Can You Win Blackjack Playing Basic Strategy?

It is often said that the best way to win at Blackjack is by using basic strategy. This is a set of rules that tells you when to hit, stand, double down, and split pairs.

While it is true that following these rules will give you the best chance to win, there is no guarantee that you will actually win every time you play.

The reason basic strategy works is because it takes into account all of the possible combinations of cards that could come up in a hand, and then tells you the mathematically optimal way to play each one. However, even with this information, there is still a element of chance involved.

For example, say you are dealt a hand with a 9 and a 5. According to basic strategy, you should double down in this situation.

However, there is no guarantee that you will be dealt another 9 or 5. You could just as easily be dealt a 2 or a 3, which would leave you in a losing situation.

Or, say you are dealt a hand with an Ace and a 6. Basic strategy says to stand in this situation.

However, if the dealer is showing a 7 or higher, there is a good chance they will beat you. Again, while following basic strategy gives you the best chance to win, there is no guarantee that you will actually win every time.

So, can you win Blackjack playing basic strategy? While it certainly gives you the best chance to win, there is no guarantee that you will actually come out ahead every time you play. Ultimately, whether or not you win comes down to luck as much as anything else.