Blackjack is a card game that is easy to play, but at the same time if takes a lot of strategy in order to be a winning player. Learning the rules of the game is your first step to becoming a winning player, but you are also going to need to prepare yourself with the basic strategies used by winning players. We are going to walk you through some basic game play strategy now so you know exactly what moves to make. Think of our guidelines as basic Blackjack instructions, designed to assist you in optimal Blackjack play.
Basic Blackjack Instructions
10 – 11 – When you receive a hand valued at ten or eleven, basic Blackjack instructions generally suggest you should double down, except when the dealer’s up card is an ace or ten. In instances when the dealer’s up card is such, merely take a hit.
12 – 16 – When you have a hand valued at 12-16 you are going to mix up your play based on the dealer’s up card. When the dealer is showing a 2-6, our Blackjack instructions tell you to stand, while instructing you to hit when the dealer shows a seven or higher as their up card.
17 – 21 – You should stand when you have 17+ with the only exception occurring when your hand totals 17 with an ace. With an ace, your hand is soft and you can afford to take a card to try to better your hand, although only do so if the dealer is showing an up card of 7+.
Our blackjack instructions suggest a player hits all hands under ten in value.
Blackjack Instructions for Pairs
Eights & Aces – If you are dealt a pair of eights or Aces, then you should split the pair every single time because the chances of winning both hands are great.
Fives & Tens – If you are dealt a pair of 5’s or 10’s, then you are never going to want to split the pair. Since your hand would be 10 or 20 depending on what pair you have, you will have a better chance of winning if you do not split the hand. Our Blackjack instructions suggest players stand on a pair of tens, and either hit or double down when holding a pair of fives.
22-44, 66-77 & 99 – The remaining pairs listed to the left should never be split because you are not going to have a good chance of winning both of the separate hands.
If you are not counting cards now, then you should use the guidelines above when you are playing. If you play using the basic blackjack instructions above, then you will generally make money over the long run or at worst break even.
