Reduce the House Edge with Smart Blackjack Play
Blackjack is one of the few casino games where your decisions directly and significantly impact the outcome. Although you can't control the cards, you can control your actions, and casino using a solid strategy is the key to lowering the casino's advantage. This set of rules is called basic strategy, and it provides the best possible move in any situation.

Understanding the Foundation of Smart Play
It's a complete guide for decision-making in blackjack, dictating your move based on your two cards and the dealer's one visible card. It was developed by mathematicians using computer simulations to run millions of blackjack hands. By following basic strategy perfectly, you can lower the house edge to as little as 0.5% in some games, making it one of the best bets in the entire casino.

The Four Pillars of Blackjack Action
Let's break down the main decisions and some simple rules of thumb.

When to Stop Taking Cards: If your hand is a "hard" 17 or higher (a hand without an Ace or where the Ace must count as 1), you should almost always stand. The risk of busting is too high.. When the dealer shows a weak card (2-6), you can stand on lower totals like 13-16, letting the dealer take the risk of busting. Hit: Always hit on a hand casino of 11 or lower, as you cannot possibly go over 21.. When the dealer shows a strong card (7-A), you need to be more aggressive and hit on hands like 12-16 to try and improve. Double Down: Doubling down is a key offensive move. It's almost always correct to double on a hand total of 11.. Other good doubling spots include a total of 10 against a dealer's 2-9, or a 9 against a dealer's 3-6. Creating Two Hands from a Pair: Two pairs you should never hesitate to split are Aces and casino 8s. Conversely, you should never split a pair of 10s (or face cards), casino as a hand of 20 is already a very strong, likely winning hand..

Putting Strategy into Action
A basic strategy chart is an indispensable tool for any serious player. These grids are color-coded and show the optimal play for any situation you'll face. Start by studying the chart, then practice playing for free at an online casino to get comfortable with the decisions. Don't be daunted