Simplified Blackjack Strategy

Gail Beddow's Simplified Blackjack Strategy

(optimized for short attention spans)

These ten rules will enable you to play nearly 96% of all hands correctly. They are given in the order in which the decisions should be considered in playing the hand. The rules are optimized for standard Las Vegas Strip rules (blackjack pays 3:2, dealer stands on all 17s, double on any two cards, double after split, late surrender, 4-8 decks -- do not play where the first two of these conditions are not offered).

 1.	Decline insurance (& all gimmick bets).

 2.	Collect if holding blackjack.

 3.	PAIR SPLITTING:  Split A,A or 8,8.

 4.	Surrender hard 15-16 vs. 10.
  
 5.	DOUBLING DOWN:   Hard:  DD on 10 or 11 if upcard
				less than that value.

 6.	                 Soft:  DD on A,4 - A,7 vs. 6 or less.

 7.	STANDING:        Hard:  Stand on 17 or more.

 8.	                        Stand on 12 - 16 vs. 6 or less.

 9.	                 Soft:  Stand on 19 or more.

10.	HITTING:         Hit everything else.

There is no advantage to varying the size of your bet when playing basic strategy.

To play over 98% of all hands correctly, add these rules (listed in order of advantage).

 8.   Exception:         Hit 12 vs. 2 or 3.

 5.   As above, plus:    Double down on 9 vs 6 or less.

 3.   As above, plus:    Never split 10s, 5s, or 4s;
                               split all others vs. 6 or less.

 6.   Exception:         Do not double vs. 2.

... and There's More!

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