As the dealers moves are controlled Blackjack is a game where your
success or failure is largely in your own hands, if you stand, hit,
double or split at the wrong time you reduce you chance of winning
fortuneately the tables below offer advice on what to do in a given
set of circumstances. Later paragraphs explain how cards counting
can be used to further enhance you chances. This table should be committed
to memory as it forms the basis for successful Blackjack playing.
Player Holds |
Dealer's First Card |
Ace |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
Pontoon |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
21 |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
20 |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
19 |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
18 |
SH |
SH |
SH |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
AS |
17 |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
16 |
H |
R |
R |
H |
H |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
15 |
H |
R |
H |
H |
H |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
14 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
13 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
SH |
12 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
SH |
SH |
SH |
H |
H |
The abreviations in the table mean:-
- AS - Always stand.
- SH - Stand on hard totals (not
including an ace) but draw on soft totals counting and ace as
11.
- H - Always hit in some cases
a double may be appropriate see the tables below.
- R- In all the casinos in Macao
and some in the USA you can resign loosing only half your stake.
The table below shows you when you should Double again
it is assumed you are not counting cards. Rules on when you are
allowed to Double vary so check what your casino permits.
Player Holds |
Dealer's First Card |
Ace |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
Hard 9 |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
D |
D |
D |
|
Hard 10 |
|
|
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
Hard 11 |
|
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
Soft 13 |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
D |
|
|
|
Soft 14 |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
D |
|
|
|
Soft 15 |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
D |
D |
|
|
Soft 16 |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
D |
D |
|
|
Soft 17 |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
D |
D |
D |
|
Soft 18 |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
D |
D |
D |
|
Soft 19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The next table advises on when to split pairs.
Player Holds |
Dealer's First Card |
Ace |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
S |
S |
|
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
8 |
S |
|
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
7 |
|
|
|
|
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
S |
S |
S |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
S |
S |
S |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
S |
|
|
|
Ace |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
Card Counting
This is and area on which many books have been written,
the basic premisis is that the odds in Blackjack are slightly in
favour of the house, at the begining of the game 30.77% of the cards
in the shoe are tens his normally fluctuates between 25% and 35%
however if the number of tens left in the shoe is high or low a
wise gambler has an advantage provided he knows how to make use
of it. Generally increase your bets if the number of tens is outside
the 25-35% range, in some British casinos bets can be made after
the first card has been dealt that his first two cards will total
either over or under thirteen again if the tens are unusually high
or low your chances of above or below thirteen increase.
We recommend William Hill Casino for UK players and Intercasino
for USA players good luck.