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Blackjack Strategy
Want to be a
master of your own destiny, play online blackjack ! This
game allows you to pull strings in your overall game
strategy, whereas, the dealer remains behind the curtains
following specific set of rules creating no serious
decisions. It is your expertise and intelligence that are
crucial leading you to either success or failure.
Therefore, to overlay your opponent you can use the
following three strategies offered here at the Gambling
Wiz:
-
Money
management scheme should be your main concern in the
decision when to call a card or when to stand,
disregarding the dealer's gestures. Remember, Blackjack
is the game of luck, so apply appropriate money
management like the
Paroli
System and confine your losses and profits. Don't
forget, there is always a time to win and a time to
quit!
-
Dealer's
cards analysis is a crucial process. This will allow you
to come to a conclusion regarding the calling of a card
or standing. Money management system like a
D'Alenbert System can be very handy. Never forget to
limit your loss and profit so you will not keep on
playing when quitting should have been your right move.
-
Card Counting:
This one is a tough one! Better learn this method from
the best, or else you are asking for troubles. Casinos
are not particularly found of it. Numerous books feature
Blackjack card counting techniques.
Paroli
System
It is rather straightforward: increase your bet when you
win and not when you loose, which is contrary to the
Martingale system. The betting procedure must not be a
random one. Careful planning of betting is necessary to
determine how far you are willing to go with the bet. This
must be set primarily so that you are clear on the
starting bet and the raising after each win. The above,
naturally depends on the type of a game and the odds of
the bet.
D'Alenbert
System
This is a combination of Martingale and Insurance
techniques. Each loosing bet is granted a raise and a
winning bet is granted a lowering by one unit. Various
games offer different sequence and amount raised or
lowered.
Basic
Rules
- Let's say that the card that the
dealer holds is seven (7) or higher, you better play to
seventeen. Meaning that had you had a 10 and a 2 (total
of 12), you should have hit the hand until reaching 17.
Let's pretend that your next card is a 4 (total of 16),
you should hit this hand again till reaching 17.
- Say the dealer holds six (6) as an up
card or lower, but higher than three (3), you better
play to twelve and stop.
- Say the dealer shows six (6) when you
were dealt a 10 and a 2 (total of 12), it is in your
benefit to stand on this hand.
- Say a dealer's up cars is a two (2)
or a three (3), you better play till 13.
- If you received a 10 and a 2 (total
of 12), you should hit this hand. If the next card is an
Ace (total of 13), you must stand on this hand.
Basic
Strategy
The "Basic Strategy" chart is a god mother of a Blackjack.
It signifies to a player when to hit, stand, split or
double down. Moreover, when a player is found strayed from
this strategy, the most favorable odds found in casino are
substantially decreased.
The following chart, here at http://www.gamblingwiz.com,
presents the basic strategy for a game with two decks,
while the dealer is pressed to remain on a soft 17. Adhere
to this technique and your chances for a good round will
rise to a sky-scrapper. Playing loosely from this strategy
can result in reduction of the House's edge to 0.5% or
less, depending on the type of rule applied.
Basic Strategy - Single
Deck
| Your Hand |
vs |
Dealer's Upcard |
| 8 |
|
Double on 5 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 9 |
|
Double on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 10 |
|
Double on 2 to 9. Otherwise hit. |
| 11 |
|
Always double. |
| 12 |
|
Stand on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 13 to 16 |
|
Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 17 to 21 |
|
Always stand. |
| A,2 to A,5 |
|
Double on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| A,6 |
|
Double on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| A,7 |
|
Double on 3 to 6. Stand on 2,7,8 or A. Hit on 9 or
10. |
| A,8 |
|
Double on 6. Otherwise stand. |
| A,9 |
|
Always stand. |
| A,A |
|
Always split. |
| 2,2 |
|
Split on 3 to 7. Otherwise hit. |
| 3,3 |
|
Split on 4 to 7. Otherwise hit. |
| 4,4 |
|
Same as 8 above. |
| 5,5 |
|
Same as 10 above. |
| 6,6 |
|
Split on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 7,7 |
|
Split on 2 to 7. Stand on 10. Otherwise hit. |
| 8,8 |
|
Always split. |
| 9,9 |
|
Split on 2 to 9 except 7. Stand on 7,10 or A. |
| 10,10 |
|
Always stand. |
The chart presented above relies on the fact that the
casino doesn't allow doubling after pair splitting. If it
does allow that, then the following pair splitting rules
should be applied.
| Your Hand |
vs |
Dealer's Upcard |
| 2,2 |
|
Split on 2 to 7.Otherwise hit. |
| 3,3 |
|
Split on 2 to 7.Otherwise hit. |
| 4,4 |
|
Split on 4,5 or 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 6,6 |
|
Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit. |
| 7,7 |
|
Split on 2 to 8. Stand on 10. Otherwise hit. |
Basic
Strategy - Four, Six, Eight Deck
| Your Hand |
vs |
Dealer's Upcard |
| 5 to 8 |
|
Always Hit. |
| 9 |
|
Double on 3 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 10 |
|
Double on 2 to 9. Hit on 10, A. |
| 11 |
|
Double on 2 to 10. Hit on A. |
| 12 |
|
Stand on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 13 |
|
Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 14 |
|
Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 15 |
|
Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 16 |
|
Stand on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 17 |
|
Always stand. |
| 18 |
|
Always stand. |
| A,2 |
|
Double on 5,6. Otherwise hit. |
| A,3 |
|
Double on 5,6. Otherwise hit. |
| A,4 |
|
Double on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| A,5 |
|
Double on 4 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| A,6 |
|
Double on 3 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| A,7 |
|
Double on 3 to 6. Stand on 2,7 or 8. Hit on 9,10
or A. |
| A,8 to A,10 |
|
Always stand. |
| A,A |
|
Always split. |
| 2,2 |
|
Split on 2 to 7, Otherwise hit. |
| 3,3 |
|
Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit. |
| 4,4 |
|
Split on 5,6. Otherwise hit. |
| 5,5 |
|
Never split. Treat as 10 above. |
| 6,6 |
|
Split on 2 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
| 7,7 |
|
Split on 2 to 7. Otherwise hit. |
| 8,8 |
|
Always split. |
| 9,9 |
|
Split on 2 to 6, 8 or 9. Stand on 7,10, or A. |
| 10,10 |
|
Always stand. |
If players are permitted to double down after pair
splitting, the strategy of multiple decks becomes valid.
If it is impossible to double down after pair splitting,
apply the rules below.
| Your Hand |
vs |
Dealer's Upcard |
| 2,2 |
|
Split on 4 to 7.Otherwise hit. |
| 3,3 |
|
Split on 4 to 7. Otherwise hit. |
| 4,4 |
|
Never split. Always hit. |
| 6,6 |
|
Split on 3 to 6. Otherwise hit. |
Splitting
Pairs
The following table displays instances in which the
identical pairs should be split. (A "T" in the Pairs
column stands for any pair of ten-valued cards). A "Y"
means split when owning an identical pair and the dealers
shows the identical up card.
|
|
Dealer's Upcard |
| 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
T |
A |
|
(A,A) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
(T,T) |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
(9,9) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
(8,8) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
(7,7) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
|
(6,6) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
(5,5) |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
(4,4) |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
(3,3) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
(2,2) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Key:
- Y = Yes, split the pair
- N = No, don't split the pair
Soft
Totals
What is a "soft" hand? A "soft" hand comprises an Ace,
which can be counted as 1 or as 11. Remember, you can
improve a soft hand with a total of 17 or less by hitting.
When the Dealer shows a 9 or better, hit a soft 18.
|
|
Dealer's Upcard |
| 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
T |
A |
|
(A,9) |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
|
(A,8) |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
|
(A,7) |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
|
(A,6) |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
(A,5) |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
(A,4) |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
(A,3) |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
(A,2) |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
Key:
Hard
Totals
An Ace is not included in a "hard" hand. The following
table is the core of Basic Strategy. All the Ds in the
chart mean you better double in those situations.
|
|
Dealer's Upcard |
| 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
T |
A |
| 17 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| 16 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
| 15 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
| 14 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
| 13 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
| 12 |
H |
H |
S |
S |
S |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
| 11 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
| 10 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
| 9 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 8 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
Key:
- H = Hit
- S = Stand
- D = Double; if unable, Hit
Card Counting
Card counting strategy equips player with an effective
device of alerting the changing probabilities and together
with playing and betting switching techniques, statistical
advantage in casino is guaranteed!
Acquiring the skill of card counting is not a mission
impossible. The artists among you will not need to worry.
You too can become a master of this skill, without passing
a freakish mathematic test.
The following is a general guide to introduce you to how
the counting card is achieved. Please, do not practice
this technique. Just get familiarized with it in theory.
For single deck games:
- Start the count at -4 when the deck
is shuffled.
- Count -2 for 10, J, Q, K.
- Count +1 for everything else
(including Aces).
- Bet low when the count is negative,
high when the count is positive (actually, simulations
show that you can bet high for a count of -2 or above).
- Take insurance when the count is
positive.
- Play basic strategy at all times.
A note about card counting,
here at gamblingwiz.com
The underlying technique behind card counting displays the
following principle: a card deck that abounds in tens and
Aces is extremely essential to the player, while a dealer
will likely to benefit from the deck rich in small cards.
The dealer will be busted much more when a deck is full
with tens and Aces.
The quality of the high card deck is monitored by the
player's alertness on the cards that were already played
while assigning a point value to each card. The basic idea
behind this complex process is that the card counter will
assign plus point each time the card deck is more
advantageous and a minus when it becomes less
advantageous. In other words, a -1 point will go to the
high cards; a +1 point will go to the low cards and 0
point will be considered an in between one.
The "running count" is a running total of the count when
the counter has added and subtracted points in accordance
with the cards that have already been played. The next
step is the running count division according to the size
of the remaining card deck in order to get the 'true
count'. After all that, we know the relative quality of
high cards in the remaining deck.
The dealer's up card coordinates the card counter hand
alternatives and accordingly raises or lowers his betting.
A positive count is good, but a high positive count is the
best.
Sharp memory is the key to the card counter excellence as
the memory load increases during the course of the game
when the information you need to store is magnified
accordingly. What is this all hard work for? Well, if you
are lucky, your feasible profit will amount to exhausting
1% on the average. If you take upon the mission to wager
larger sums of money to increase the worthiness of 1%, you
are bound to become the center of pit boss's attention and
induced for a repeated card shuffling. If you mistakenly
deem that card shuffling is a rewarding business you are
wrong! It is not appreciated by casinos and is far from
being rewarding!
Shuffle Tracking
Have you heard of a 'Shuffle-tracking' science? No, well,
indeed this is a science that has originated from a
research performed most likely by a tremendously bored
mathematician that has observed computer card shuffling
simulation non-stop. Eventually it has developed into a
novel technique that has had little publication so far,
designed for either keeping the cards in play or cutting
them out of play.
Do not be fooled by the seemingly randomized card shuffle.
The mere process of shuffling does not automatically
ensure randomization. Some authors believe that it is only
after at least twenty to thirty times of shuffling a
single card deck can be categorized as truly randomly
dispersed. Let's say a Casino uses a 6 deck shoe, that's a
lot of shuffles! Here we'll restrict ourselves to an
overview of some basic shuffle tracings, since the end of
this section provides a compete analysis of this topic.
To create a beneficial card shuffle for a player in a one
card game, the deck should be divided equally into 26
cards and subjecting them to a common shuffling at least
three times. This yields relatively sufficient randomized
card distribution and once your opponent shuffles the
cards, they will be vaccinated from the massive mixing.
One of the more easy to grasp examples is the Unbalanced
Shuffle. The name itself suggests that the deck should be
separated to two unequal stacks. Just to exemplify the
above: you are playing two hands head on against the
dealer while the last 10 cards of the deck has already
been dealt. It all resulted in the failure of both of your
hands, mainly because of the high percentage of low value
cards in the clump. Pay attention at the fact that if you
decided upon counting, you would have bet a single unit
since the deck was unfavorable. The next step is the
dealer's shuffling, which he does by breaking the deck
into 31 cards in one stack and 21 in the other one,
shuffling both of them. The top ten cards will remain
unmixed if the shuffle was done from the bottom of each
stack on up. Providing that the shuffling process is not
changed, those ten cards will most likely remain in the
unaltered order throughout the shuffle. Now it is up to
you to cut the deck. The 10 cards that were dealt last
hand will be dealt as your first two hands, only if you
will not cut. The above may result in you previous loosing
of both hands. However, if you manage to cut the deck
precisely at the end of those ten cards, you have achieved
a beneficial manipulation. Those cards will now find
themselves at the bottom of the deck. You will avoid them
altogether, should the dealer shuffle up early. Moreover,
your counting technique would have aided you greatly,
since you would have known that the deck was favorable
during the first 3-4 hands. Indication for that would come
from the rich number of tens in the portion of the deck
that is on its way to be played. Accordingly, you would
increase you bet size to enlarge your winnings.
Remember, that dealers are often required to split the
deck into unequal stacks, but some may obliviously split
it to unequal stacks. In the first case where they are
specifically asked to do this, they are performing what is
called the House Shuffle. This particular way of shuffling
was taught to dealers specifically, why? To ensure the
profit in the long run, because the majority of players
will not cut any bad clumps out of play. All of it is
based on the fact that casino is confident in your lack of
attention to anything that has to do with shuffling during
you BlackJack game. They are probably right; we are rather
oblivious to it.
'Zone Shuffle', 'Strip Shuffle' and 'Stutter Shuffle', are
the various shuffle methods. Multiple deck games as Shoe
game for example, usually uses a Zone Shuffle and is
considered to be one of the more common shuffle methods.
The procedure is as following: the shoe is divided into 4
to 8 piles, depending on the number of decks it includes.
The picks from each pile are made in a very precise
manner, whereas half deck sized stacks are shuffled
intermittently. To prevent the random mixture of clumps of
cards, the net effect is being applied. In other words,
this is a simple regrouping if cards in the same region of
the shoe as they were before. If you won only 20 hands
whereas the dealer has won 40, do not expect any miracles
to happen. This trend will continue until you find
yourself broke or until many shuffles has managed to
remove the unfavorable bias.
What will happen if you win the 40 hands whereas the
dealer wins only the 20 hands? If this is the case, the
dealer, providing that he has been keeping an eye on the
quantity of hand winnings from each side, will embark upon
one of the two possible tracks. One is to see that the
shuffle remains the same, but 'strip' the deck. The
'stripping' aims at reversing the order of cards and it
entails stripping off of one card at a time from the shoe
so that they’ll fall on top of one another onto the table.
Consequently, whatever clumping advantage (a bunch of
tens) a player may have is meant to be thwarted by this
procedure. The other thing a dealer may do is to assist in
card randomization, by altering the way in which the cards
were shuffled.
Good Luck!
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