• Optimal Blackjack Strategy
• Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart Wizard Of Odds
• Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart Printable

The best (and only correct) mathematical strategy for achieving optimal play is to use a blackjack chart. It can reduce your disadvantage by as little as 0.2%. Example not using a chart: Alfred is a recreational player who doesn’t make use of a strategy. If he wagers €10.000, he is expected to lose €800. The basic strategy for pair splitting is shown below in a black and white table followed by a color-coded chart for single-, double-, and 4/6/8-deck games. The black and white strategy table shows your pair in the first column and, in the second column, what the dealer’s upcard should be for you to split. 21 - Blackjack 'Basic Strategy' Chart In his 1960s book Beat the Dealer, Edward O. Thorp introduced a calculated method for winning at blackjack.Reprinted countless times, Thorp's Blackjack Basic Strategy chart is a useful tool for knowing when to hit, stand, split, or double down.

Basic blackjack strategy

The single most important thing that you need to understand about the game of blackjack is that it is a game of player decisions.

Read our expert Blackjack Strategy guide to learn how to win. We cover basic & advanced strategies + Download our FREE Blackjack Strategy Charts!

Unlike any other game in the casino, when playing blackjack your decisions can have an outcome on how the hand plays out and thus can contribute to the wins or losses of the players at the table. Because of this fact, there is a mathematically proven strategy that gives you the best advantage when playing, and this should be used every time you play if you want the best odds in the long run.

Optimal Blackjack Strategy

This strategy is known as basic strategy and is illustrated in the blackjack strategy chart shown below:

As you can see from the diagrams in the chart, basic strategy outlines exactly how you should optimally play when considering what you have been dealt in relation to the dealer’s hand. Many new blackjack players make the mistake of going with gut feeling and being afraid to bust when they play, but using basic strategy every time is the best way to give yourself favorable odds during play.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart Wizard Of Odds

If you are familiar with casino games, you will know that the house has the advantage in every game in the casino, which is how they turn a profit. Blackjack is no exception, however is one of the lowest house edge games in the casino, which is why it’s such a great game for players to learn and play.

The house edge in a typical blackjack game is around 0.50 percent when a player uses perfect basic strategy during play. This means that for every $100 you bet, the casino expects to win $0.50 from you over an infinite number of hands. The reason why basic strategy is so important is because if you take this same example of a $100 average bet and apply it to an unskilled player, the house advantage can go as high as 2.5 percent or more, meaning that the house would expect to win $2.50 or more over time.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart Printable

Because of this, it’s easy to see why playing with basic strategy is the best choice for players each and every time.