Most casino games are, for the most part, games of chance. However, there are others, such as blackjack, where strategy plays a major role.
Basic blackjack strategy table: what is it?
A blackjack table is a board that has on one axis all your possible cards, and on the other axis the dealer’s card or cards. Crossing both axes are a number of boxes indicating which of the 4 main actions is mathematically most advantageous to the player: hit, stand, split or double down, and also surrender, if the game allows it. It is important to be clear that this is a matter of probabilities and does not guarantee a 100% chance of winning every hand.
Blackjack strategy dates back to the 1950s, when a group of mathematicians developed the basic strategy. To do this, they calculated the winning and losing probabilities of each hand by processing all possible combinations of hands using computers of the time. This made it possible to put an end to the banker’s initial advantage over any player in casinos.
How to use the basic blackjack strategy table?
Using the basic blackjack strategy table is very simple and you just need to follow the recommendations below:
- On the left axis are all the possible combinations for your hand, separated into hard hands, soft hands and pairs.
- On the top axis is the dealer’s hole card.
Depending on the cards you receive, look for the box that crosses the dealer’s card, and that will be the option with the best odds for you.
Hard and soft hands in blackjack
Hard hands: Any 2-card hand that does not include an Ace. A hard hand is a hand where you can usually risk losing after drawing a single card. It should be understood that when these hands come up there is a greater chance of exceeding 21.
Soft hands are any two-card hand containing an ace. A soft hand is one in which you can’t bust when you draw a single card. This is because in blackjack the Ace can have a value of either 1 or 11, depending on what the player is interested in at the time.
Now that you know what the basic blackjack strategy table is, you can start using it. On our website you can play blackjack the day you want and at the time you want without leaving your couch. We want you to have fun and enjoy yourself, so you can choose from a wide range of options and win money. The best of blackjack is just a click away.