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The Easiest Blackjack Basic Strategy Out There

Did you know that the best blackjack basic strategy out there is actually companion index cards? Yes, this particular strategy can give you the greatest chances of winning in blackjack, card-counting aside. Besides, unless you are an expert at counting cards, you will most probably get caught doing so, resulting in your ban from that casino. Also, counting cards needs too much work and blackjack is supposed to be fun!

With color-coded index cards, you can cover all of the possible hands you could get dealt in blackjack, which you separate to get a pair, a hard total, or a soft total. Keep in mind that Aces can count as a 1 or an 11.

Interpreting the Index Card

  • The "Player" column shows your cards' total
  • The "Dealer" column shows your dealer's only face-up card
  • If the "Dealer" column says "---", it means the dealer's face-up card doesn't really matter
  • "10v" stands for a card with a value of 10 (i.e. a 10, a Jack, a Queen, or a King)
  • If two numbers have a dash between them, it means that every number in that particular range counts (e.g. 3-5 stands for 3, 4, and 5)
  • If numbers have commas between them, it means that only those numbers count (e.g. 3, 8 means only 3 and 8, not including the numbers between them)

The Basis of this Blackjack Basic Strategy

Basically, the dealer needs to hit at least 17, but almost a third of the cards have a value of 10. Therefore, this strategy assumes that the face-down card of the dealer has a value of 10 and that if anybody takes a hit, those hit cards have a value of 10, as well.

Of course, this will not always be the case, but after testing this strategy out on tons of computer simulations, it has proven to give players the greatest chances of winning. In fact, this strategy is one of the reasons why the earlier blackjack rules needed to be changed. But it does not mean that you do not need to know how to play blackjack.

See, if both of the statements stated above are true, everything will fall into place. If the face-up card of the dealer is lower than or equal to 6, he will have to take another hit to reach 17 - but, there is also a higher likelihood to bust. This is how flash cards can indicate that cards of 12 should stand if the face-up card of the dealer is lower than or equal to 6. See, if you get a card value of 10 as a hit, you will bust with 22, right? Therefore, it would be best to stick to your 12 and just hope that the dealer will bust. Try it out just like Al Francesco!