Basic Strategy Decision Chart for the Basic Strategy Matrix

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Basic Strategy Decision Chart for the Basic Strategy Matrix

January 13th, 2010 admin

Player’s Hand		Decisions
5 thru 8		Always Hit
9		Double 3 thru 6, o/w hit
10		Double 2 thru 9, o/w hit
11		Double 2 thru 10, o/w hit
12		Stand 4 thru 6, o/w Hit
13 thru 16		Stand 2 thru 6, o/w Hit
17 or higher		Always Stand
A,2		Double vs 5&6, o/w Hit
A,3		Double vs 5&6, o/w Hit
A,4		Double vs 4 thru 6, o/w Hit
A,5		Double vs 4 thru 6, o/w Hit
A,6		Double vs 3 thru 6, o/w Hit
A,7		Double 3 thru 6, Stand vs 2,7,8 Hit vs 9,10, A
A,8-A,9		Always Stand
2,2		Split 2 thru 7, o/w Hit
3,3		Split 2 thru 7, o/w Hit
4,4		Split vs 5 & 6, o/w Hit
5,5		Never Split, treat as “10″
6,6		Split 2 thru 6, o/w Hit
7,7		Split 2 thru 7, o/w Hit
8,8		Always split
9,9		Split 2 thru 9 except 7; o/w Stand
10,10		Never Split
A,A		Always Split

Remember The Basic Strategy Decision Chart shown here applies only to the game described earlier; you must produce your own to fit the rules of your favorite casino.

Once you’ve made your Basic Strategy Chart, we can begin to memorize it. To do that, we will produce a set of “Flashcards”. Remember those? You probably learned how to add or subtract using those cards and they will also teach you how to win at Blackjack. You need to make one flashcard for each starting hand by reproducing the information above on a 2″ x 2′ piece of paper. (Manila file folder material does well for this.) Here’s what one looks like…

When you’re finished, you’ll have a pack of flashcards which will help you to memorize the proper basic strategy for the game you’ve chosen. Start carrying them with you and as you encounter those “lost” moments we each seem to have in our day — waiting for a plane, sitting at the dentist’s office or even while watching TV, pull your cards out and start reciting the rule for the hand shown. Check your accuracy by flipping over the card and then put it on the bottom of the pack. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you begin to learn all these rules.