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If double after split (DAS) is available, you should split pairs more often to take advantage of this rule. Here are updated rules for pair splitting when double after split is available.

7 blackjack basic strategy rules for pair splitting (DAS allowed):

1. Always SPLIT A’s and 8′s
2. NEVER split 5′s or T’s
3. SPLIT 2′s and 3′s vs. dealer 2 thru 7
4. SPLIT 4′s vs. dealer 5 or 6
5. SPLIT 6′s vs dealer 6 or less
6. SPLIT 7′s vs dealer 7 or less
7. SPLIT 9′s vs dealer 9 or less, except STAND vs dealer 7

Here is the relevant update to the pair splitting section of the basic strategy card for when double after split (DAS) is available.

People usually learn best by either reading or visually. Those who learn best by books will have no problem memorizing the 19 blackjack basic strategy rules.

If you are having difficulty memorizing the basic strategy rules, try this visual tip.

Visualize a line running vertically between dealer upcard 6 and 7 on the blackjack strategy card. This will help you remember rules for when to:

• Double down on hard 9
• Stand on hard 12 thru 16
• Double down on soft hands

If the dealer has an upcard of 7 or more, the above 3 rules never apply.

Here is another memory tip for when to double down on hard 9.

Think 3 + 6 = 9.  Remember that you should double a 9 vs. dealer 3 thru 6.

If you have any memorization tips you use, please leave a comment.

Today is a final review of the blackjack basic strategy rules you have learned that apply to all blackjack games. In the future you will learn how to alter these rules for the differences in various blackjack game house rules.

You should make decisions on playing your blackjack hands in the following order:

1. Insurance
2. Pair Splitting
3. Double Down (look for soft hands first)
4. Standing (look for soft hands first)

2 rules for insurance:

1. NEVER take Insurance
2. NEVER take Even Money when you have a blackjack, it is the same as insurance

6 rules for pair splitting:

1. Always SPLIT A’s and 8′s
2. NEVER split 4′s, 5′s, or T’s
3. SPLIT 2′s and 3′s vs. dealer 4 thru 7
4. SPLIT 9′s vs dealer 9 or less, except STAND vs dealer 7
5. SPLIT 7′s vs dealer 7 or less
6. SPLIT 6′s vs dealer 6 or less, except HIT vs dealer 2

3 rules for doubling down on soft hands:

1. DOUBLE A7 thru A2 vs. dealer 5 or 6
2. DOUBLE A7 thru A4 vs. dealer 4
3. DOUBLE A7 thru A6 vs. dealer 3

2 rules for doubling down on hard hands:

1. DOUBLE 11 and 10 when you have at least one less than the dealer
2. DOUBLE 9 vs. dealer 3 thru 6

3 rules for standing on soft hands:

1. Always HIT on soft 17 or less
2. Always STAND on soft 18 or higher, except
3. HIT on soft 18 vs. dealer 9, 10, or A

3 rules for standing on hard hands:

1. Always STAND on 17 or higher
2. STAND on 12 or higher vs. dealer 6 or below, except
3. HIT 12 vs. dealer 2 or 3

The blackjack basic strategy card below combines all the blackjack basic strategy rules you have learned.

You can click on the blackjack basic strategy card below to view a larger image suitable for printing.

Last time, you learned when to split pairs.  Today you will learn the blackjack basic strategy rules for doubling down on soft hands. Note that some of these rules overlap the rules for standing on soft hands. You should follow the double down rules first and if double down is not allowed, then follow the rules for standing.

3 blackjack basic strategy rules for doubling down on soft hands:

1. DOUBLE A7 thru A2 vs. dealer 5 or 6
2. DOUBLE A7 thru A4 vs. dealer 4
3. DOUBLE A7 thru A6 vs. dealer 3

Here is the section of the blackjack basic strategy chart that summarizes the above 3 rules:

Until next week, memorize the above 3 new blackjack basic strategy rules. This completes the rules for blackjack basic strategy. Next week we will do a review and put everything you learned so far together.