Blackjack Strategy Guide: Rules, Systems, and Real-World Tips

1. Basic Gameplay Strategy

(Based on LaMarca System)

Hard Hands (No Ace counted as 11)

Your Total	Dealer Upcard	Action
17 or more	Any	Stand
12–16	4–6	Stand
12–16	2–3 or 7–A	Hit
11 or less	Any	Hit

Soft Hands (Ace counted as 11)

Your Total	Dealer Upcard	Action
Soft 18	2–8	Stand
Soft 18	9–A	Hit
Soft 17↓	Any	Hit

Splitting Pairs

• Always Split: A-A, 8-8
• Conditional Splits:
  • 9-9: Split vs. 2–6, 8–9 (Not vs. 7)
  • 7-7, 3-3, 2-2: Split vs. 2–7
  • 6-6: Split vs. 3–6
  • 4-4: Split vs. 5–6

Doubling Down

• Double down on:
  • 10 or 11 vs. a lower dealer upcard
  • Especially 11 vs. dealer 5 or 6

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2. Quick & Dirty Strategy

(A practical shortcut approach for casual players)

• Never buy insurance — it’s statistically a losing bet.
• Surrender when:
  • 16 vs. dealer 9, 10, or Ace
  • 15 vs. dealer 10
    (If surrender is allowed)
• Always split 8-8, even against a dealer 10
• Double down on 10 or 11 if your total beats the dealer’s upcard

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3. Popular Betting Systems

Martingale (Negative Progression)

• Double the bet after every loss
• One win recovers all losses + profit
• High risk: long losing streaks can deplete your bankroll quickly

Positive Progression

• Increase bets after a win, reset after a loss
• Example: $5 → $5 → $7 → $10 (after each win)
• Safer than Martingale, but profits grow slower

Thomason System Example:

• Start at $20
• Increase by $10 after each win (up to $50)
• Reset to $20 after a loss

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4. Card Counting (Advanced Strategy)

Although less effective in modern casinos due to countermeasures, card counting remains a theoretical edge for skilled players.

High-Low System (Basic)

• 2–6 = +1
• 7–9 = 0
• 10, J, Q, K, A = –1

Keep a running count. A high positive count suggests more high cards remain, favoring the player.

Note: Effective counting requires:

• Multiple decks
• True count conversion
• Stealth (to avoid detection)

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5. Practical Real-World Advice

• Stay calm — emotional betting leads to mistakes
• Decrease bets after losses to avoid tilt
• Gradually increase bets during winning streaks, but set stop-loss and win goals
• Always walk away once a profit goal is reached or losses hit your limit
• Choose tables with:
  • Favorable rules (e.g., surrender, fewer decks)
  • Lower table minimums for bankroll control
  • Fewer distractions and players for better concentration