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Blackjack Basic Strategy: Reference cards

Blackjack, also known as “21″, is one of the most popular casino games that is played. The game is relatively simple to learn and involves players going head-to-head against a dealer. In short, the person closest to 21 without going over wins (I will go into more details below). The game is essentially a game of probability and forecasting cards. If played statistically, you can significantly increase your odds.

In addition, often various side-bets are applicable depending on the game of Blackjack being played. Some examples of these variations include: Spanish 21, Lucky Queens, Blackjack Swap, etc. Whilst I won’t go into too much detail with these mini-games, it is quite possible to have a great return simply on these side bets.

The following chart illustrates the point values of each card in a standard deck of cards. As you will see, the “Ace” can have a point value of either 1 or 11. Note that in Blackjack multiple decks are used to try and reduce the ability to count cards and cheating.

Card	Value
A	1 or 11
2	2
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7
8	8
9	9
10	10
J	10
Q	10
K	10

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The Game

The standard game of blackjack works in the following way:
1. Players are asked to place their bets on the table. Once all bets have been made, the dealer will issue a last call.
2. The dealer then hands each player with a bet a single card “face up” (including himself). (This reveals all cards on the table.) Once a round of cards has been issued, the dealer distributes the next card to each player — again face up. Note: the dealer then places his/her card face down masking his/her card total.
3. The dealer puts “the action” to the the player on his/her left (clockwise). The player becomes the active player and is asked what play he would like to make.

The player has a few options:

Option	Description	Hand Motion
Stand	Player is comfortable with his/her card total. No further action required	Wave or Stop
Hit	Player is dealt another card	Index finger pointing down and making contact with the table
Double	Player is dealt one additional card at the expense of doubling the initial bet	Player matches initial wager and on the table and says “double”
Split	Player is issued two same-value cards (I.e. 2-2, 3-3, 10-10, 10-J, J-K, Q-10) and has the ability to “split” the cards into two separate bets.	Player matches initial wager on the table and touches the table with both the index and middle finger spread apart (inverted “peace sign”)

4. If the player “busts” (has a card total greater than 21), the player loses his or her bet, and the action goes to the next player on the table (if any).
5. Repeat steps 3-4 for the remaining players. Once all parties have particpated, the dealer the flips over his/her “face-down” card. The dealer must hit until they have a total of 17 or greater. For example, if a dealer shows a 6+7 (card total of 13), the dealer MUST take a hit.
6. Once the dealer has reached the minimum total, the dealer compares his hit-total with the other players on the table. This is done in a counter-clockwise fashion and bets are either taken away or matched, depending on the outcome.

Once you have grasped the basic concept of Blackjack, the following reference tables should give you an idea of when to hit, stand, split, or double. For example, if a dealer shows a face card of 2-6, it can be assumed that the face card will be a 10 or a upper valued card. This means that the dealer is likely standing on a 12-16 card total and must take a hit. In other words, the dealer has a high chance of busting.

Note that casino players assume that you have a grasp of the basic play listed below. Although players go head-to-head with the dealer, ultimately, your plays will affect the other players on the table. This means that a foolish play could cause aggression and frustration to others. However, note: at the end of the day, it’s your money on the table and that should be the deciding factor on any play that you make.

Good luck on the tables!

S = Stand

H = Hit

Dh = Double (if not allowed, then hit)

Ds = Double (if not allowed, then stand)

SP = Split

SU = Surrender (if not allowed, then hit)

S = Stand

H = Hit

Dh = Double (if not allowed, then hit)

Ds = Double (if not allowed, then stand)

SP = Split

SU = Surrender (if not allowed, then hit)

S = Stand

H = Hit

Dh = Double (if not allowed, then hit)

Ds = Double (if not allowed, then stand)

SP = Split

SU = Surrender (if not allowed, then hit)