The tables in this section present the basic strategy to employ in the various casinos in order to diminish as much as possible the bank's advantage in Blackjack.

Here is a glossary of terms used in Blackjack:

• Hit: Take another card.
• Stand: Stop drawing.
• Double: Double the bet. A single card will then be dealt to you.
• Split: This option is applicable when one holds a pair. The split allows for each card to be played individually. For example, if you bet $5, get a pair of 3s and do a split, each 3 will receive an additional card and will require its own bet of $5. You then have to play this hand as if it were a normal hand.
• Surrender: (Abandon). Some casinos allow for the surrender of a hand, against half your original bet. You thus limit your losses, but you are assured of losing this half of the bet on the hand.
• Soft: A soft is a hand containing an Ace that can have two possible values.
• "T" signifies Ten and represents all the cards having a value in Blackjack of 10 (10, jack, queen, king).

How do I read the tables?

• The left column represents your hand.
• The first line above the table represents the hand shown by the Bank.
• You should therefore opt for the decision located at the intersection of the row and the corresponding column. As an example, if I hold 15 and only the bank has a 4, I should stand.

Some situations with the Aces are more complex, these being able to assume the value of 1 or 11. Here then are some explanations.

Here, if I hold A7 (for a total of 8 or 18), the actions to take are clear enough (double if the bank has from 3 to 6, stand on 7 and 8, and request a card for 9-10-A).

Taking another example, if I hold A2 (which makes 3 or 13), I need to take another card, and if I get a 5, I then have 8 or 18. One should treat all situations of "I have x or x+10" by checking the corresponding row of Aces in the table.

Here is the table summarizing the basic strategy in Blackjack:

Here is the table summarizing the basic strategy of Blackjack Surrender: