Winning Blackjack

Blackjack is a simple game, but it is simple only in the rules, and when we speak about the strategy it becomes a little more complicated.
If you have learned the basic rules of blackjack, and know the values of blackjack hands - here you can find information about advanced strategy.

Train your memory!

You should clearly understand when you need to hit, stand, and split pairs or to double down. You always need to remember cards values and important combinations. It is hard to train your memory so that you could count cards, even assuming that there is a limited number of possible combinations on your hands against potential dealer cards. As well as counting you can simply guess! That is why it is easier and more convenient to memorize the basic strategy.

Hard strategy

If you have a hard 8 - just hit! You will never bust if you have 8, and there is a good chance to beat the dealer.
If you have a hard 9, and the dealer has 3,4,5 or 6 - double the bet. You have a great chance to win. The reason - there are more ten's than any other cards in the deck (there are sixteen of them), so you will have a great chance to get 19.
If you have 10, and the dealer has from 2 to 9 - double down or just hit - you won't go bust with 10. But be careful - if the dealer has an ace or a ten there is a great chance for a draw or even for you to lose!
If the dealer has only two, and you have a hard 11 - don't be afraid and double down! Or, again, just hit. You will have an excellent chance to get 21 with eleven on a start. And again it is impossible to bust with 11 on the beginning of the game. But if you see that the dealer has an ace - just hit.
Here comes more tricky and dangerous stuff! If you have 12 there is a chance to bust, so be careful. If the dealer has 4,5 or 6 just stand, or you can risk and hit. But if you stand and wait there is a big chance for dealer to bust with those cards. If the dealer has other cards, you should hit.
If you have hard 13,14,15 or 16 and the dealer has from 2 to 6 - stand, and wait for the dealer to bust. But if the dealer has more than six you will want to improve your situation, because the dealer has a great chance to beat you.
Always stand on hard 17 through 21. It is a good chance to win if you stand and to lose if you hit!

Soft strategy

With soft hands from 8 to 12 you may play the same as with hard hands of the same value.
If the dealer has 5 or 6, and you have soft 13 or 14 you can double down or hit. And if you hit on a hand less than 10, except 8 and 9 with soft 14, you will be right with the same value you have started with.
If you have soft 15 or 16 and the dealer has only 4,5 or 6 - hit or double down. It is similar as with soft 13 and 14.
Soft 17! If you have it, and the dealer has only 3,4,5 or 6 you can hit or double down, and you will have great chances for winning blackjack.
Soft 18 is a tricky one:

• If the dealer has 3,4,5 or 6 -double down
• If the dealer has 2,7 or 8 - stand
• If the dealer has 9,10 or ace - HIT

If you have 19,20 and, of course, 21 always stand - there is not much point to risk!

Splitting strategy

You should always split if you have two aces - you can double your chances to win in blackjack.
You have a pair of 2's -if the dealer has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 you need to split your pair. If the dealer has 8 or better hit the pair to improve your position.
A pair of 7's - if the dealer has from 2 to 7 you need to split, otherwise hit.
There is almost no point in splitting a pair of 4's, only if the dealer has 5 or 6.
Never split a pair of 5's!
If the dealer has from 2 to 6 you should split a pair of 6's, otherwise hit.
Pair of 7's - if the dealer shows from 2 to 7 you should split your pair, if it is 8 or better you need to hit.
Pair of 9's is one of the most complicated! You should split the pair, if the dealer has from 2 to 6 or from 8 to 9. You should stand if the dealer has 7, 10 or ace.
Don't split a pair of 10's - it is a great combination with a great chance for winning blackjack. You, of course, can split the pair, but there is not much point in splitting here.
Practice in land casinos and casinos online! Remember - practice is the best master!