If you are looking to play blackjack in either a live or online casino and get the best possible results, you should be prepared to spend some time learning the blackjack basic strategy, as well as some tricks to help you win the most in the game.
The truth is that knowing the blackjack basic strategy will save you thousands of dollars in your life if you play the game often.
Not only are you going to save a lot of money and make your life a lot easier, but you will also guarantee yourself more enjoyable winning nights and fewer frustrating losing sessions.
All of this will only come to fruition over the long run. However, anyone who plays blackjack even a couple of times per month should definitely know how to play the blackjack basic strategy.
In this guide, I will teach you this strategy and show you a blackjack strategy chart you can print and bring with you when playing. I’ll also help you understand why we make the plays we do and what their big advantage is.
What is Blackjack Basic Strategy?
The term basic strategy is used to describe a complex set of rules on how you should play your hands in different scenarios. The blackjack card I am going to show you includes all the possible scenarios of your two cards and the dealer's up-card, as well as the action you should take in each situation.
A thing worth noting is that this chart is made for your average game of blackjack, which uses 6-card decks in a shoe and has standard blackjack rules in place in most casinos. However, it is true that many casinos have certain deviations from these rules. This means that some deviations should also be made to the basic blackjack strategy to achieve the optimal result.
Even if you don’t make these slight modifications, you won’t be losing a lot of money because of it. Learning this blackjack chart by heart will give you a massive advantage over other players who play purely on intuition. Let us proceed to the actual chart and explain how to read it.
The Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart
It is time to get into the actual strategy and introduce the card that will be your main tool from now on.
The chart is split into three main sections.
- Hard Hands: Shows all the possible hands without an ace (or where the ace counts as 1) and cross-references them with the dealer's up-card.
- Soft Hands: Shows all the possible hands containing an ace (counted as 11) and cross-references them with the dealer's holdings.
- Pairs: Shows all the pairs you can be dealt and cross-references them against the dealer's up-card.
At the bottom, you will also find the convenient key to help you read the chart. You can learn it by heart or bring it with you when playing, as this is allowed in most casinos worldwide.
Blackjack Basic Strategy Summarized
The blackjack strategy chart holds all the plays you could ever need. However, trying to memorize every single box visually can be overwhelming. Instead, most successful players memorize standard phrases that cover the core situations.
Knowing these rules by heart will help you make a quick decision in 90% of situations without delaying the game. Here is what you should know at all times:
Hitting and Standing
- If you have a hard 11 or less, always hit.
- If you have a hard 12, stand against 4-6 and hit against all other cards.
- If you have a hard 13-16, stand against 2-6 and hit against all other cards.
- If you have a hard 17 or higher, always stand.
- If you have a soft 17 or less, always hit.
- If you have a soft 18, stand against all cards other than 9, 10, or Ace.
- If you have a soft 19 or 20, always stand.
Doubling Down
- Double your hard 9 against the dealer's 3-6.
- Double your hard 10, except against the dealer’s 10 or Ace.
- Double your hard 11, except against the dealer’s A.
- Double your soft 13 and 14 against the dealer’s 5-6.
- Double your soft 15 and 16 against the dealer’s 4-6.
- Double your soft 17 and 18 against the dealer’s 3-6.
Splitting Pairs
- Always split Aces (AA) and Eights (88) in all situations.
- Never split Tens (TT) or Fives (55).
- Split 22 and 33 against the dealer’s 4-7 (or against 2-3 if Double After Split – DAS is available).
- Split 44 only if DAS is available against the dealer’s 5 or 6.
- Split 66 against the dealer’s 3-6 (or against a 2 if DAS is available).
- Split 77 against the dealer’s 2-7.
- Split 99 against the dealer’s 2-6 and 8-9 (stand against a 7, 10, or Ace).
Surrender Rules
- Surrender hard 16 against the dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace.
- Surrender hard 15 against the dealer’s 10.
Note: If you have two small cards, such as a 2 and a 3 for a hard 5, you will always hit to get to one of the scenarios listed above. There is no reason to ever stand on a starting hand like 5.
10 Tips for Perfect Blackjack Strategy
Your journey to becoming a great player starts with learning the blackjack basic strategy, but it does not end there. Here are the top 10 tips to make you an even better player:
1. Never Take Insurance
The insurance option offered when the dealer is showing an ace is a mathematical trap. Always refuse insurance, let the dealer peek for a blackjack, and keep playing your hand according to the strategy. Making an insurance bet simply isn’t worth the cost over the long run.
2. Don't Worry About Other Players
Whether you hit, stand, double, or split, there will likely be a bystander who claims you made a mistake. Completely ignore such comments and keep playing perfect basic strategy. Their superstitious beliefs do not affect your mathematical odds.
3. Your Chances Are Always the Same
Many players believe in “streaks” or being “due to win” after losing a few hands in a row. From a logical point of view, this is entirely false. You are always just as likely to be dealt a winning hand or a losing one on the very next deal.
4. Stay Sober and Alert
Playing blackjack in an intoxicated or distracted state will cost you money. You must play the perfect blackjack basic strategy to maximize your winnings, which requires you to be sharp and 100% focused on the game.
5. Look for the Best Rules
Always look for the most favorable games. Try to find tables where the dealer stands on soft 17, and always insist on a game where blackjack pays 3:2 (avoid 6:5 tables at all costs).
If you can find a table that lets you double after splitting, that’s even better. Also, try to find a game with only a few decks in the shoe. If you can find a single deck blackjack game in a live casino, definitely play that one and learn how to count cards.
6. Make Use of Comps
In live casinos, always give the dealer your player's card to be rated. You will earn comp points while playing, which can be exchanged for chips, food, or hotel rooms. The more comps you get, the more you minimize the house edge.
7. Use Online Blackjack Promotions
Online players can take advantage of juicy deposit bonuses and blackjack-specific promotions. These boost your bankroll and give you an even better chance of walking away with a profit.
8. Never Deviate from the Strategy
The blackjack basic strategy you learned here is the absolute best way to play, period. Deviating from it because you have a “gut feeling” will only cost you money in the long run. Trust the math.
If you are “running bad,” keep playing the perfect strategy, and you will see things turn around as the variance will even out. If you simply aren’t feeling it, leave the casino and go home, rather than misplaying your hands and costing yourself money.
9. Bring Your Strategy Card
When playing live, it’s great to have a printed card on you. While you shouldn't stare at it for every single hand (which slows down the game), it is the perfect tool to freshen up your memory when a tricky situation arises.
10. Learn how to Count Cards
While not obligatory, card counting can give you an actual mathematical advantage over the casino. It is highly beneficial in single-deck games or games where the dealer rarely shuffles the shoe.
Start Playing with Blackjack Basic Strategy
I have covered all the ins and outs of the blackjack basic strategy in this guide. While the blackjack chart may take some time to memorize and get down to perfection, remember that simply learning the most common situations will be enough to reduce the house edge to well over 1%.
Once you get down all the tricks of the basic strategy, your disadvantage over the casino will be around 0.5%. These are the best possible odds you can hope for at the blackjack tables.
Make sure to also keep my top 10 tips for playing blackjack in mind, and think about using card counting techniques to some degree to reduce the house edge even further, or actually give yourself an advantage over the casinos.
If you want to learn more about specific games in the US, make sure to check a dedicated site for US online casinos.
Blackjack Basic Strategy FAQ
