Blackjack basic strategy for beginners
· 6 min read
Blackjack has the best odds in the casino, but only if you play well. Basic strategy is the mathematically best move for every combination of your hand and the dealer's face-up card. Played this way, LuckyZoo blackjack returns about 99.5%.
The rules at LuckyZoo
- 6 decks, shuffled every round.
- The dealer stands on all 17s.
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2.
- You can double on any first two cards, also after splitting.
- Pairs can be split up to four hands; split aces get one card each.
- No insurance.
Hard hands (no ace counted as 11)
- 17 or more: always stand.
- 13 to 16: stand if the dealer shows 2 to 6, otherwise hit.
- 12: stand if the dealer shows 4 to 6, otherwise hit.
- 11: double against 2 to 10, hit against an ace.
- 10: double against 2 to 9, otherwise hit.
- 9: double against 3 to 6, otherwise hit.
- 8 or less: always hit.
Soft hands (an ace counted as 11)
- Soft 19 or more: stand.
- Soft 18: double against 3 to 6, stand against 2, 7 and 8, hit against 9, 10 and ace.
- Soft 17: double against 3 to 6, otherwise hit.
- Soft 15 and 16: double against 4 to 6, otherwise hit.
- Soft 13 and 14: double against 5 and 6, otherwise hit.
Pairs
- Always split aces and eights.
- Never split tens or fives (play fives as a hard 10).
- Nines: split against 2 to 6, 8 and 9; stand against 7, 10 and ace.
- Sevens: split against 2 to 7, otherwise hit.
- Sixes: split against 2 to 6, otherwise hit.
- Fours: split against 5 and 6, otherwise hit.
- Twos and threes: split against 2 to 7, otherwise hit.
Why it works
The dealer must draw to 17, so a weak dealer card (2 to 6) busts often. Basic strategy lets the dealer take that risk and saves your doubles and splits for the moments you are most likely to win. It does not guarantee a win in any session, but it keeps the house edge as low as it goes.
LuckyZoo is a free social casino for adults: Credits have no cash value and there is no real money gambling. Play for fun, and set limits if you need them.
