BASIC STRATEGY

Definition

Basic strategy is the terms used to denote the correct play for each blackjack hand for each blackjack hand possibility-the player's versus the dealers up card. The Basic Strategy was first developed in the 1950s by four mathematicians working on hand calculators. Basic Strategy was refined with computer studies performed over a number of years by other blackjack researchers, the most prominent of whom was Julian Braun. His revisions and improvements were published in his book "How to play winning blackjack."

Basic Strategy designed to win more of your good hands and lose fewer of your bad hands; it yields the theoretical best decisions for all the blackjack options-standing, hitting, doubling and surrendering. To understand the strategy you must remember the three variables involved in making blackjack decisions-your two cards and the dealer is up card. There a 550 possible combinations of these three variables; therefore there are 550 blackjack decisions. Fortunately many of these decisions are similar and about 30 rules cover all of them.

If you ask 50 blackjack players if they knew basic strategy, really know it, 90 percent of them would say yes. But pin them down on a decision on two and they usually flunk. How about you? Do you really know basic strategy? You should, as it is the starting point for you to put your winning foundation into place.

Taken this test to see how well you know basic strategy. Your hand is shown first and then the dealer's up card for the typical six-deck game with doubling after splitting pairs allowed. Write down your decisions on a separate piece of paper if you wish.

8, 4 versus 3 :

6, 3 versus 2 :

4, 4 versus 5 :

10, 4 versus 7 :

A, 6 versus 3 :

5, 5, versus 2

	Basic Strategy for the Multi Deck Shoe Game (Doubling down after splitting permitted)
	DEALERS UP CARD
YOUR HAND
	H = Hit. S = Stand. D = Double Down. P = Split