What changed: — Corrected the arithmetic of the second run: with the CA$175 extra for blackjacks it won CA$3,985, and the number of naturals doesn't depend on strategy. The second run is now described as decisions made by feel without a chart (truly random play would lose far more), and we note that with doubles and splits allowed the strategy result would be better still.
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1,000 Hands With and Without Basic Strategy: Here's What We Got
We played 1,000 hands at CA$10 twice — once by basic strategy and once by feel, without a chart — with the same CA$10,000 in turnover. The gap between the results turned out to be threefold. Here are the numbers and what they mean.
In blackjack, as in any gambling game, winning comes down to luck — but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do everything you can to nudge the odds in your favour. Blackjack has what's called basic strategy: it tells you the play with the best expected return in every situation (though never a guaranteed win). To keep the simulation clean, we didn't double down or split, so the house edge came out higher than in real play. With doubles and splits allowed, the strategy result would be better still — so treat the gap between the two runs as indicative, not exact.
Basic strategy: the result over 1,000 runs
The casino has to stay ahead no matter what, so over the long run you'll lose a small share of your turnover even while making the mathematically best decisions. But basic strategy at least lets you lose as little as possible — and with a low average expected loss, you still have a solid shot at finishing any single session in the black.
Our result over 1,000 runs of CA$10 each: regular wins — 421 (+CA$4,210), including blackjacks paid at 3:2 — 47 (+CA$235 extra), losses — 488 (−CA$4,880), pushes — 91 (no effect on the balance).
Basic strategy didn't save us from a negative result, but it minimized the losses: on CA$10,000 of turnover we lost CA$4,880 but won back CA$4,445. The bottom line came to −CA$435.
Blackjack without basic strategy: what 1,000 runs showed
In effect, any deviation from basic strategy lowers the expected return of a hand, even if it doesn't wipe out your chances. Betting the same CA$10, we played by feel, without a chart — hitting or standing as it seemed right — and got this result: regular wins — 381 (+CA$3,810), including blackjacks paid at 3:2 — 35 (+CA$175 extra), losses — 548 (−CA$5,480), pushes — 71 (no effect on the balance).
With the same CA$10,000 in turnover, we won CA$3,985 in total (CA$3,810 on regular wins plus CA$175 extra for blackjacks) and lost CA$5,480. That leaves the balance CA$1,495 in the red.
Two runs, one turnover
Comparison and takeaway
In our case, basic strategy sharply reduced the losses because every choice landed on the play with the best expected return. The different number of blackjacks (47 vs 35) is down to the deal alone: a natural is dealt before you make any decision, so strategy can't affect it.
1,000 hands, side by side
The same CA$10,000 in turnover (1,000 hands at CA$10), two different approaches to decisions.
| Metric | Basic strategy | By feel (no chart) |
|---|---|---|
| Wins (blackjacks included) | 421 (47) | 381 (35) |
| Losses | 488 | 548 |
| Pushes | 91 | 71 |
| Financial result | −CA$435 | −CA$1,495 |
This result won't repeat itself every session, but it makes one thing clear: basic strategy lets you cut your blackjack losses by a wide margin. In our case, it cut the amount lost over 1,000 hands threefold.