Blackjack Cheat Sheet: Tool to Improve Your Game

Blackjack is by far one of the most popular casino games. Its popularity owes to a low house edge and the fact that it can be beaten. If you are planning to become a serious Blackjack player who takes advantage of the possibility to minimize the house edge, you have to be ready to learn. And there is a lot to learn, starting off with the game’s basics and a proper strategy to using all the tools and techniques that can help you master your skills. In this article, we will cover the Blackjack cheat sheet which proves to be a powerful tool that can help you improve your game.

What is Blackjack Cheat Sheet?

Blackjack cheat sheets or strategy charts are charts that show you how you should act depending on the cards you and the dealer have been dealt. They are here to help us understand the basic strategy of each and every Blackjack variant. That means that you can use them for both single-deck and multiple-deck Blackjack games.

They are simple to use once you learn how to read them. In addition, you will have to learn them by heart as casinos do not welcome using them at tables. However, if you play Blackjack online, you can open the chart in a new tab and refer to it before you make your moves.    

Abbreviations You Need to Know

At first, Blackjack strategy charts may seem confusing or even intimidating. All you can see is an array of columns and rows filled with some capital letters. These letters are key to your success at the game of Blackjack. That’s the first thing you should learn about Blackjack cheat sheet, so let’s move on to the abbreviations.   

• H stands for Hit: When you see this letter, you should take another card.
• S stands for Stand: You should keep your hand with no new cards added.
• D stands for Double Down: This move is not always possible though. Most Blackjack variants allow you to double down on the first two cards only. Sometimes, it is possible to double down after splitting while some games allow this move only when a total of your first two cards is 10 or 11.
• P stands for Split: One of the first things you will learn as a Blackjack player is that you should always split Aces and eights.
• D/H stands for Double Down if possible otherwise Hit.
• D/S stands for Double Down if possible otherwise Stand.
• P/H stands for Split if possible otherwise Hit.
• R/H stands for Surrender if possible otherwise Hit.
• R/S stands for Surrender if possible otherwise Stand.
• R/P stands for Surrender if possible otherwise Split.

How to Use Blackjack Cheat Sheet

Once you have learned all the abbreviations, make sure to understand what columns and rows represent. In the first column, you will find the player’s possible hands while the first row contains the dealer’s possible hands. In the place where they intersect, you will find the best move you can make.

Keep in mind that Blackjack cheat sheet suggests different moves depending on the number of card decks in play. A rule that can also affect the gameplay and your next move will depend on is whether the dealer stands or hits on soft 17. When you find the appropriate chart for the game you play, print it or keep it open in another tab in your browser. You should always start practising with RNG-operated Blackjack games in free-play mode. Although they are not as exciting as those operated by real-life dealers, they allow you to practice and apply the moves suggested by strategy charts.

Closing Thoughts

The biggest advantage of using Blackjack cheat sheet is in the fact that it digests the optimal Blackjack strategy for you. By using them, you will learn how to act in different situations thus reducing the house edge. Be prepared to spend weeks or even months to learn all you should know and hone your skills before you start wagering larger amounts of money.

As we have mentioned above, start with the free-play mode. It will allow you to have a peek into the right strategy chart before you make a move and keep in mind that practice makes perfect. When playing live dealer games not only that you have to wager real money, but you also have to complete your moves within a given amount of time, which means that you cannot analyze the strategy chart during the gameplay.

In a nutshell, if you want to become a Blackjack pro, after you have learned the game’s basic rules, start learning the basic strategy and using the Blackjack cheat sheet. Finally, you should master card counting techniques that can make a big difference.