blackjack

Because of the fact that the game of Blackjack involve player choice, the players can reduce the casino advantage, with optimal plays. This table represent what are the player's optimal plays when there are 3 or more decks, the dealer stands on soft 17, double on any 2 cards, double after split allowed, the dealer peeks for blackjack and the blackjack pays 3:2.

Legend:
- S: Stand
- H: Hit
- SP: Split
- SU: Surrender( if not allowed, then hit )
- Dh:Double( if not allowed, then hit )
- Ds: Double( if not allowed then stand )
Some of the casinos hit on soft 17, in such case this strategy requires a slight change to be made - double on 11 vs A, double on A/7 vs 2 and double on A/8 vs 6.

This is strategy in which the player keep track of the cards which have been played and so he is aware to some point if the cards remaining in the deck are in his advance. For example the player can make a large bet when he has the advantage or with the knowledge of the remaining cards in the deck he can improve the basic strategy. This card counting strategy requires practice and the player must understand and use the basic strategy very well.
There is no require for the player to remember all the cards which have been played. He must establish some kind of a point system for the cards and remember the point count.
The most important principle when card counting is that a deck rich in tens and aces or a deck with small cards is in a advance to the player.
Although that in many casinos the card counting is legal, they have the right to ban a player who is counting, also the use of electronic or counting devices is illegal.

When the blackjack game is playing with multiple decks, this tracking can be very useful to the player and give him a advantage over the casino. During the play the player keeps track of group of cards (aka slugs, packs or clumps) during the play of the shoe, the shuffle and then playing and betting accordingly when those cards came into play. This kind of tracking is far more difficult to master and requires a skillful player, but with it the player has bigger chance of winning and it can fool the casinos employees who are watching the player moves when there is a chance of him to be counting.