Blackjack Strategies

The Blackjack Chart

The purpose of my theory on playing blackjack is to play extra conservative when that dealer is loaded. She is loaded when she has a power card showing, and I want no part of doubling my bet or splitting my cards in those situations. I prefer to wait until she has a weak card showing before increasing my wagers.

I will wait until she is in a vulnerable, weak position, before taking my shots. The process is that of a bully, which is the term I give to my strategy: the bully approach. I will attack the dealer when she is showing 3 4 5 6 7 as the up card and will show my hesitation when the 2 or 8 is the up card. In those situations, will give you choices and you pick which one you like.

However, when she shows a power card as her up card, I turn into a pussy cat. I play conservative, quietly disdaining any effort to double or split and in many cases, surrendering my hand. My approach can be all explained in two simple sentences:

I .   When dealer is strong, play cautious and conservative, refusing to even consider doubling or splitting.
2.   When dealer is weak, double, split, anything and everything to get more chips against her.
3.   When dealer is neutral (2 or 8), 1 will give you options and opinions and then you decide what to do.

Ooops, I think that's three simple sentences, when I said I would just give you two.

Well, I never said I was good at math, so I guess this proves it. I'm too lazy to go back and delete one of the messages, so you I re stuck with three explanations, which I hope you will remember and follow!

Just take a glance at the double down situations when you are dealt 9, 10, 11, or when you have a soft hand of 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. The moves all call for doubling your bet vs. the dealer's weak cards. When dealer has a power card, notice that I revert to a simple hit, with no increasing the amount of wager against that strong card.

The same is true when the splitting takes precedence. I suggest splitting your duplicate cards, only when dealer is in trouble, up to and including the 7, but backing off any attack on the deuce, which I feel is a dangerous card in the bands of that dealer. When we get the move vs. the 8, I will go deeper into those situations at greater length in their own chapters.

Once you see the whole package together, you may like the change. It just happens that my focus is in cutting losses, waiting for a trend in our favor, playing conservative when a dealer is strong and playing the bully only when the dealer is in trouble ... much like when the real bullies of the world go into action.

Next, I shall begin taking the borderline decisions and presenting my case(s). Approach it with an open mind. My friend, Hal 0. Eers, is hollow between the ears, so anything I say to him will find a nice nesting place in an empty cavern.

It is you people who have preconceived notions about the old basic strategy that I am worried about accepting this version. So grab a seat next to old Hal 0. Eers and come in with an open mind. I shall attempt to fill it with loads of logic.

You can find the Basic Strategy chart in my next article.