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, except of course when you play in
online casinos. 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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