The Main Strategy
As long as we know the dealer’s manner of playing, we can work out a suitable and correct strategy that actually depends on your cards and the dealer’s open card. In the following table, you can see the main strategy for 6 decks (on the left) and for 1 deck (on the right):
Commentary on the table:
In the left column, there is the sum of the points of your cards.
In the upper line, you can see the dealer’s open cards.
For example, the sum of your points is 14, while the dealer’s open card is 8. If you look at the crossing point, you will see H there that means HIT. In this case, you take a card.
The abbreviations in the table stand for:
~ H – you must take a card;
~ D – make Double;
~ Ds – make Double if you are permitted; in case you aren’t, that’s enough;
~ S – that’s enough;
~ P – make Split;
~ S/P – make Split if you are permitted to make Double after it; in case you aren’t, just stand;
~ D/P - make Split if you are permitted to Double further on; in case you aren’t, just Double;
~ H/P – make Split if it is possible to make Double afterwards; if it isn’t, take a card;
~ S/R – surrender if it is permitted; if not, just stand;
~ H/R – surrender if it is possible; if not, take a card.
~ A means ace.
In case ace (11 points) and one more card (except for ten) make a hand, the latter is called soft. For example, ace and seven make soft 18. Actually, having ace is an advantageous position, because the value of ace can be both 1 and 11. Thus, in case you have overtaken the cards, you may reduce its value to 1 and take more cards - a hard hand.
It is well-known that the advantage of the casino is often larger than yours. By sticking to some certain rules of the game, you minimize this influence. In this case, its advantage will be not more than 0, 5% or less. In 65 out of 100 cases, your loss will be 5$ for each 1000$ bet. Moreover, don’t forget about bonuses on-line casinos offer. Then you will have a real opportunity to beat the Internet casino!’