Basic Winning Strategies

Those two considerations determine the construction of the above chart. When a dealer has a bust card showing as his up card, you (except when you have a 12 against a dealer's 2 or 3) will give the dealer the first chance to bust his hand and will not draw to a stiff hand (12-16).

Why is there an exception with the 12 against the 2 and 3 up cards? Because computer studies have shown that in these two instances, the advantage swings to the player if he hits his hand.

When the dealer has a 7 or higher as his up card, your strategy is to hit your stiff hand (12-16) to prevent the dealer from beating you automatically, by having a 17 or higher total while you haven't improved your weak hand.

If you remember these two principles which determine the player's strategy, the chart will be easy to memorize.

Soft Totals-Strategy for Hitting or Standing

Whenever you are dealt an ace, you can, at your option, value the ace as either 1 or 11. When you use it as an 11, your hand is said to be soft, with a soft total. Typical soft hands are ace, 6 = 17; ace, 7 = 18; ace, 8 = 19. In all these hands, the ace is counted as an 11. But a soft hand can change to a hard hand. For example, if you hit your ace, 6 and get a 10, you now have a hard total of 17. Or if you hit an ace, 3 and get a 9, you have a hard total of 13.

The following chart is primarily useful in Northern Nevada, where you cannot double down except when holding a 10 or 11. Where you can double down on any total of the first two cards dealt to you, the chart following the next one, showing doubling down with soft totals, will be applicable.