The entire idea behind a strategy of blackjack is to reduce the house edge to a point at which the player has a better chance of winning than before. While there are several methods that people claim will work to do this, there is only one way to do it successfully--remember the odds involved with the game and use them to your advantage. The following information will help you learn how to win more often thanks to a sound blackjack strategy.

The Mathematics behind Blackjack

At its roots, blackjack is nothing more than a complex mathematical system. Scientists and card sharks alike have used multiple different computer programs to simulate the game and all of its possible outcomes in hopes of creating a fail-proof blackjack strategy. Although there is no strategy that can guarantee a player a win 100% of the time, it is possible to reduce the house edge to as little as 0.5% when an odds chart is used and followed exactly. Players who play online can use this chart easily, but those who want to play in a land-based casino will be required to practice and memorize these charts.

What the Charts Do

Blackjack charts are designed to help players make better decisions when it comes to hitting, standing, doubling, splitting and more based upon the sheer mathematics of the game and the odds of getting a positive outcome. It is important to note that these charts will vary somewhat based upon the number of decks that are in the shoe and the point at which the shoe is replaced. After all, odds will vary when playing an eight-deck shoe as opposed to a two-deck shoe simply because there are more cards involved.

A Basic Strategy

As a basic strategy and something that most blackjack players will do well to remember, these odds charts generally state that the dealer is likely to bust if his or her up-card is a three through six and that the player should stand on a total of 13 through 16 in this case. This is also derived from the fact that the dealer is typically required to stand on a soft 17 or hit on a soft 16, as well. However, if the player has the same 13 through 16 total and the dealer has a seven through 10 showing, then the player is advised to hit.

Luck vs. Skill

While a great deal of blackjack has to do with luck--after all, a player cannot control the cards that he or she is dealt--another great portion of the game is the strategy that is being used. It is guaranteed that a player who goes into a game without a strategy will likely lose more money than a player who goes into a game after having practiced a tested strategy of blackjack. Remember, strategy is nothing more than odds and calculations, and a blackjack chart is a great way to learn these odds.