Chicago Sun-Times: Basic strategy makes blackjack a real snap

When I write about the casino advantage in blackjack, I usually express it as the house edge against a basic strategy player.

Let's use the Empress Joliet game as an example. The house has an advantage of 0.33 percent against a basic strategy player in this six- deck game, in which the dealer stands on all 17s and the player is allowed to double down on any first two cards, may double after splitting pairs and is allowed to resplit Aces. In the long run, a basic strategy player will lose 33 cents for every $100 wagered. That doesn't mean a $5 bettor will never sit down and go through a $100 bill in 10 minutes flat, but in the long run the wins and losses can be expected to balance out to 33 cents per $100.

The "basic strategy" part of that equation seems to have thrown a few readers for a loop. One reader said he just couldn't seem to memorize the basic strategy grids that have been printed in books, magazines, on plastic cards and, a few years ago, in this column. It just seemed like too much effort and too much information to process.

Three other readers e-mailed in the last month to ask just what the heck basic strategy is, anyway. That was enough to send me running for my files, where I found the last time I ran down the full basic strategy in this column was 1995. Folks, it's time for a refresher.

Basic strategy takes the guesswork out of blackjack. It tells non- card counters the best play in any given situation. If you have a 10 and a 6, and the dealer has a 7 face up, basic strategy tells you the best play is to hit. If you have a 10 and a 6 and the dealer has a 6 up, it tells you the best play is to stand. If you have a 6 and a 5 and the dealer has a 10 up, it tells you the best play is to double down.

So it goes, through every possible situation. At a glance, it can seem pretty intimidating, but when you understand that many plays are the same for large groups of possible hands, you find that it's not really an overwhelming amount much to learn. Practice by dealing yourself hands of cards and comparing plays to a basic strategy chart, or by using computer software that warns you when you make mistakes, and you'll be amazed at how quickly the information can be absorbed.

Some players will benefit by starting with a simplified version of basic strategy - a basic basic, if you like.

The simplified version that follows isn't perfect, but it will make you a better player than most others in the casino. More important, it'll take the house edge down to less than 1 percent in most available sets of house rules.

At that level, blackjack is a far better game for the player than roulette (house edge 5.26 percent), Caribbean Stud (5.22 percent of the ante or 2.6 percent of overall wagers) or Let It Ride (3.5 percent). It's even better than baccarat (lowest edge: 1.17 percent on banker) or on any craps bet except the free odds (lowest without odds: 1.4 percent on don't pass or don't come).

Simplified basic strategy can be broken down into seven basic rules: Stand on hard 12 through hard 16 whenever the dealer's face up card is a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. (A hard total does not include an Ace being used as an 11. A 10 and a 6 is a hard 16, while an Ace and a 5 is a soft 16. Soft totals can't be busted with a one-card hit because you can use the Ace as a 1 instead.) Hit hard 12 through hard 16 whenever the dealer's face-up card is a 7 or higher. Always hit soft 13 through 17. Stand on 17 through 21, except to hit soft 17. Always split pairs of Aces or 8. Never split pairs of 5s or 10s. Double down on 10 or 11 whenever the dealer's up card is 2 through 9.

That's not a perfect strategy. Players who already know the full basic strategy are out there saying, "Wait a minute. Sometimes you hit soft 18. Against some low cards, you hit hard 12 instead of standing. And there are more double down and split situations than that strategy explains."

All that's true. But this simplified strategy is a base that nearly any blackjack player should be able to learn with minimal effort. For those who want to go on, the opportunity is there to build on the base. The other plays to be learned can be regarded as exceptions to these rules.

That's what we'll be doing next week - looking at the exceptions.

Sunday in Real Life: Vegas report.

E-mail John Grochowski at BetKol@aol.com