Blackjack

The values of the cards are as follows:

• Cards 2 through 9 are worth their pip value.
• 10s and face cards (Queen, Jack, and King) have a numerical value of 10.
• Aces are worth either 1 or 11 depending on the player’s preference.

A hand totaling 21, formed with an Ace and a ten-value card, is called a “blackjack” or a “natural,” and it offers the highest payout, usually 3 to 2. Other winning hands normally return even money.

Anyone who exceeds 21 loses the hand or “busts.” When the dealer and the player end with the same total, the result is a push, and the player neither wins nor loses.

Players can choose from the following actions:

• Hitting occurs when the player requests additional cards to improve the hand total after the initial deal. In land-based casinos, you signal a hit in shoe games by tapping the table.
• Standing is when the player is satisfied with the current total and declines additional cards. In shoe games, you indicate this choice by waving your hand over the cards.
• Doubling down can be one of the most profitable moves. You may double down on two-card totals immediately after the initial deal, before taking any hits.
  You do so by posting an additional bet equal to, but not exceeding, your original stake. In exchange, you receive exactly one additional card. Doubling for less is possible, though generally considered poor play.
• Splitting is available when you are dealt two cards of equal value, such as 8-8 or A-A. You post an extra wager equal to your original bet.
  The dealer separates the pair into two hands and draws a card on each. You then play the hands one at a time.
• Resplitting is permitted in many blackjack variants, although most casinos do not allow you to draw on split Aces.

Surrender is allowed immediately after the initial deal, meaning players cannot surrender after hitting, splitting, or doubling. To surrender is to forfeit your two-card hand in exchange for half of your original bet. There are two types of surrender:

• Late surrender lets you forfeit your hand after the dealer has checked the hole card for blackjack. This rule decreases the casino’s advantage by 0.08%.
• Early surrender can be exercised before the dealer peeks at the hole card. This favorable rule is rare at both online and land-based casinos and reduces the house advantage by 0.63%.
• Insurance is offered when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. This side bet does not affect the odds of winning your initial hand. You place an additional wager equal to half of your original bet.

If the dealer has blackjack, your insurance bet pays 2 to 1. If not, you lose the insurance bet and play out your hand as usual. Because of its high house edge of 7.40%, players are generally advised to avoid this wager.

One of the first lessons for novice players is the difference between soft and hard hands in blackjack. The distinction exists because the Ace can have two possible values, and each hand type requires a different strategy.

• Soft hands are more desirable because they contain an Ace, which can count as either 1 or 11.
  An example of a soft hand is A-4-3, which totals either 8 or 18. It is impossible to bust on the next hit with a soft total. If you catch a deuce, your Ace will be counted as 11, giving you a soft 20. If you pull a higher card, such as a 9, the Ace will be counted as 1 for a total of 17.
• Hard hands are either Ace-less or include an Ace fixed at a value of 1 to prevent busting. Their rigidity makes them more susceptible to busting on the next hit. Examples include 8-9 for hard 17, Q-6 for hard 16, and K-K for hard 20.

By using basic strategy, players can reduce the house edge and turn blackjack into a game with nearly even odds. Basic strategy is presented in the form of a chart that lists the optimal decisions players should make when they are not employing advantage-play techniques. The chart tells you when it is best to hit, split, stand, double down, or surrender.

There are two types of basic strategy.

• With total-dependent basic strategy, decisions are based solely on the dealer’s upcard and the total of your starting hand.
  Each column in the strategy chart represents the dealer’s upcard, while the rows correspond to the player’s totals. The cells where rows and columns meet indicate the optimal move for every possible hand combination.
• Many players use composition-dependent basic strategy, which is more accurate. Here, decisions are based on the dealer’s upcard and the exact composition of the player’s hand, that is, the number of cards and their ranks.

Players who follow perfect basic strategy are expected to win 49 out of every 100 hands in the long run. The strategy helps you:

• Maximize your profits during favorable situations
• Minimize your losses in disadvantageous situations
• Improve hands that would otherwise be sure losers

Keep in mind that basic strategy varies according to the specific rules of the blackjack variant you play, including the number of decks, the dealer’s standing rules, and the availability of surrender. The chart below corresponds to a multiple-deck, S17 game with DAS, allowing doubling on any two cards and late surrender.

Some players have developed their skills to such an extent that they can eliminate the house edge when they sit at a blackjack table.

One technique that can provide an advantage is card counting. It is based on the idea that players can eventually beat the house by tracking the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck or shoe.

Each dealt card is assigned a count value, which helps the counter establish a running count. In multiple-deck games, this must be converted into a true count so that your playing and betting decisions are accurate.

High cards and Aces benefit the player, while low cards give the dealer a slight advantage. Card counters gain an edge by deviating from basic strategy and adjusting their bet size according to the count.

They increase their wagers when many high cards remain and, conversely, decrease their bets or leave the table when the shoe is rich in low cards.

When choosing a card-counting system, consider several factors:

• Betting correlation, or how effective the system is at identifying advantageous betting situations.
• Playing efficiency, which reflects how accurately the system identifies moments when the player should deviate from basic strategy.
• Insurance correlation, an indicator of how well the system determines when buying insurance is profitable.

The Hi-Lo Count

The Hi-Lo was invented by mathematician Harvey Dubner and is the most widely used counting strategy in blackjack. It is a balanced, level-one system in which ten-value cards and Aces are assigned a count value of -1, small cards 2 through 6 a value of +1, and cards 7 through 9 are neutral with a value of 0.

Most professional players and blackjack authors recommend the Hi-Lo because of its efficiency and simplicity. Because it is balanced, the running count must be converted into a true count. Players who use it are less prone to mistakes, which yields better results.

The Red Sevens Count

The Red Sevens is an unbalanced counting system invented by blackjack legend Arnold Snyder. It assigns different count tags to the cards: ten-value cards and Aces are counted as -1, small cards 2 through 6 as +1, the 8s, the 9s, and the black 7s are neutral with a value of 0, and the red 7s have a value of +1.

This system relies on a pivot number, which indicates when the odds have shifted in the player’s favor. This eliminates the need to convert the running count into a true count.