Luck and strategy are the key ingredients for every successful game of blackjack. You still need good fortune because you can't control the cards you're dealt. But after this, long-term success depends on your own decisions. Strategy charts come to the rescue, helping you to pick the most profitable move every time.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart

The most common blackjack chart addresses standard blackjack games that use six to eight decks. It is based on millions of computer simulations that calculate the most profitable play in every scenario. This allows you to play the best possible hand, known as basic strategy.

The best approach for new basic strategy blackjack players is to print your chart out or keep it on a nearby device. However, if you're playing at a live casino, you may be asked to put it away. So in an ideal world, you'll commit the chart to memory.

Playing perfect strategy blackjack doesn't guarantee success with every individual hand you play. However, play for long enough and you can greatly reduce the house edge. Depending on the exact rules, it could be as low as 0.5% if you execute it perfectly.

There are different basic strategy cards available for different rule variations. For instance, some forms of blackjack don't allow early surrender. Standard strategy dictates that you should surrender a 15 against a 10, for example. But if that rule isn't in play, you'll need to use the appropriate chart.

Single-Deck Basic Strategy Chart

Blackjack games that only use one deck are advantageous for the player since the game has a lower house edge. But with so few cards in play, the game requires a different approach. A single-deck blackjack chart features a simplified layout and adjusts recommendations accordingly.

This kind of blackjack also has different rules, such as dealers hitting on soft 17 or players not being allowed to double after splitting. These variations also mean that perfect strategy charts for single-deck variants cannot be the same as standard charts.

Double-Deck Basic Strategy Chart

Similarly, changes must be made to strategy charts designed for games using two decks. Unlike the single-deck variant, the dealer usually stands on soft 17 and doubling down after a split is normally permitted. 

Multi-Deck Blackjack Strategy Chart

Multi-deck blackjack variants are the most common at both online and brick-and-mortar casinos. But there are subtle differences in probabilities depending on the exact rules and number of decks used. It's vitally important to make sure you're using the correct chart for your chosen game type.

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