We have already established that the aim of Blackjack is to achieve a hand total of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over, while beating the Dealer’s hand. Seems simple enough, but really how simple can it be when you can’t predict the outcome of the cards? Good question right! Well, that’s a fact – you can’t predict what card will show up next. However, you can put the odds of winning more in your favour with some Basic Blackjack Strategy. Frankly, if you don’t understand basic strategy, you’re just flushing your money down the toilet. There are also several rules that are required but we’ll come to that a bit later. Right now, let’s focus on the basic strategies that will maximize your chances of winning.

There are several different options a Player has when playing Blackjack. In this section, we will show you which strategy to employ so that you bring the house edge down to a minimum. Learn which situations call for you to Hit, Stand, Double, Split, or Surrender. You will notice we didn’t mention Insurance. This is because it is not a bet that you should ever use. In fact, it reduces your chances of winning by 50%. It is important to understand that basic strategy does not guarantee that you will win every single hand. However, it does guarantee that you will win more than you lose over a period of time, if it is played properly.

Always consider the Dealer’s Up Card. Even if you have a weak hand, consider the fact that the Dealer might also have a weak hand, before you decide to Hit. The chart below will show you when to Hit (H) and when to Stand (S).

An Ace can affect your decision to hit because it can count as either 1 or 11 points. For this same reason, hitting on a Soft Hand, is not as risky as if the hand were a Hard one.

Know when to take advantage of a Hard Total- Double Down (Y) or don’t Double Down (N).

You can also Double Down on Soft Hands. See the chart below to determine the opportune moments.

Splitting is one of the best strategies you can use. There are different rules surrounding Splitting depending on which casino you play at, because some casinos will only allow you to Split Aces and no other pairs. Be sure to learn the casino rules before you begin using this strategy. Above all, whatever you do, never Split 10s or 5s and always split Aces and 8s.

Go back to Blackjack main page or read up on Card Counting Strategy.

Try using these Blackjack Strategies at EuroGrand Casino.