Need help with basic strategy

[IIAnnexII]

I'm new to counting cards and I really want to learn this. Currently I'm working on the Hi-Lo system. I felt like I was wasting my time though since I don't even know basic strategy.

So I went online to get a basic strategy chart. Man was I overwhelmed! I have know idea how I'm going to remember all of this. Does anyone have any tips? All help would be appreciated.

-IIAnnexII

 

[21forme]

The same way you get to Carnegie Hall - Practice! Nobody said it's easy to get started.

There is a basic strategy trainer on this site (go to the home page and look at the links on the left.) Another option is buying software, such as QFIT's CVBJ

Also, forget about counting until you know basic strategy COLD!

 

[IIAnnexII]

The same way you get to Carnegie Hall - Practice! Nobody said it's easy to get started.

There is a basic strategy trainer on this site (go to the home page and look at the links on the left.) Another option is buying software, such as QFIT's CVBJ

Also, forget about counting until you know basic strategy COLD!

Thanks for the help. Appreciate it.

 

[zachs]

Just look at it for a long time and practice.

Kinda like learning Anything else in school

 

[bj bob]

Whoa now!

I'm new to counting cards and I really want to learn this. Currently I'm working on the Hi-Lo system. I felt like I was wasting my time though since I don't even know basic strategy.

So I went online to get a basic strategy chart. Man was I overwhelmed! I have know idea how I'm going to remember all of this. Does anyone have any tips? All help would be appreciated.

-IIAnnexII

You're telling us that you're working on Hi-Lo and trying to learn BS at the same time? That's like learning Bio.101 while taking the MCAT's. You have to stop everything else and get a BS chart and hide the rest somewhere.
The BS charts can be divided into 3 separate sections, the first and easiest is the hit/ stand part. Take and study that section until you know it like your own phone #. Then you can take the 2nd section, the Double Downs(hard) and learn that thoroughly, do the same with the soft doubles. It's more involved than the first and the soft doubles will give you headaches at first, viz. the A-7. The third and last section are the splits. Learn the always splits, then the never splits and go from there.
At the end of all this you should be able to write an entire BS chart from memory. If you can't, then restudy the errors until it's perfect.

 

[ChefJJ]

You're telling us that you're working on Hi-Lo and trying to learn BS at the same time? That's like learning Bio.101 while taking the MCAT's. You have to stop everything else and get a BS chart and hide the rest somewhere.
The BS charts can be divided into 3 separate sections, the first and easiest is the hit/ stand part. Take and study that section until you know it like your own phone #. Then you can take the 2nd section, the Double Downs(hard) and learn that thoroughly, do the same with the soft doubles. It's more involved than the first and the soft doubles will give you headaches at first, viz. the A-7. The third and last section are the splits. Learn the always splits, then the never splits and go from there.
At the end of all this you should be able to write an entire BS chart from memory. If you can't, then restudy the errors until it's perfect.

Annex, you must listen to Bob's words. Gotta crawl before you walk...don't rush things at the expense of doing it right. The casinos will be there when you get it down.

good luck

 

[BJApprentice21]

I was making this HUGE mistake also. Sort of worked out though because I was practicing Hi-Lo and I realized...Screw Hi-Lo. Now, I'm waiting on the Zen master (and whoever else:cool2: ) to help me decide between the Zen and Mentor counts. So, I'm now just practicing BS until yeah...I know it like my phone number. I know it well, but not as well as I thought I did. Then I'll continue learning the Zen/Mentor counts...but I still want help deciding now lol. Wont practice the count though...

 

[IIAnnexII]

Thanks for everyones help and input.

 

[Kasi]

Man was I overwhelmed! I have know idea how I'm going to remember all of this. Does anyone have any tips?

Somewhere there was a recent thread on this. I always liked the
"rule" method.

First learn "STAND 12-16 VS 6 OR LESS, BUT HIT 12 VS 2,3"

implying as it does "ALWAYS HIT 12-16 VS 7 OR MORE"

and already you can play 60% of your hands.

Throw in "DOUBLE 11 VS 10 OR LESS
DOUBLE 10 VS 9 OR LESS
DOUBLE 9 VS 3 THRU 6 "

and
"HIT A,7 VS 9,10,A"

implying as it does "STAND A,7 VS 8 OR LESS"

and you're playing a pretty good game.

Mix in "SPLIT 9'S VS 9 OR LESS, EXCEPT 7
SPLIT 2'S, 3'S & 7'S VS 7 OR LESS
SPLIT 6'S VS 6 OR LESS
SPLIT 4'S VS 5,6"

with "DOUBLE A,2 & A,3 VS 5,6
DOUBLE A,4 & A,5 VS 4,5,6
DOUBLE A,6 & A,7 VS 3,4,5,6"

and you're basically there.

Not counting the easy-to-learn "always split Aces and eights. Never split 5's (play as a 10) and 10's."

What's that, 12 rules? I don't count always hit 8 or less, always stand on 17 or more or soft 19 or 20, or never take insurance as rules lol.

Whatever works.

But no point to learning Hi-Lo and when you want to depart from BS if you don't know what to depart from in the first place lol.

 

[bj bob]

Lest we presume

Kasi, you're assuming he's playing a s17, DAS shoe game. Since he didn't specify any particular rules, I think we'd better qualify the BS proper to his game.No?

 

[sagefr0g]

Kasi, you're assuming he's playing a s17, DAS shoe game. Since he didn't specify any particular rules, I think we'd better qualify the BS proper to his game.No?

bjbob that's a classic catch. :devil:
now if it'd of been anyone else, no big deal. :laugh:

 

[wvbjplayer]

I'm new to counting cards and I really want to learn this. Currently I'm working on the Hi-Lo system. I felt like I was wasting my time though since I don't even know basic strategy.

So I went online to get a basic strategy chart. Man was I overwhelmed! I have know idea how I'm going to remember all of this. Does anyone have any tips? All help would be appreciated.

-IIAnnexII

The best simplification of the chart I've ever seen is found in Ken Uston's book Million Dollar Blackjack. He there supplies the following three "Golden Rules" of B/S:

1. If the dealer's upcard is 2 or 3, hit up to 13.
2. If the dealer's upcard is 4-6, hit up to 12.
3. If the dealer's upcard is 7-10, hit until your total is higher than the dealer's, assuming the dealer's hole card is worth 10 (e.g., if the dealer's upcard is a 9, hit until you have at least 19).

He then adds these four subsidiary (less important) rules:

4. Always split 8's.
5. Double-down on an 11 against a 10 (or lower) upcard.
6. Double-down on a 10 against a 9 (or lower) upcard.
7. NEVER TAKE INSURANCE!!!

My experience is that #7 is generally good advice for one playing strictly B/S. For the counter, however, insuring half your bet on a good hand is recommended in high counts. That is, if your bet is $20, take $10 worth of insurance if you have a strong hand (e.g., a 20) and the count is high. (My personal benchmark is a true count of >+3, but I can't vouch that that's the mathematically optimal cut-off. Works for me, though.) That way, if the dealer has blackjack, you've covered your bet, b/c insurance pays 2 to 1. On the other hand, if he doesn't, then you're likely to win your hand, in which case you'll still have won $10.

I'd also add these (I think equally important) rules:

8. If you can afford it, always split 8's.
9. NEVER SPLIT 10 (FACE) CARDS!!!
10. Split 2's, 3's, 6's, & 7's against all bust cards (3-6).*
11. If you can afford it, DD on a 9 against all bust cards (3-6). If you're not averse to substantial risk, you might also consider DD'ing on a 9 against any dealer upcard of 8 or lower. (I always do in a high count.)

* As with most rules in blackjack, whether this one applies to a given hand depends largely on the count, but should work fairly well as a general practice (i.e., in high to roughly neutral counts).

Hope this helps!

wvbjplayer

 

[Guynoire]

3. If the dealer's upcard is 7-10, hit until your total is higher than the dealer's, assuming the dealer's hole card is worth 10 (e.g., if the dealer's upcard is a 9, hit until you have at least 19).
wvbjplayer

What are you talking about? You can't hit your hard 18 vs a 9. A better rule would be against a 7-A hit until your total is a 17 or higher.

 

[MrMaster]

You're telling us that you're working on Hi-Lo and trying to learn BS at the same time? That's like learning Bio.101 while taking the MCAT's.

I have to say that I learned both at the same time, now i know basic strategy cold and can count a deck in 30 secs. IT IS POSSIBLE, but it doesn't mean others should do it

 

[Kasi]

Kasi, you're assuming he's playing a s17, DAS shoe game. Since he didn't specify any particular rules, I think we'd better qualify the BS proper to his game.No?

You're absolutely right of course - that is what I was assuming lol.

I like it because once you learn it it's very easy to add a change or 2 based on a change of game rules and BS for that game. Even with radical rule changes there's not a whole lot of differences to take into account. So you never really have to learn a whole lot of separate BStrategies for a hundred different games. Just one and tweak as necessary lol.

No big deal - like you say whatever works.

 

[wvbjplayer]

Oops!

What are you talking about? You can't hit your hard 18 vs a 9. A better rule would be against a 7-A hit until your total is a 17 or higher.

Quite right. That was an oversight on my part. My apologies. (God, I sure hope that guy wasn't taken to the cleaners on MY acc't. lol)

wvbjplayer

 

[checkmugged]

Don't look at the charts and memorize them. This isn't material for a school class you don't care about and aren't interested in. Play some blackjack, when the hands come up you don't know how to play, look at what basic strategy says and ask why. Basic strategy to me is 99% common sense, there are only a couple plays that may be counter intuitive. You will of course rote memorize the charts, but it's a lot easier in my opinion if you understand the whys.

Anything that you don't understand or seems counter intuitive, you can of course post here and someone will in all likelyhood be able to give you a clear, concise reason behind the play. (test your common sense, 99 v. 7, do you stand or split and why - does it seem to be the same reason(s) you do or don't split TT v. 6?) etc...

Checkmugged

 

[Cardcounter]

Basic rules

If you have a hard 12-16 and the dealer has a 2-6 stay if dealer has 7-Ace hit that is a general rule with a couple of exceptions.
Always split aces and eights
never split 4,5, and 10's
sometimes you split 2,3,6,9 for the most part you usually split these pair if the dealer shows a 6 or less.
usually double on 10 or 11
Soft double when the dealer shows a 6 or less and your non ace adds up to at least 9 when you add the dealers up card to it other wise just hit. Only double down on soft 18 or lower.

Play the stragedy trainer here!