Blackjack basic strategy is an advantage-play method that can help you gain an edge over the casino. It is actually a chart that tells you how to play almost every possible hand by comparing your hand total with the dealer's up card (the card that is visible). The Blackjack basic strategy can end your dilemma of splitting pairs as well. It may not serve as a good blackjack insurance strategy, but you can certainly benefit from it when it comes to play different hands, and pairs.

Unlike other advantage-play techniques like card counting and shuffle tracking, Blackjack basic strategy is relatively easy to understand and implement. It does not require mathematical skills, rather it requires sharp memory skills. It is a long chart and you may have to spend a lot of time memorizing it. But the effort will be worth it.

It includes a Blackjack hands strategy and a Blackjack pairs strategy both of which equip you with the right moves to handle all Blackjack hands and pairs.

Take a look at the following examples to get help playing certain Blackjack hands. The strategy suggests that if your hand total is 13, 14, 15, or 16, and the dealer's up card is 2, 3, 4, or 5, you should not draw further cards and stand. But what if the dealer's up card is 6, 7, or 8? You should draw one more card, says the Blackjack basic strategy. It is based on millions of Blackjack hands played by millions of Blackjack players around the world. The strategy has been evolved after studying the outcomes of all those hands. It wasn't developed overnight by a bunch of optimistic gamblers.

When playing the game, the Blackjack strategy pairs your cards very effectively. Always split your Aces because your chances of getting a Blackjack soar with a pair of Aces. However, if you're dealt a pair of 10s, don't split it. Simply stand. This Blackjack strategy also suggests that if your pairs include 7-7, 8-8, or 9-9, split them if the dealer is showing 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

When you implement the Blackjack basic strategy carefully, you can bring down the regular casino edge of 5.75% to as low as 0.5%. That done, you can surely go on to win more, just by getting your black jack basics right.