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Blackjack: Essential Strategy

Blackjack is a card game the players of which oppose the dealer. The number of participants is not limited:2,3 or more people can play the game at the same time. But it's a common thing that only one person plays against the croupier.
It's a players who has to start and that gives an advantage to the casino.If the player has more than 21 and then the croupier also exceeds 21, nevertheless the player loses. The main strategy is based on the principle that the player manages to peep one of the croupier's card and he doesn't just take one card after another but tries to count his odds and further acts.

Your first two cards are called either "hard" or "soft hand". If you have an ace then it's a "soft hand" and the it can be valued as 11 or 1. In a "hard hand" there is no ace but in case you get 10, you bust.

The correct mathematic strategy in blackjack will help to reduce the house edge. The only thing you can do with "hard hand" is either to hit or stand. If you have 8 and less valued cards then hit and don't care the croupier's card. If you have 9 and the croupier 3,4,5,or 6 - double the bet. In the opposite case - hit. If you have 11 and the first croupier's card is from 2 to 10 - double the bet, if the croupier has an ace - hit. In case the croupier has 4,5 or 6 and you have 12, it's better to stand. If you have 13-16 and the croupier's first card is from 2 to 6 - stand. If your combination is from 17 to 21 is's a pat hand, you should stand with these cards despite any croupier's card. If you have 17, it may seem that the combination is ideal to hit, but that's not true. The best combination to hit is 19, but that does not concern a "soft hand".

In case you have a "soft hand" with a combination ace plus 2 (a-2) or ace plus 3 (a-3) and the first croupier's card is 4 or 5 - double the bet. Also double a bet when you've got a-4 or a-5 against croupier's 4,5 or 6. The only thing to remember is: if you have a-4, double the stake only against croupier's 4. You have a-6 and the first croupier's card is 3,4,5 or 6 - double your bet. The biggest mistake of a begginer is to stand with the soft hand. If the croupier has 3,4,5 or 6 against your a-7 double your bet, in case he has 2,7 or 8 it's better to stand. If the croupier's card is 9,10 or ace - hit. Many players make a great mistake when they act the same way with a-7 as with a-6. If you have a-8 or a-9 always stand with this combination. 19, 20-point combinations win more often. However, don't double the bet with such a hand. Congratulations if you have a-10! You won if only the croupier also has a blackjack. In this case you don't win money but you don't lose either. It's a push.

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