A strategy that bases decisions on the total number of cards dealt in blackjack. It is a strategy that involves a standardized set of playing decisions based solely on the player’s hand total and the dealer’s upcard, without factoring in the specific composition of the cards (like distinguishing between a 16 made of 10-6 versus 8-8). It’s a mathematically optimized guide that tells you the best action—hit, stand, double, split, or surrender—to minimize the house edge, assuming a fixed set of rules (e.g., dealer stands on soft 17).
For example, If your total is 16 and the dealer shows a 10, the basic strategy says “hit” (because standing risks losing to a dealer’s likely 20, and hitting gives a shot at improving). However, If your total is 11 and the dealer shows a 6, you’d “double down” (bet more and take one card) since the dealer’s weak upcard might bust.
This contrasts with the “composition-dependent strategy,” which tweaks decisions based on exact card makeup (e.g., splitting 8-8 against a 10 but not 16 as 10-6). Total-dependent strategy is simpler, widely taught, and good enough for most players—it’s the foundation before you get into card counting or advanced play.
