Those new to playing online blackjack at USA friendly casinos or new to the game in general may not be aware of what Basic Strategy (BS) is so here we take a closer look at this fundamental knowledge.
Basic Strategy was “created” by a group of US soldiers called “The Four Horseman of Aberdeen”. They realized that given blackjack has defined rules for the dealer and a fixed number of cards, there must be an optimal way of playing. In the pre-computer days of the 1950s they managed to create Basic Strategy using their mathematical know-how and a calculator and whilst there have been some very minor modifications made to their strategy over the years, essentially they nailed it.
Basic Strategy dictates what decision the player should make in any situation they may face at the blackjack table, online or otherwise. It is based on the player’s two cards and the one visible card of the dealer and tells you whether to hit, stay, double, split or indeed anything else.
Blackjack has a very low house edge, theoretically lower than 0.5% on the most favorable rules, but to “obtain” that edge, the player must play to optimal strategy. Any deviation from that, for example not splitting when they should or failing to hit at the right time will increase that house edge, giving the casino a greater advantage than is necessary and ultimately resulting in less money in the player’s pocket and a nicer car – or private jet – for the casino owner!
It is perfectly possible to memorize BS in its entirety but for the average player and certainly the internet blackjack fan, that is unnecessary. There are no end of charts that detail BS, giving you the correct call to make in a particular situation and it’s very easy to refer to these whilst you play. Memorizing BS will speed up your play a little but referring to the chart only takes a second and in the long-term gives you a much better chance of making a profit playing blackjack online. See an example of a basic blackjack strategy chart here and you can even print the chart of easy reference.
Whether you’re playing with friends, working through a casino’s blackjack bonus or simply enjoying a decent session of this great casino favorite, using Basic Strategy will give you the very best chance of having an enjoyable and profitable session so be sure to follow its simple rules at all times. To play online see the best internet casinos for real money we recommend and also claim a great bonus when you sign up.