Not only is Blackjack one of the most thrilling online casino games currently in operation but it also offers a much lower house edge, resulting in a lower betting risk for players.
Blackjack is all about having a solid strategy. If you have ever played a round of blackjack online then you’ll know that some strategic moves are pretty difficult to implement.
But if you want to optimize gameplay and maximize your winnings with a 4-8 Blackjack deck, you need to have a strategy in place. Here’s all the information you need to know.
What Is A Blackjack Strategy Chart?
A Blackjack chart showcases the ideal actions for different hands in the game. It typically shows the player’s hole cards, the dealer’s upright cards, and the action a player is recommended to take.
Classic blackjack has different strategy charts for single-deck, double-deck, 4, 5, 6, and 8-deck versions. If followed properly, Blackjack charts might reduce the house edge to just 0.5% which is pretty impressive.
How To Read It
When reading a Blackjack chart, you’ll see the rows represent the player’s hand while the columns represent the dealers’ up cards. Then, dispersed among the columns and rows of the charts, you’ll find multiple options in Blackjack such as hitting.
Actions
- H – If a hit is needed
- S – If a stand is the best course of action
- Dh – This means to double if possible, otherwise, you should hit
- Ds – Double if possible, otherwise, you should stand
- P – Immediately split any pairs
- Ph – If allowed to split after double, immediately split, otherwise you should hit
- Rs – This means to surrender if it is possible, otherwise make a hit
- Rp – This means to surrender if it’s possible, otherwise choose to split
Why Choose To Follow A 4-Deck To 8-Deck Strategy?
In layman’s terms, the fewer the decks, the better the odds will be for a player. As a result, it’s better to play Blackjack with fewer decks. This means playing 4 and 8-deck blackjack tables is extremely ideal.
All 4-8 deck charts are similar to single deck charts and contain rules that aid you in playing the game. Essentially, they’re some of the easiest decks to learn strategy for!
Basic Blackjack Strategies — 4-8 Decks
We’re going to dive into a text analysis of the 4-Deck to 8-Deck Blackjack strategy chart below. There are two strategy charts that depend on whether the dealer stands or hits on soft 17.
Dealer Stands On Soft 17 — 4-8 Decks
If the dealer stands on soft 17, surrender in Blackjack is allowed.
This is only true if you can surrender a hard 16 (not consisting of two 8s) versus the dealer’s Ace, 10, or 9. It also applies if you hit a hard 15 versus the dealer’s 10.
According to strategies for 4-8 decks, the following information is true.
Splitting
- Aces and 8s can be split, but you cannot split 5s and 10s.
- All split 2s and 3s can be split against a dealer’s 4-7. They may also be split with 2 or 3 if a double after split (DAS) is permitted.
- The right time to split Blackjack pair of 4’s is whenever the dealer’s up card is 5 or 6.
- Blackjack pair of 6’s are a breaking hand and can be split whenever the upcard of a dealer is from 3 through to 6, or against a 2 if DAS is allowed.
- Split 7s against a dealer’s upcard of 2 through 7; otherwise hit.
- Splitting 9s is a strategic move versus any weak dealer upcards like 2-6 and 8.
Doubling
- Double a hard 9 against the dealer’s face-up card of 3-6.
- Always double hard 10 except against a dealer 10 or Ace.
- Double hard 11 except against the dealer’s Ace.
- Double the soft 13 or 14 against the dealer’s card of 5-6.
- Double a soft 15 or 16 when faced with the dealer’s 4-6.
- Double the soft 17 or 18 versus the dealer’s 3-6.
Hitting or Standing
- You should always aim to hit hard for 11 or fewer in any game of Blackjack. This is because it is a strong hand.
- Stand on a hard 12 directly against a dealer 4 to 6, otherwise, you should hit.
- Stand on hard 13-16 against the dealer 2-6, otherwise, you should hit.
- Always stand on hard 17 and above.
- Make sure to hit a soft 17 or any less.
- Stand on a soft 18 except hit against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace, and always stand on a soft 19 (or above).
Dealer Hits On Soft 17 – 4-8 Decks
There are a couple of strategic modifications you can make if the dealer winds up with a hit on soft 17.
- Surrender 15, 17, and a pair of 8s against the dealer’s Ace.
- Double 11 against the dealer’s Ace.
- Double soft 18 versus the dealer’s 2.
- Double soft 19 versus the dealer 6.
Summary
That concludes everything you need to know about the 4-Deck to 8-Deck Blackjack strategy. Once you’ve learned them, you can use these strategies in just about any set of circumstances and under different rules.
