The table tells you what action to take for individual combinations of cards on the table. The table’s top row shows the value of the dealer’s card-that is, the card you can see. That number will grow of course, since during the game you usually draw other cards. The far left column shows the values of the cards in your hand. It tells you how to play at any given moment. The foundation of the basic strategy is the blackjack table. Once you are able to follow it, you are in the clear. That’s because thanks to computer simulations there’s a proven method that’s simple and lets you correctly react to almost any game situation.
Just by perfectly mastering the basic game strategy, players achieve an average return of 99.5%. Those who play blackjack professionally do come out ahead.
