Basic Blackjack Strategy Guide Beginners Chart â Lemons & Sevens
Our printable blackjack strategy chart and simple blackjack strategy will make quick work of learning how to play this 21 card game.
Hereâs your basic blackjack strategy cheat sheet. If youâre wondering how to use it (or what on earth Ds means), then keep scrolling for more blackjack tips for beginners.
Blackjack, also known as 21, is a game played against the dealer (rather than other players). The aim is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over.
If you go over 21, you will automatically bust. If you get a lower score than the dealer does, you will lose. Itâs as simple as that!
Thereâs a bit more nuance to playing blackjack, as you might have guessed, so weâll cover it as simply as possible below. (And again, donât forget to check out our free blackjack cheat sheet if you just want to cut right to the chase.)
How to play blackjack
You can play blackjack online or in the casino, and our strategy card can be used for either. (Check out our Sky Casino blackjack review for more online blackjack coverage.)
This isnât a guide to counting cards, though if you want to learn more about that, you can check out this post on counting cards online. Instead, weâre just going to cover the basic blackjack rules and the mechanics of play.
At the beginning of the hand, the croupier will deal you two cards face up. The croupier will also deal him or herself two cards, but only one of these will be face up.
Itâs worth noting that in basically every casino, the dealer has to stand on 17 or above (itâs literally a rule, they canât deal themselves another card in this scenario). So if the dealer gets 17, 18, 19, or 20, you know they have to stand on those two cards.
Youâll see the dealerâs second card after you have decided whether to hit or stand on your first two cards.
Itâs also important to know that the first two cards youâre dealt can add up to any number up to 21, so it is impossible to bust by going over 21 with your first two cards.
Blackjack card values
In blackjack, the cards donât increase in value from 2-Ace. Instead, all numbered cards (2-10) are worth their numeric value, all face cards are worth 10, and Aces are worth either 11 or 1 - whichever gives you the highest value without busting.
So letâs break that down - hereâs all the blackjack card values:
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are all worth the numerical value on the card
- Jack, Queen, and King are also worth 10
- Aces are worth either 1 or 11 (whichever gives you the highest number without busting)
So, letâs say youâre dealt a 3â 5âŠ. Your hand has a value of 8. (Itâs worth noting that the suit of the cards you are dealt has no effect whatsoever on the game.)
When should you hit, and when should you stand?
Once you have your first two cards, you can then decide if you want to âhitâ or âstandâ. Hereâs what that means:
- Hit - Deal another card (in the hopes that you get closer to 21)
- Stand - Keep the two cards you have (in the hopes that the dealer doesnât get closer to 21 than you)
If you have two cards that add up to more than 12, and decide to âhitâ, you run the risk of going over 21 and busting (in other words, losing). If you decide to âstandâ, you run the risk of the dealer dealing another card to themselves and getting closer to 21 than you did (in other words, losing).
In our example, you hold 3â 5âŠ, for a value of 8. You can decide to stand, in the hopes that the dealer does not have higher than 8, or you can âhitâ, and get another card to bring you closer to 21. What would be the right decision?
Well, in this instance, the highest value card you could be dealt as your next card (an Ace, for 11) would give you 19, so would not put you above 21 - it’s a no-risk decision to hit.
However, if your next card came up as 7â youâd have 3â 5⊠7â for a value of 15. If you choose to hit again, you could draw a card worth 7, 8, 9, or 10 and bust!
Alternately, if your next card was AâŁ, youâd now have 3â 5⊠A⣠for value of 19. Thatâs pretty close to 21, right? The only cards that improve your hand here is a 2 or another Ace, so your chances of improving are slim. Probably best to stand in this scenario.
This is where our blackjack strategy chart comes in handy, as it will help you to work out when it is a good decision to risk the odds of another card, and when youâre close enough to 21 that it becomes a good idea to stand. Itâs all based on the probability of getting closer to 21 using the information you have to hand, and thatâs really what blackjack basic strategy comes down to.
How to win at blackjack
Once you decide to stand on the cards you have, and the dealer gets 17 or above, or goes over 21 and busts, the hand is over and bets are paid out. Blackjack pays out 1:1, meaning youâll get double your bet back if you win. For example, if you bet ÂŁ1, youâll get ÂŁ2 back (your bet of ÂŁ1, plus another ÂŁ1).
Of course, if you deal two cards that equal 21 right away, then you donât need to hit or stand, youâve automatically got a blackjack, and youâve won! Whatâs more, winning with a blackjack on your first two cards pays out a higher rate of 3:2. (So long as the dealer doesnât also get a blackjack - in which case, you just get your bet back.)
The only way to win at blackjack with your first two cards is to get an Ace and a Face. So that would be any combination of an Ace with a King, Queen, Jack or 10.
Extra blackjack rules and side bets
There are a few additional rules and side bets in blackjack that you should know about if you want to start playing this classic game. Here are the most common blackjack side bets and features that youâll find in most casinos.
Double down
In blackjack, you usually have the option to double down on your bet immediately after your two initial cards have been dealt. (There are some casinos where this isnât the case, but typically youâll always be able to.)
Doubling down works as a kind of âvote of confidenceâ in your bet. It allows you to double your bet, thus doubling the amount you can win.
However, once you have doubled your bet, you can only have one more card dealt to you, after which you are forced to stand on whatever cards you have.
You have to think strategically when it comes to choosing which cards to double down on in blackjack. (Or, you know, just check out the basic strategy guide.)
Insurance
When the dealerâs upcard is an Ace, you can take âinsuranceâ against their next card giving them a blackjack. The amount that the insurance pays will vary, but is usually 2:1. If the dealer does get a blackjack, your insurance bet is paid off.
However, insurance is a bet that will never be a part of any standard blackjack strategy, as it is a losing bet.
Splitting in blackjack
If your first two cards give you a pair, you can split your hand. Splitting your hand means that you need to double your bet and split your two cards into what is now two separate hands. Each of these one-card hands will then be dealt a second card each and you can play them both as normal.
Double after split (DAS)
There are a few occasions in blackjack upon which you should double your bet after splitting your hand (if, of course, the casino allows you to - many casinos do not allow doubling after splitting in blackjack). This is called âDouble After Splitâ (DAS) or âDouble Down After Splitâ (DDAS).
This means that when you are dealt a pair, you split your hand (so you now have two hands) and then place an additional wager which is equal to your original bet. This only comes up in some situations, where you have good enough odds after splitting your hand that it makes sense to double your bet.
Blackjack basic strategy
Now, letâs take a look at how to use that blackjack basic strategy calculator download link.
Youâll see the chart is split into three sections - the first section tells you what action to take with the value of your first two cards (your âhard totalâ) vs. the dealerâs âupcardâ (the dealerâs card that you can see before you take your first action).
In the example below, your hard total is 14 - letâs say itâs 8â 6â - and the dealerâs upcard is a 9. The H in the relevant part of the grid means that your best move in this situation is to Hit (H).
Not had enough of blackjack yet? Check out our article on counting cards in online blackjack, or our review of Sky Casinoâs blackjack offering.
Got a question? Get in touch on Twitter or Instagram, or find us on YouTube for more gambling guides.
FAQ
Do you hit 13 against a 2?
Player 21: In the event your point total equals 21 (not Blackjack), you automatically win and the dealer will pay you even money. Five Card Trick: In the event you draw 5 cards to a hand without exceeding 21, you automatically win and the Dealer will pay you even money.
Whats the best blackjack strategy?
S= Stand. Dh= Double down if allowed, if not hit. Ds= Double down if allowed, if not stand. Rh= Surrender if allowed, if not hit. Rs= Surrender if allowed, if not stand.
Can you have a blackjack strategy card?
Not only do all casinos I know allow strategy cards or books, most will give you a card with basic strategy on it. The only restrictions are if you are slowing down play.Feb 7, 2012
What is the best card to hit in blackjack?
Player 21: In the event your point total equals 21 (not Blackjack), you automatically win and the dealer will pay you even money. Five Card Trick: In the event you draw 5 cards to a hand without exceeding 21, you automatically win and the Dealer will pay you even money.
Can you win money with basic strategy blackjack?
The most basic advantage-playing strategy is counting cards. It will provide you with a 1% to 2% advantage in the long run. However, you can only use this system in land-based casinos. Standard online games will shuffle the cards after every hand and negate card counting.Aug 21, 2024
Do you hit 13 against a 2?
Player 21: In the event your point total equals 21 (not Blackjack), you automatically win and the dealer will pay you even money. Five Card Trick: In the event you draw 5 cards to a hand without exceeding 21, you automatically win and the Dealer will pay you even money.
What is the best card to hit in blackjack?
Player 21: In the event your point total equals 21 (not Blackjack), you automatically win and the dealer will pay you even money. Five Card Trick: In the event you draw 5 cards to a hand without exceeding 21, you automatically win and the Dealer will pay you even money.
Can you use a strategy card in blackjack?
Yes, you can use betting strategies in blackjack, in addition to following the blackjack cheat sheet.Aug 21, 2024
How does the secret of blackjack players who count cards help them win?
The counting cards blackjack true count affects the house edge for the remaining deck. Having a true count +1 with six decks of cards basically means that the casino no longer has an advantage, given optimal play. A true +3 makes the casino edge -1%, making blackjack more favorable for the player.Dec 12, 2023
Use these Blackjack Strategy Charts to learn the correct decision for every hand. Basic Strategy is the first step to beating blackjack with card counting
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