4-8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack is an all-time card game favorite!

It's popular among both online and physical casino gamers for its combination of strategy and chance. They also exist to help you make the best decisions and win you as much money as possible.

• The perfect blackjack strategy charts are based on the slightly different versions of the game. Blackjack can be played with a single deck or 4-8 decks. Most casinos I've been to have single deck or use six decks. Also, some casinos require the dealer to stand with a soft 17, and some mandate the dealer to hit with a soft 17.
• For example, when you want to play online blackjack in full screen mode or on mobile. Therefore, we created a 6 Deck Blackjack Strategy Chart PDF and JPG to make your life easier. Just download the 6 Deck Blackjack Strategy Chart PDF to your computer, or open it in your browser and click on print. You can resize the documents based on your.
• With 4-8 decks, always surrender to 10 as well as aces where the dealer hits on soft 17 If you are a dealt a 16: In single or double deck blackjack, surrender to a dealer's 10 or ace.
• Blackjack Strategy Flashcard Maker: Justin Albright. 211 Cards – 3 Decks –. Sample Decks: 4-8 decks, Dealer stands on all 17s Show Class Blackjack.

By knowing the rules and mastering the basic strategies for blackjack, I'm sure you'll find yourself getting a hang of it!

With a lot of experience, beating the dealer will soon come easy peasy.

Blackjack Basic Strategy

The goal in mind when it comes to strategy for blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21 and to minimize the house edge.

Don't worry though, simply use the blackjack basic strategy rules for 4-8 decks as set out above, and you can still improve your odds of success. An Introduction To Card Counting Card counting is a very simple way to essentially remove the house edge and tilt the odds in your favour.

You will however need to put your memory to work and take into heart all the necessary information to increase the probability of winnings.

Also, take note that the strategy also changes slightly depending on some variations to the rules and payout amounts of each table. That's where a blackjack basic strategy chart comes in handy.

They're basically cheat sheets you can keep on hand to give you options for best moves in given scenarios. The big advantage of playing blackjack online than in physical blackjack tables is not having to worry if these are forbidden.

Factors to Consider when Implementing Strategy

Blackjack rules often have modifications depending on the casino. To optimize your chances of winning money, identify these rules, and get the blackjack strategy chart variation optimized for them.

Factors that can change the blackjack strategy are:

The Number of Decks Used

The easiest to optimize basic strategy is the single-deck game; however, this also allows for ease in card counting.

Casinos want to reduce players' chances of winning and increase their house edge. That's why most games now have 4-8 decks. The most common online variant is a 6 and 8 deck game.

Whether the Dealer Stands on Soft 17

This is important because if a player makes a hand of 17 or better, the best the dealer can do is push.

A dealer that will hit soft 17 increases his chances to make 18 to 21 and win against the players. You should prefer a game that stands on soft 17.

Limitations on Splits and Doubles

Allowing splitting improves your weak hand, and increases your winnings two-fold. Doubling allows you to increase your winning amounts.

The 'No Peek' Blackjack Rule

If the dealer pulls an ace from the deck as their up card, they will immediately ask players at the table whether they would like to take insurance.

They will; however, continue to deal cards to all active players, allowing them to make decisions.

The house can take the player's additional chips for splitting and doubling down, on top of their original bet, before a dealer's blackjack is announced. This increases the house edge by 0.62%.

Allowable Surrender or Early Surrender

Surrender rules are an advantage for the player, in that you can choose to keep half of your original bet rather than play out your hand and lose the entire thing if you feel you don't have a shot at winning.

Bonus for Players

Some blackjack games have liberal rules. They have the option for payout bonuses for five or more card 21s, 6–7–8 21s, and 7–7–7 21s. This is advantageous to the player.

Blackjack Payout

Make sure you are paid correctly. Payout affects your strategy to decide whether to double down or not. The most common payout is 1:1. Whatever blind wager the player placed at the beginning of the hand is matched and paid out.

Blackjack Strategy Charts

A blackjack strategy chart is a paper or digital guide that tells you how to play your hand based on the game you're playing, your hand, and the dealer's hand.

They're free and can be easily found in every computer search engine. Brick and mortar casinos give them away, too.

In any given instance, these charts serve as a guide whether you should hit, stand, or double. These will give you the basic strategy you need to reduce the house edge from 6-9% to as low as 0.5%.

With lots of practice, you can definitely maximize your winnings.

These charts also serve as the foundation for card counting techniques. All of your more advanced plays and decisions are just based on them.

What do the Abbreviations on the Blackjack Chart Mean?

These are what the abbreviations mean:

• H = Hit
• S = Stand
• Dh = Double if allowed, otherwise hit.
• Ds = Double if allowed, otherwise stand.
• P = Split
• Ph = Split if double after hit is allowed, otherwise hit.
• Pd = Split if double after hit is allowed, otherwise double.
• Ps = Split if double after hit is allowed, otherwise stand.
• Rh = Surrender if allowed, otherwise hit.
• Rs = Surrender if allowed, otherwise stand.
• Rp = Surrender if allowed, otherwise split.

Be keen. Some charts may have differences in abbreviations. They should be listed on the chart to provide order and guidance, though.

How Do I Read the Charts?

The left-hand side of the chart will be your hand. Take note if your hand is a hard, soft, or a pair. Then find it on the left side of the chart.

The top of the chart is the dealer's up card. Find that on the chart.

Find where your hand and the dealer's upcard line intersects. This will give you an abbreviation, which will guide you into the move you need to make.

How do I Memorize Strategy Charts?

This could take a lot of time. This is perhaps one of the reasons why people give up on card counting. There's got to be a lot of work and time involved if you want to take the game seriously.

Experts recommend using flashcards. You can create a flashcard for every hand or group of hands that you may be dealt with along with a dealer up card. The correct action would be on the backside of your flashcard.

You can start by focusing on one type of hand. Like you can memorize all the plays for when you have a soft 18, or all the plays for when the dealer shows a ten.

Do this until you go through them all. It's up to you how you wish to build your own system of memorization. What's important is you remain consistent and practice.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart

Here are the charts outlining the basic strategy. They tell you what to do given the value of your hand found on the left, and the card the dealer is showing (right two columns).

Additional Rules

1. If surrendering is allowed, surrender if you have a 16, and a dealer's up card is a 10. Otherwise hit.
2. If the strategy suggests to double but it is not allowed, then hit. If you get a soft 18, always stand.
3. Never split 4s, 5s, and 10s. Split always your Aces and 8s. This gives you a better hand.
4. Always hit a hard hand of 8. Alternatively, you could go for less than 8 too.
5. Insurance bets are sucker bets. Never take it. It's far more profitable to risk losing your original wager in the long term than protecting it against a dealer that hits blackjack.
6. Similarly, don't take even money when you get blackjack. If you're dealt a blackjack and the dealer is showing an ace, you'll be offered an even money payout in case the dealer has a blackjack. This instead of more money in the case for example of a 3:2 payout. If you decline and the dealer has blackjack, you'll push and just get your original bet back anyway.
7. Be keen on side bets too. They rarely offer value.

Blackjack Perfect Strategy Charts

Mastering and following the basic strategy will almost always help you get the right play. However, there are occasions it won't too.

The perfect blackjack strategy charts depend on slightly different versions of the game.

Blackjack can be played with a single deck or with 4-8 decks. Most casinos nowadays have a dealer deal with one deck or most commonly with six decks.

The other rule to consider is that some casinos require the dealer to stand with a soft 17, and some mandate hitting with a soft 17. it will give you better odds if the dealer has to stand with a soft 17.

Rules to Watch Out

You could actually enjoy a 1% advantage over the house edge with an early surrender option, and other allowable rules if you use the perfect strategy.

There isn't much standardization for blackjack though. Casinos constantly mix and match rules and payout amounts to create profitability for them, yet remain appealing to players.

Before going into any of the charts, do take note of the following rules below that could possibly tweak the expected return in favor of the casino:

• Blackjack pays 6 to 5, 7 to 5 or even money
• Dealer hits on soft 17
• Player can only double on certain numbers or no doubling at all
• Player can only split to two or three hands or no re-splitting at all
• Doubling after splitting is not allowed
• Seven or more decks used
• House wins in the event of a push

Single Deck Blackjack Charts

The first set of covers what to do if the dealer stands on soft 17. The second set shows the strategy if the dealer expects to hit on a soft 17.

Each includes three charts that are free for you to use. This also depends on whether your hand is hard, soft, or split.

Single Deck, Dealer Stands on Soft 17

Single Deck, Dealer Hits on Hard 17

4- to 8-Deck Blackjack Charts

The most common multi-deck blackjack is a six-deck. The same strategies; however, may be applied for other multi-deck games.

Again, the first set is for a situation wherein the dealer is required to stand on a soft 17. The second set is for a situation wherein the dealer expects to hit on a soft 17. Each set includes three charts for hard, soft, and split hands.

4-8 Decks, Dealer Stands on Soft 17

4-8 Decks, Dealer Hits on Soft 17

Strategy in Text

Perhaps a strategy chart gives you an eyesore. If you're not a visual learner, fret not. Memorizing these phrases could still help you learn blackjack strategies and play the game better!

Surrender:

• Surrender a hard 16 when the dealer shows a 9, 10 or an ace.
• Surrender a hard 15 when the dealer shows a 10.
• Never surrender a pair of 8s.

Split:

• Always split pairs of aces & 8s.
• Split 2s and 3s if dealer shows a 4-7
• Split 4s if dealer shows a 5-6*
• Split 6s if dealer shows a 3-6 (and 2s*)
• Split 7s if dealer shows a 2-7.
• Split 9s if the dealer shows a 2-6, or 8-9.
• Never split a pair of 5s, or 10's.

* Only when doubling after splitting is allowed.

Double down on:

• Hard 9 when the dealer has 3-6.
• Hard 10, but not when the dealer shows an ace or 10.
• Hard 11, but not when the dealer shows an ace.
• Soft 13-14 if dealer has 5-6.
• Soft 15-16 if dealer has 4-6.
• Soft 17-18 if dealer has 3-6.

Hit:

• Always hit when you have a hand that is a hard 11 or less.
• Always hit when you have a hand that is a soft 17 or less.
• Hit on a hard 12 if the dealer does not have 4-6.
• Hit on hard 13-16 if the dealer does not have 2-6.
• Hit on a soft 18 unless the dealer shows A, 9, or 10.

Stand:

• Always stand on a hard 12 when the dealer shows 4-6.
• Always stand on hard 13 to 15, when the dealer shows 2-6.
• Always stand on hard 17 or greater.
• Stand on soft 18, otherwise hit when the dealer has 10, 9 or an ace.
• Always stand on soft 19 or greater.

The amount of information we've provided could be overwhelming. There's a lot to remember.

Perhaps starting with learning basic strategy is the best way to go. And when you do feel like moving on from basic strategy, then the perfect blackjack strategy is just waiting for you to get your player's hands on them!

If you don't however have much time to learn, I recommend sticking with basic strategy. With basic strategy, you'll almost always make the right play. If you do encounter a few mistakes, it won't cost you too much.

Some casinos will allow you to refer to a blackjack strategy chart while you're playing. You can print them out ahead and refer to them. This is again a big advantage for online gaming.

Some players in a land-based casino might be thrown off. Also, do focus on the charts that are applicable to the game you'll be playing.

Let's get started!

By mastering the blackjack strategy and by playing tons of hands, you'll be drilling them into your head. Just remember that if ever you forget the perfect strategy, you'll always have a basic strategy to the rescue!

We hope this article has broadened your knowledge on blackjack, and hopefully increased your chances of winning hands. For any questions, feel free to contact us right here on njnodeposit.com.

12 members have voted

I was taking to a friend a few months ago and this topic came up. His point was 'the ratio of the cards is the same in 1 deck vs 8 decks'. That is, off the top, 1 out of 13 cards is an Ace, etc, no matter the number of decks. Honestly I've had the same thought and didn't have a great answer for him. I'll read this and try to wrap my head around the math answer for why # decks affects house edge

I keep looking all over the internet for these handy dandy Basic Strategy Cards. I just found a couple in your post. But I probably need more for 2 decks, 4 decks, 6 decks, not to mention the changes in strategy based on the true count for the 5 different deck strategies.
It does seem you do a lot more doubling down and splitting with one deck vs. 8 decks.

4 To 8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

That is one of the essences of a well-designed casino game -- the player doesn't see where the house has the advantage. In blackjack and most poker games it is a player positional disadvantage. The idea to remove the 10's in Spanish 21 was also a good one.
I get asked from time to time by the other side about how to significantly increase the house edge, like by 1%, in blackjack without changing the 3-2 payoff, mandating a side bet, charging a commission on wins, nor change the deck composition in a way the average player won't notice. Nothing good has ever come to mind.

Second, it's always been my policy to teach to near the top. If you put everybody on the bell curve, I try to aim at the person about one standard deviation above average (meaning 84% are less intelligent and 16% are more). There are already plenty of advanced books for those 2 or 3 standard deviations above the norm and plenty of sources for those who need things simplified as much as possible. I aim for those in between.

.. the reason the probability of getting the ace is higher in the single-deck game is the deck is richer in aces after you remove a 10 from it. The same is true if the first card is an ace; the remaining cards will be richer in tens in the single-deck game.
Furthermore, if the player does get a blackjack, the probability of the dealer's getting one goes down as the number of decks goes down.

.. The player wins an extra half unit with every winning blackjack.

But isn't it just as likely that the dealer gets the first natural? I don't get how this applies until we know who gets the first .
this is well known, but is in effect without regard to who gets one first, so it doesn't seem like the entire answer.

4 Deck To 8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

4-deck To 8-deck Blackjack Strategy

4-8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

I am not clear about the point that you are making here.
Consider a heads up game with a five-card deck composed of four tens and a single ace. Dealer and player will always stand because they will always have a 20 or BJ in the first two cards. Whenever dealer or player gets a BJ, they will get it first. There is only one BJ possible on each hand.
One fifth of the time, they will push with each having 20. 40% of the time, dealer will have BJ and 40% of the time, the player will have BJ. The player will win a full unit every five hands, on average.
Now take out a ten, and the player wins a full bet every 4 hands, on average.

OK, thanks, I guess the point you are making is that in a game rich in tens and in which BJ is possible once, though equally likely to go to player or dealer, it is always good for the player and sometimes 'really good'?
Likewise fewer decks are good for the player, sometimes really good, and it averages out so you can make a statement about what the HE is for one deck, two, etc and compare them.

Each includes three charts that are free for you to use. This also depends on whether your hand is hard, soft, or split.

Single Deck, Dealer Stands on Soft 17

Single Deck, Dealer Hits on Hard 17

4- to 8-Deck Blackjack Charts

The most common multi-deck blackjack is a six-deck. The same strategies; however, may be applied for other multi-deck games.

Again, the first set is for a situation wherein the dealer is required to stand on a soft 17. The second set is for a situation wherein the dealer expects to hit on a soft 17. Each set includes three charts for hard, soft, and split hands.

4-8 Decks, Dealer Stands on Soft 17

4-8 Decks, Dealer Hits on Soft 17

Strategy in Text

Perhaps a strategy chart gives you an eyesore. If you're not a visual learner, fret not. Memorizing these phrases could still help you learn blackjack strategies and play the game better!

Surrender:

• Surrender a hard 16 when the dealer shows a 9, 10 or an ace.
• Surrender a hard 15 when the dealer shows a 10.
• Never surrender a pair of 8s.

Split:

• Always split pairs of aces & 8s.
• Split 2s and 3s if dealer shows a 4-7
• Split 4s if dealer shows a 5-6*
• Split 6s if dealer shows a 3-6 (and 2s*)
• Split 7s if dealer shows a 2-7.
• Split 9s if the dealer shows a 2-6, or 8-9.
• Never split a pair of 5s, or 10's.

* Only when doubling after splitting is allowed.

Double down on:

• Hard 9 when the dealer has 3-6.
• Hard 10, but not when the dealer shows an ace or 10.
• Hard 11, but not when the dealer shows an ace.
• Soft 13-14 if dealer has 5-6.
• Soft 15-16 if dealer has 4-6.
• Soft 17-18 if dealer has 3-6.

Hit:

• Always hit when you have a hand that is a hard 11 or less.
• Always hit when you have a hand that is a soft 17 or less.
• Hit on a hard 12 if the dealer does not have 4-6.
• Hit on hard 13-16 if the dealer does not have 2-6.
• Hit on a soft 18 unless the dealer shows A, 9, or 10.

Stand:

• Always stand on a hard 12 when the dealer shows 4-6.
• Always stand on hard 13 to 15, when the dealer shows 2-6.
• Always stand on hard 17 or greater.
• Stand on soft 18, otherwise hit when the dealer has 10, 9 or an ace.
• Always stand on soft 19 or greater.

The amount of information we've provided could be overwhelming. There's a lot to remember.

Perhaps starting with learning basic strategy is the best way to go. And when you do feel like moving on from basic strategy, then the perfect blackjack strategy is just waiting for you to get your player's hands on them!

If you don't however have much time to learn, I recommend sticking with basic strategy. With basic strategy, you'll almost always make the right play. If you do encounter a few mistakes, it won't cost you too much.

Some casinos will allow you to refer to a blackjack strategy chart while you're playing. You can print them out ahead and refer to them. This is again a big advantage for online gaming.

Some players in a land-based casino might be thrown off. Also, do focus on the charts that are applicable to the game you'll be playing.

Let's get started!

By mastering the blackjack strategy and by playing tons of hands, you'll be drilling them into your head. Just remember that if ever you forget the perfect strategy, you'll always have a basic strategy to the rescue!

We hope this article has broadened your knowledge on blackjack, and hopefully increased your chances of winning hands. For any questions, feel free to contact us right here on njnodeposit.com.

12 members have voted

I was taking to a friend a few months ago and this topic came up. His point was 'the ratio of the cards is the same in 1 deck vs 8 decks'. That is, off the top, 1 out of 13 cards is an Ace, etc, no matter the number of decks. Honestly I've had the same thought and didn't have a great answer for him. I'll read this and try to wrap my head around the math answer for why # decks affects house edge

I keep looking all over the internet for these handy dandy Basic Strategy Cards. I just found a couple in your post. But I probably need more for 2 decks, 4 decks, 6 decks, not to mention the changes in strategy based on the true count for the 5 different deck strategies.
It does seem you do a lot more doubling down and splitting with one deck vs. 8 decks.

4 To 8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

That is one of the essences of a well-designed casino game -- the player doesn't see where the house has the advantage. In blackjack and most poker games it is a player positional disadvantage. The idea to remove the 10's in Spanish 21 was also a good one.
I get asked from time to time by the other side about how to significantly increase the house edge, like by 1%, in blackjack without changing the 3-2 payoff, mandating a side bet, charging a commission on wins, nor change the deck composition in a way the average player won't notice. Nothing good has ever come to mind.

Second, it's always been my policy to teach to near the top. If you put everybody on the bell curve, I try to aim at the person about one standard deviation above average (meaning 84% are less intelligent and 16% are more). There are already plenty of advanced books for those 2 or 3 standard deviations above the norm and plenty of sources for those who need things simplified as much as possible. I aim for those in between.

.. the reason the probability of getting the ace is higher in the single-deck game is the deck is richer in aces after you remove a 10 from it. The same is true if the first card is an ace; the remaining cards will be richer in tens in the single-deck game.
Furthermore, if the player does get a blackjack, the probability of the dealer's getting one goes down as the number of decks goes down.

.. The player wins an extra half unit with every winning blackjack.

But isn't it just as likely that the dealer gets the first natural? I don't get how this applies until we know who gets the first .
this is well known, but is in effect without regard to who gets one first, so it doesn't seem like the entire answer.

4 Deck To 8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

4-deck To 8-deck Blackjack Strategy

4-8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

I am not clear about the point that you are making here.
Consider a heads up game with a five-card deck composed of four tens and a single ace. Dealer and player will always stand because they will always have a 20 or BJ in the first two cards. Whenever dealer or player gets a BJ, they will get it first. There is only one BJ possible on each hand.
One fifth of the time, they will push with each having 20. 40% of the time, dealer will have BJ and 40% of the time, the player will have BJ. The player will win a full unit every five hands, on average.
Now take out a ten, and the player wins a full bet every 4 hands, on average.

OK, thanks, I guess the point you are making is that in a game rich in tens and in which BJ is possible once, though equally likely to go to player or dealer, it is always good for the player and sometimes 'really good'?
Likewise fewer decks are good for the player, sometimes really good, and it averages out so you can make a statement about what the HE is for one deck, two, etc and compare them.

I couldn't agree more with you about having a house edge that isn't obvious to the players. Not to brag but I like to think my biggest accomplishment with my game 'Cards vs Dice' is the fact that it took you > 5 minutes to determine the game's house edge. There were a couple of minutes where I swear you were convinced there wasn't a house edge & that I had lost my mind lol.