Quick start for blackjack

18 February 2017

By John Marchel

In the game of blackjack, there are about 340 different dealer-player card combinations that can be received during any round of play. Using the system commonly called “basic strategy” will tell you the correct play for every hand seen.

It will take anywhere from eight to 12 hours to memorize all those 340 combinations. The player then will be able to know what specific action to take for any given hand: hit, stand, double down or split.

To help speed up the learning process, I’ve listed a shortened version called “Quick Start Strategy for Blackjack.” You will find as you get proficient at blackjack that there is not much difference between you holding a 13, 14 or 15, which are considered “little” hands, versus a dealers up card of a 10, which is identified as a “big” hand.

You know you have to hit when receiving any of those specific hands. In addition, because the dealer must hit a 16 and below, and stand on 17, and above, we than know what makes up a dealer's “little” hand -- 2 through 6 -- and what is a “big” hand -- 7 through ace.

The same numbers apply to the player. For example, when the player gets a 12 through 16, the player has a “little” hand. When the player receives a 17 through 20, the player has a “big” hand. You know you wouldn’t normally hit any hard 17 and above regardless of what the dealer is showing. On the other hand, if the player has a “little” hand (12-16) and the dealer is showing a “big” hand, you have to hit.

Understanding the concept of little versus big or little verses little and so on, you can quickly learn the Quick Start Strategy. There are a few other standards for the Quick Start Strategy. They are listed below, like don’t take insurance. Read them, study them and play them. What this will do is allow you, the player, to quickly learn all 340 Basic Strategy plays later on.

BET YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS:

1. Little (player 12-16) vs. little (dealer 2-6) = stand.
2. Little (player) vs. big (dealer) = hit (until hard 17).
3. Always split aces and 8s.
4. Don’t split 4s, 5s or 10s.
5. Always hit or double A6.
6. Double player 11 vs. dealers 2-10.
7. Double player 10 vs. dealers 2-9.
8. Don’t take insurance.
9 Don’t take even money.
10. Increase you bet when winning.
11. Reduce your bet when losing.