The Basic Blackjack Strategy Guidelines

In Blackjack, when you are dealt a pair of cards, you can split it into two different hands. You need to place a bet equal to your initial bet to play the other hand.

It can be tricky to decide when to split. The basic strategy says not to split your 10s. It also suggests that you should split your 8s and 9s, without considering the Dealer’s up card.

You should always split your Aces. The reason lies with the card total. You get a card total of 12 on a pair of Aces. When you get such a card total, you cannot negate the chance of receiving a 10 and going bust. Besides, 12 is not a potentially winning card total. You cannot afford to go bust. In fact, no one can. So, it’s wise to split your Aces because their will be more chances of you getting a Blackjack.

If you’re dealt a pair of 2s of 3s, and the Dealer is showing 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, split your pair. Otherwise hit.

Playing a pair of 4s is a tricky one. You should split if the Dealer’s up card is 5 or 6, otherwise hit.

Double on receiving a pair of 5s except when the Dealer shows 10 or an Ace.

In case of a pair of 6s and 7s, hit if the Dealer is showing 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace. You should split if the Dealer’s up card is 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

How beneficial is it to go for insurance?
According to the basic strategy, you should avoid going for the insurance. When the Dealer shows an Ace, you can place an insurance bet. Here’s how insurance works. You insure your bet against the Dealer’s Blackjack and get paid ONLY if the Dealer comes up with a Blackjack. In case the Dealer fails to get a Blackjack, you lose your insurance. In each of the case, the game does not stop. It continues until it ends in a win, lose, or draw.

Take, for example, the case when you bet $100. The Dealer is showing an Ace. You opt for the insurance by placing an additional bet of $50. In other words, your total bet now is $150. If the Dealer comes up with a Blackjack, you get double the amount of your insurance bet. In this case, you will be paid $100, because you placed an additional bet of $50. The game will still continue. And because the Dealer has the Blackjack and you don’t, you will lose your other bet of $100. So, you end up getting $100 for a $150 bet.