Since the essential features of the basic strategy were developed, a number of improvements have given us the current optimal set of principles for standing, hitting, doubling down, splitting and surrendering. These, along with other more sophisticated forms of play, were developed using Monte Carlo techniques based on the analysis of literally billions of hands.

If I tell you that you should get a total of 16 against the dealer’s 7, there is no specific mathematical proof behind this recommendation. It arose from an analysis of the several million times this situation arose in the Monte Carlo analysis of the game. Hitting a 16 against a 7 loses less often than standing. Sure, following this advice leads to a flop on many of these hands, but analysis shows, quite convincingly, that if you don’t hit his hand, he’s more likely to beat you by a higher total, like 17.

Where possible I will give a logical analysis of particular aspects of the basic strategy, but there will be situations where the reader will simply have to accept the results of the Monte Carlo analysis. The following description of basic strategy is based on the multi-deck game found in various Atlantic City and Las Vegas casinos, where the dealer stands on a soft seventeen, pairs may be re-split once, double down after a split and the player can double down on any two cards. Other games require some minor tweaking which I’ll note where appropriate. However, you should never give up an advantage against the casino. I strongly recommend playing only where the rules are most favorable to the player.

“Soft” and “hard” hands
A hard hand is a hand with no A where the caller’s total is given by the face values ​​of the cards, or a hand with A that can only be counted as 1. A soft hand is a hand with A that can be counted as 1 or 11 For example, A, 4 is a soft hand because A can be counted as 1 or 11; but A, 4, 7 is not, since counting A as 11 would fail.

hit or stand
The guidelines for hitting are pretty straightforward. If the dealer shows a 2 or 3, you continue hitting until you get a hard 13 or soft 18. If the dealer shows a 4, 5 or 6, you continue hitting until you get a hard 12 or soft 18. a soft 18. If the dealer shows 7 or 8, you continue to get hit until you have a hard 17 or soft 18. If the dealer shows anything higher than 8, you continue to take a hit until you have a strong 17. or a soft 19.