Stop guessing at the blackjack table. Learn the exact basic strategy I use every time I play, the same strategy taught by Blackjack Apprenticeship, and then test yourself with my interactive Blackjack Strategy Trainer.
Table of Contents
- How I Learned to Stop Playing Blackjack by Gut Feeling
- First Things First: What Is Basic Strategy?
- Why I Never Learned From a Color-Coded Chart
- Step 1: Learn Pair Splitting
- Step 2: Learn Soft Totals
- Step 3: Learn Hard Totals
- The Biggest Mistake I See at Blackjack Tables
- Basic Strategy Doesn’t Guarantee You’ll Win
- Download My Free Blackjack Strategy Cheat Sheet
- Stop Reading and Start Practicing
- Mac’s Challenge
- Frequently Asked Questions
Want to practice while you read? Try my Blackjack Strategy Trainer.
How I Learned to Stop Playing Blackjack by Gut Feeling
Blackjack has always been my favorite casino game.
Even when I was a kid in Detroit playing with friends, blackjack was the game I wanted to play. The problem was… I had no idea what I was doing.
Sure, I knew the basics. Get as close to 21 as possible without going over. I had heard about card counting, books like Beat the Dealer, and I’d even watched movies like 21. I knew there had to be a better way to play than just following my instincts.
But that’s exactly what I did.
Every decision was based on a feeling.
“I think I’ll stay.”
“I don’t want to bust.”
“The dealer probably has a ten.”
Looking back, I wasn’t playing blackjack. I was guessing.
Everything changed after I found Blackjack Apprenticeship.
Like a lot of people, I was originally interested in learning to count cards. Then I heard Colin Jones say something that completely changed how I looked at blackjack.
Before you even think about counting cards, you have to master perfect basic strategy.
So that’s exactly what I did.
I bought books. I listened to podcasts. I downloaded training apps. I practiced every chance I got.
I didn’t learn it overnight. I learned one section at a time until making the correct play became automatic.
Today, I still test myself constantly because basic strategy is like anything else. If you stop using it, you get rusty.
If you’re willing to put in a little practice, you can get there too.
First Things First: What Is Basic Strategy?
Basic strategy isn’t a betting system.
It isn’t a secret.
It isn’t card counting.
It’s simply the mathematically correct play for every possible blackjack hand based on your cards and the dealer’s up card.
That doesn’t mean you’ll win every hand.
It means you’re giving yourself the best chance to lose the least money over thousands of hands.
Sometimes you’ll make the perfect play and the dealer will still make 21.
That’s blackjack.
The goal isn’t to win every hand.
The goal is to make the correct decision every single time.
Why I Never Learned From a Color-Coded Chart
If you’ve searched for blackjack strategy before, you’ve probably seen those giant charts filled with colored boxes.
They work.
I just hated learning that way.
For me, it was much easier when everything was written out in plain English.
Instead of trying to remember colors and coordinates, I could remember simple sentences.
That made learning basic strategy so much easier.
This is the exact system I still use today.
Step 1: Learn Pair Splitting
If you’re brand new, I’d actually start here because these rules are easy to remember.
Always
- Always split Aces.
- Always split 8s.
Never
- Never split 10s.
- Never split 5s.
Then Learn These
- Split 2s, 3s and 7s against a dealer 2 through 7.
- Split 4s against a dealer 5 or 6.
- Split 6s against a dealer 2 through 6.
- Split 9s against a dealer 2 through 9 except 7.
That’s it.
Once you know those rules, you’ve already eliminated a lot of common beginner mistakes.
Step 2: Learn Soft Totals
Soft hands scare new players because the Ace changes everything.
Don’t overthink them.
Just learn them one hand at a time.
- Soft 21 and Soft 20 always stand.
- Soft 19 (A,8) doubles against 6, otherwise stand.
- Soft 18 (A,7) doubles against 2-6, stands against 7-8, hits against 9, 10 and Ace.
- Soft 17 (A,6) doubles against 3-6, otherwise hit.
- Soft 16 and Soft 15 (A,5 and A,4) double against 4-6, otherwise hit.
- Soft 14 and Soft 13 (A,3 and A,2) double against 5-6, otherwise hit.
It looks like a lot now.
After a few hundred practice hands, you’ll answer them without thinking.
Step 3: Learn Hard Totals
This is where most of your decisions happen.
Here’s the exact strategy I use.
- Hard 17 or higher always stands.
- Hard 13 through 16 stand against dealer 2-6 and hit against 7 through Ace.
- Hard 12 stands against dealer 4-6 and hits against everything else.
- Hard 11 always doubles.
- Hard 10 doubles against dealer 2-9.
- Hard 9 doubles against dealer 3-6.
- Hard 8 and lower always hit.
If surrender is available:
- Surrender 16 against dealer 9 through Ace.
- Surrender 15 against dealer 10.
The Biggest Mistake I See at Blackjack Tables
The biggest myth I hear isn’t about strategy.
It’s always…
“You messed up the table.”
Usually somebody says it because another player hit a hand they “weren’t supposed to.”
Let’s be honest.
For that one hand?
Sure.
The next card might be different.
But over thousands of hands?
It doesn’t matter.
That’s why I actually like sitting at third base.
Not because I think it gives me an advantage.
Because I know I’m going to play the mathematically correct decision every single hand, and I don’t have to listen to someone tell me I “took the dealer’s bust card.”
Play the math.
Ignore the drama.
Basic Strategy Doesn’t Guarantee You’ll Win
I can already hear someone typing the comment.
“I learned perfect basic strategy and still lost $500.”
Yep.
That happens.
Basic strategy doesn’t eliminate bad luck.
It reduces the house edge.
You’ll still lose sessions.
You’ll still watch dealers pull five-card 21s.
You’ll still lose doubles.
You’ll still split Aces and get two 10s while the dealer somehow makes 21 anyway.
That’s gambling.
Your job isn’t to control the cards.
Your job is to make the correct decision every single hand.
The rest takes care of itself over the long run.
And if you lost your whole $500 bankroll…
Maybe you should’ve brought $1,000.
(Relax. That’s a joke. Nikki would kill me if I actually gave that advice.)
If you’ve ever wondered whether perfect basic strategy guarantees a winning session, the answer is no. In fact, I wrote an entire article called I Played Perfect Blackjack and Lost $700 Before Dinner because sometimes you can do everything right and still get your ass kicked.
Download My Free Blackjack Strategy Cheat Sheet
Stop Reading and Start Practicing
Reading about blackjack only gets you so far.
The way I learned wasn’t by staring at a chart for hours.
It was by seeing random hands over and over until the correct play became automatic.
That’s exactly why I created the Double Down Mac Blackjack Strategy Trainer.
Instead of memorizing boxes on a chart, you’ll be dealt random hands and asked to make the correct play.
Keep practicing until you can answer every hand without thinking.
That’s when you’ll know you’re ready for your next Vegas trip.
Mac’s Challenge
Before your next trip to Las Vegas, don’t worry about card counting.
Don’t worry about betting systems.
Don’t worry about lucky seats.
Master perfect basic strategy first.
When you can play 100 hands without making a mistake, you’ll already know more blackjack than most people sitting around you.
And trust me…
That’s a pretty good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is blackjack basic strategy?
Blackjack basic strategy is the mathematically correct way to play every possible blackjack hand based on your cards and the dealer’s up card. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll win every hand, but it reduces the house edge by helping you make the best decision every time.
Is blackjack basic strategy the same as card counting?
No. Basic strategy and card counting are completely different. Basic strategy tells you how to play each hand correctly, while card counting adjusts your bets based on the cards that have already been played. Before learning to count cards, you should first master basic strategy.
Does perfect blackjack strategy guarantee you’ll win?
No. Even if you play every hand perfectly, you’ll still have losing sessions. Basic strategy doesn’t eliminate bad luck. It simply gives you the best mathematical chance to win over the long run by reducing the casino’s edge.
Why doesn’t your strategy look exactly like every blackjack chart online?
Blackjack strategy changes depending on the rules of the game, including the number of decks, whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17, and whether surrender is allowed. This guide teaches the same Blackjack Apprenticeship basic strategy that I personally use when I play.
Should I memorize the entire blackjack strategy chart?
You don’t have to memorize everything at once. I learned one section at a time by starting with pair splitting, then soft totals, and finally hard totals. Breaking the chart into smaller sections makes it much easier to remember.
What’s the fastest way to learn blackjack basic strategy?
Practice. Reading a strategy chart is helpful, but repeatedly making the correct decisions is what builds confidence. That’s why I created the Double Down Mac Blackjack Strategy Trainer, so you can practice random blackjack hands until the correct play becomes automatic.
Can I use this strategy in Las Vegas casinos?
Yes. This strategy works well in many Las Vegas blackjack games, although some casinos have different rules that may require small adjustments. Always check the table rules before you sit down to play.
Do casinos allow players to use blackjack strategy cards?
Yes. Most casinos allow players to use printed blackjack basic strategy cards at the table. Dealers see them all the time, and using one is completely legal.
