Winning Blackjack Basic Strategy

What is basic strategy in blackjack? Why should I trust it? And why should I bother learning it?

In this video Colin explains what basic strategy is, why it's essential to learn, and why basic strategy alone is still not enough to gain the advantage over that casino.

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[michaelterryantoniades]

I tried this... i won £290 pounds. Thank you guys

[angusdillon]

The way I’ve found to learn this easily is to open up two internet tabs and put them side by side. On one you have BS, and another with some online blackjack game. Spend an hour just going through hands and using the chart. You’ll start to see some common patterns and quickly remember some common hands.
Then after, go in excel and make a blank BS sheet or if you have your own use that, then just start playing hands and filling it in as you go, trying to remember if you can along the way.
I think playing the game whilst you learn is great because it skips that weird phase of only knowing it purely on paper to putting it into practice in a game

[Savagemister]

After studying YOUR chart for 3 weeks to a month, I now KNOW IT backwards and front. THanks Colin for all your wisdom, sir. I also read your book too. Good stuff. I still can't retain a running count WHILE playing perfect basic strategy yet, but I'll get there.
UPDATE: I now CAN keep the running count while playing perfectly. I still lose the count if the dealer is super fast though.

[davidriddle]

Something I’m presently doing is, I created an excel sheet with the main 3 basic strategy tables. It’s a fill in the blanks kind of thing. I’ve been able to fit 4 tables on one sheet. So in addition to seeing it, I’m filling it in. If I find a spot I can’t remember, I study the crap out of that spot. Also when you write it down, your chances of retaining the info is so much better. Definitely helping out.

[greigclement]

I have been pleasantly surprised when the dealer busted a number of times when I stood on a 13 or 14, and my gambling nature wanted to hit. Even just playing B.S. for a short while before moving onto counting gives me confidence.

[robertcortez]

Thankyou blackjack apprenticeships! I usually play blackjack with my friends everyday for like $10 buy in and I’ve been winning $5 to $20 everyday! This is definitely a trustworthy channel to watch to learn how to play blackjack the write way without risking losing a lot of your money! Of course I’ve lost money a few times but if I lose money it’s usually just a few dollars and never the amount of my buy in. If you stick to playing the game without risking then you will most likely gain money in the long run just like I have!

[alwayscrazy]

"...cutting back your losses is just another way to win" --C. Lund

[richardbrantley]

Learning B.S. is brutal when I want to split/double, i just have to remind myself that it's not for the $ it's for the knowledge. I play your app and bought your book. Hopefully I can take one of your classes eventually. Thx

[dashx]

After my first trip to Las Vegas back in the '90s I took the time to learn basic strategy. One of the smartest things I ever did. It was fairly easy, and since then I've been able to play BJ on every trip to Las Vegas (I go twice a year) with confidence. Don't always win, obviously, but I always feel like I'm playing well. And that counts for a lot with me. One note for new basic strategy players: it can be frustrating to play at a table knowing basic strategy and have players act ahead of you completely out of line with it. I used to get frustrated. Just accept that, especially at low limit tables, there will be a lot of people who don't "play correctly." Their bad play is no more likely to hurt you than it is to help you. Just roll with it. You'll enjoy your play more that way.

[ZzafiroO]

Okay, today I learned how to play Basic Strategy, now I'm going to learn how to play Blackjack.

[EthanMendoza-ve]

Kept losing but eventually won about $400 in a 1 hour session due to your videos, Ty

[lennard]

Learned Basic Strategy in a few hours. It seemed difficult at first but its actually pretty easy.

[luogl]

Former card counter, being a day trader is much more fun, similar bankroll as BJ, pretty much same EV

[DragonPupEclipse]

Another good example for losing less $ is to always splits 8s against 9 through ACE. Yes, it's still not a winning hand but 16 is the worst hand in blackjack. In the long run you still lose $ but you lose less compare to hitting or standing on 8s.

[MrNathanbrand]

Basic strat has generated lots of ev for me over the years .... Sometimes it doesn't make sense hand by hand but over the long term it works ... Something BJ players need to learn .... BJ isn't hand by hand it's multiple shoes over and over

[ambergolden]

I turned $200 into $3800 using this tip. Thx so much

[hunterfigueroa]

Memorized basic strategy over an hour at work before going to the casino for the first time. Started with 100 dollars and pulled out when I hit $2000

[sujansubba]

So easy to memorize with common sense. I memorized first page eithin 30 min and used it on mobile game. Once I perfected it. I moved on to second and third chart. Overall, it took me less than 2hr to memorize it with common sense. You guys can memorize it in less time than me or little longer than me. Just try memorizing one at the time and move on to another as u master 1st one.

[EricSmythChrist]

What's the most positive running count you've ever seen? Surprised no one has asked this before

[bedrock_]

Stuck in my room with Covid so I decided to start learning this. Thanks!