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Blackjack is the only casino game where your decisions materially affect the outcome. With proper basic strategy — a mathematically proven set of optimal decisions — the house edge drops below 0.5%, making blackjack the best-odds table game in the casino.
The Core Rules (Simplified)
- Always stand on hard 17 or above
- Always hit on hard 8 or below
- Always stand on soft 18 or above (Ace + 7 or better)
- Double down on 11 against any dealer card except Ace
- Double down on 10 against dealer 2–9
- Always split Aces and 8s
- Never split 10s (you already have 20)
- Stand on hard 12–16 against dealer 2–6; hit against 7–Ace
Finding the Best Tables
Las Vegas blackjack tables vary enormously in rules and payouts. Look for: 3:2 payouts for blackjack (not 6:5), single or double deck games (better odds than 6-deck), dealer stands on soft 17 (not hits). Downtown casinos still have 3:2 tables at $10 minimums. Strip casinos have largely shifted to 6:5 payout tables — avoid them.