~~The ILLIG BlackJack Strategy 9: Basic Strategy~~

The BASIC Strategy
On the net Since 1994

"This is too much for me right now --
I just want to have some fun and not loose too much -- maybe even win a little, if I'm lucky!"

…Then you may want to use the Basic strategy. It requires no counting, but you can't count on winning, either. Not much, anyway. With the basic strategy you can expect a very slight gain in the long run, if you apply the strategy diligently. You can expect to win 0.1%; a typical range might be +1% to -1%.

To play the basic strategy, use these tables. The order of interrogating the tables is

Doubling --> Splitting --> Standing tables. (DSS)

You do not need to count the cards to use the Basic Strategy. (Adapted from Thorp)

Dealer -->	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A	HARD STANDING NUMBERS *( If you have 7,7 -- Stand)**
You 17						Stand
16
15								Hit
14									*
13	Stand
12	Hit		Stand


Dealer -->	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A	SOFT STANDING NUMBERS
You 19							Stand
18	Stand								Stand


Dealer -->	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A	HARD DOUBLING
You 11
10	Double Down
9


Dealer -->	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A	SOFT DOUBLING *( Only if you cannot split aces)**
A,7
A,6
A,5			Double Down
A,4
A,3
A,2
A,A				*	*


Dealer -->	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A	PAIR SPLITTING
You A,A	Split
10,10
9,9
8,8	Split
7,7
6,6
5,5
4,4
3,3			Split
2,2

For the complete story of the Basic Strategy and other powerful strategies, see Edward O. Thorp's book, Beat The dealer (Vintage Books), also available on the internet at http://nowscape.com/books/blk_bok.htm You will find other books there, too. Thorp's classic work is the mother of all strategies.

Print this page and take it with you. You may want the full ILLIG ^™Black Jack Strategy.

Books available on the Net