred to as a hard five. A hand with a two and a four is a hard six. And a hand with
The third term is a face card. This is represented as an “F” in the strategy card. The face card can be a ten, jack, queen, or king.
There are three player hands not represented in this chart. These hands are a hard five, six, or seven. To be more specific they will be a two and a three (5), a two and a four (6), a two and a five (7), or a three and a four (7).
When you have any of these three hard hands (total of 5, 6, or 7) your action will be to always hit.
It is also important to understand that your first action may require you to take another action. For example, you have a two and a three in your hand. You have a hard five so your action will be to take a hit. The dealer gives you another two. This now gives you a total of seven (hard seven) and your action will be to hit.
Another situation where your first action requires you to take another action is when you have a pair in your hand other then two aces or two tens/face cards. If your action requires you to split the pair and your third card pairs up that card you will split again. For example you have a pair of sixes in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a six your action will be to split the new pair of sixes once again. Repeat this process as many times as necessary. It is not unusual for you to be required to split your hand several times during this play.
The first eight player’s hands represented in this strategy chart are a total of 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. These are also referred to as hard hands. So you will now call these hands a hard 9, a hard 10, a hard 11, a hard 12, a hard 13, a hard 14, a hard 15, and a hard 16.
Other hands not shown on the 4 or more deck strategy chart are a player’s hard seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen. When you have any of these three hard hands your action will be to always stand.
A hard seventeen would be when you have a seven and a ten/face card or an eight and a nine in your hand.
A hard eighteen would be when you have an eight and a ten/face card in your hand.
A hard nineteen would be when you have a nine and a ten/face card in your hand.
Always stand (or stay) and collect on a blackjack.
USING THE 4 OR MORE DECKS – BASIC STRATEGY CHART
Your hand is a hard 9:
This is a total of your first two cards. You have a two and a seven, a three and a six, or a four and a five.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five or six, your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a seven, eight, nine, a ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to take a hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example you have a two and a seven in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a five. You look at the strategy chart and find the 9 on the far left column (second row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 5 in the first row at the very top line (the 5th column to the right). You will see a “D” with a green background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will double down.
Your hand is a hard 10:
This is a total of your first two cards. You have a two and an eight, a three and a seven, or a four and a six.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine, your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a ten/face card or an ace your action will be to take a hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example you have a four and a six in your hand and the dealer’s up card is an ace. You look at the strategy chart and find the 10 on the far left column (third row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the A in the first row at the very top line (the 11th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will take a hit.
Your hand is a hard 11:
This is a total of your first two cards. You have a two and a nine, a three and an eight, a four and a seven, or a five and a six.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten/face card, your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is an ace your action will be to take a hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example you have a four and a seven in your hand and the dealer’s up card is an eight. You look at the strategy chart and find the 11 on the far left column (fourth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 8 in the first row at the very top line (the 8th column to the right). You will see a “D” with a green background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will double down.
Your hand is a hard 12:
This is a total of your first two cards. You have a two and a ten/face card, a three and a nine, a four and an eight, or a five and a seven.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a four, five, or six your action will be to stand. “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
As an example you have a four and an eight in your hand and the dealer’s up card is an eight. You look at the strategy chart and find the 12 on the far left column (fifth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 8 in the first row at the very top line (the 8th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is a hard 13:
This is a total of your first two cards. You have a three and a ten/face card, a four and a nine, a five and an eight, or a six and a seven.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, or six, your action will be to stand. “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to take a hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example you have a five and an eight in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a nine. You look at the strategy chart and find the 13 on the far left column (sixth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 9 in the first row at the very top line (the 9th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is a hard 14:
This is a total of your first two cards. You have a four and a ten/face card, a five and a nine, or a six and an eight.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, or six, your action will be to stand. “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to take a hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example you have a five and a nine in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a nine. You look at the strategy chart and find the 14 on the far left column (seventh row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 9 in the first row at the very top line (the 9th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is a hard 15:
This is a total of your first two cards. You have a five and a ten/face card, a six and a nine, or a seven and an eight.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, or six, your action will be to stand. “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to take a hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example you have a six and a nine in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a nine. You look at the strategy chart and find the 15 on the far left column (eighth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 9 in the first row at the very top line (the 9th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is a hard 16:
This is a total of your first two cards. You have a six and a ten/face card, or a seven and a nine.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, or six, your action will be to stand. “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to take a hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example you have a six and a nine in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the 16 on the far left column (ninth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is an A2:
This when you have an ace (A) and a duce (2) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a five or a six your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the ace and a duce in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the A2 on the far left column (tenth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is an A3:
This when you have an ace (A) and a trey (3) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a five or a six your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the ace and a trey in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the A3 on the far left column (eleventh row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is an A4:
This when you have an ace (A) and a four (4) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a four, five, or a six your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the ace and a four in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the A4 on the far left column (twelfth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is an A5:
This when you have an ace (A) and a five (5) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a four, five, or a six your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the ace and a five in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the A5 on the far left column (thirteenth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is an A6:
This when you have an ace (A) and a six (6) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a three, four, five, or a six your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the ace and a six in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the A6 on the far left column (fourteenth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is an A7:
This when you have an ace (A) and a seven (7) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, seven, or an eight, your action will be to stand (or stay). “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a three, four, five, or a six your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the ace and a seven in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the A7 on the far left column (fifteenth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see an “S” with a red background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will stand (or stay).
Your hand is an A8:
This when you have an ace (A) and an eight (8) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to stand (or stay). “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
As an example this means that whenever you have an A8 in your hand you will always stand (stay) regardless what the dealer’s up card is. You look at the strategy chart and find the A8 on the far left column (sixteenth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right and you will see an “S” with a red background in every column. This is the action you will take. You will stand (or stay).
Your hand is an A9:
This when you have an ace (A) and a nine (9) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to stand (or stay). “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
As an example this means that whenever you have an A9 in your hand you will always stand (stay) regardless what the dealer’s up card is. You look at the strategy chart and find the A9 on the far left column (seventeenth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right and you will see an “S” with a red background in every column. This is the action you will take. You will stand (or stay).
Your hand is an AA:
This when you have an ace (A) and another ace (A) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to split. “P” represents this action with a yellow background in this strategy chart.
As an example this means that whenever you have an AA in your hand you will always split regardless what the dealer’s up card is. You look at the strategy chart and find the AA on the far left column (eighteenth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right and you will see a “P” with a yellow background in every column. This is the action you will take. You will split.
Your hand is a 22:
This when you have a duce (2) and another duce (2) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a four, five, six, or a seven your action will be to split. “P” represents this action with a yellow background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the duce (2) and another duce (2) in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the 22 on the far left column (nineteenth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see a “P” with a yellow background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will split.
Your hand is a 33:
This when you have a trey (3) and another trey (3) in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a four, five, six, or a seven your action will be to split. “P” represents this action with a yellow background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the trey (3) and another trey (3) in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the 33 on the far left column (twentieth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see a “P” with a yellow background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will split.
Your hand is a 44:
This when you have a four and another four in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example this means that whenever you have a 44 in your hand you will always hit regardless what the dealer’s up card is. You look at the strategy chart and find the 44 on the far left column (twenty-first row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right and you will see an “H” with a blue background in every column. This is the action you will take. You will hit.
Your hand is a 55:
This when you have a five and another five in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or a nine, your action will be to double down. “D” represents this action with a green background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a ten/face card or an ace your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the five and another five in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the 55 on the far left column (twenty-second row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see a “D” with a green background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will double down.
Your hand is a 66:
This when you have a six and another six in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace, your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a three, four, five, or a six your action will be to split. “P” represents this action with a yellow background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the six and another six in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the 66 on the far left column (twenty-third row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see an “H” with a blue background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will hit.
Your hand is a 77:
This when you have a seven and another seven in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, or seven, your action will be to split. “P” represents this action with a yellow background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is an eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to hit. “H” represents this action with a blue background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the seven and another seven in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the 77 on the far left column (twenty-fourth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see a “P” with a yellow background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will split.
Your hand is an 88:
This when you have an eight and another eight in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to split. “P” represents this action with a yellow background in this strategy chart.
As an example this means that whenever you have an eight and another eight in your hand you will always split regardless what the dealer’s up card is. You look at the strategy chart and find the 88 on the far left column (twenty-fifth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right and you will see a “P” with a yellow background in every column. This is the action you will take. You will split.
Your hand is a 99:
This when you have a nine and another nine in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, eight, or nine, your action will be to split. “P” represents this action with a yellow background in this strategy chart.
If the dealer’s up card is a seven, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to stand (stay). “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
As an example when you have the nine and another nine in your hand and the dealer’s up card is a seven. You look at the strategy chart and find the 99 on the far left column (twenty-sixth row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right until you find the 7 in the first row at the very top line (the 7th column to the right). You will see a “S” with a red background where your finger should now be. This is the action you will take. In this example you will stand (stay).
Your hand is an FF:
This when you have a ten/face card and another ten/face card in your hand.
If the dealer’s up card is a two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten/face card, or an ace your action will be to stand (or stay). “S” represents this action with a red background in this strategy chart.
As an example this means that whenever you have an FF in your hand you will always stand (stay) regardless what the dealer’s up card is. You look at the strategy chart and find the FF on the far left column (twenty-seventh row from the top) and then move your finger over to the right and you will see an “S” with a red background in every column. This is the action you will take. You will stand (or stay).
Blackjack Betting System
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