Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart

What basic strategy is

Basic strategy is the mathematically best way to play every possible hand, given your cards and the dealer's up card. Computers worked it out by playing out billions of hands, so no guessing is involved. For each combination, one action has the highest expected return: hit, stand, double, split, or surrender.

It does not let you beat the casino. It shrinks the house edge to roughly 0.5% in a typical good game. The average player, relying on gut feeling, gives up about 2%. That gap is what you are here to close.

The chart

The chart below is for a 6-deck game. Find your hand on the left, find the dealer's up card across the top, and read where they meet.

How to read a chart

A chart has three sections, and you only use one at a time.

Hard totals

A hard hand has no ace, or has an ace that must count as 1. Hard 12 through 16 is the awkward zone: you stand against a weak dealer card (2 to 6 for most totals) and hit against a strong one (7 through ace).

Soft totals

A soft hand contains an ace counted as 11. A,6 is soft 17. You cannot bust with one hit, so you can be bolder here, and many soft hands are doubled against weak dealer cards.

Pairs

Check the pairs section first when you hold two cards of the same value. It tells you whether to split. If the chart says not to split, play the hand as a hard or soft total instead. Two fives play as hard 10, and two tens stay as a hard 20.

What the codes mean

• H: hit.
• S: stand.
• D: double down; if doubling is not allowed, hit.
• Ds: double if allowed, otherwise stand.
• P: split. Some cells say to split only if double after split is allowed. See double after split.
• Rh, Rs, Rp: surrender if the table allows it, otherwise hit, stand or split. See surrender.

How the rules change the chart

Basic strategy is not one chart. It is a family of charts. Three things shift it most:

• Number of decks. Fewer decks change a handful of doubles and splits. See the single deck, double deck and 6 and 8 deck pages.
• Dealer hits or stands on soft 17. This changes a few plays, such as doubling 11 against an ace. Details on the dealer hits soft 17 page.
• Double and surrender rules. If your table limits doubling, or offers surrender, some cells change.

The trainer reads your Settings and shows the chart that matches. Use the chart for your game, not a generic one.

How to memorize it

Do not try to memorize every cell. Learn the logic and the chart falls into place.

1. Dealer 2 to 6 is weak. The dealer busts often, so you stand on lower totals (12 to 16 against 4 to 6) and double more.
2. Dealer 7 to ace is strong. Assume the dealer makes a hand, so you hit until you reach 17.
3. Double when you are ahead. Hard 11 and 10 are the best doubling hands. Soft hands double against the weak cards.
4. Always split aces and eights. Never split tens or fives.

Then drill. Ten minutes a day in the trainer beats an hour of staring at the chart once. Start with the hands people miss most, listed on the misplayed hands page.

Common questions

Is basic strategy the same everywhere?

No. It changes with the number of decks, the soft 17 rule, and a few other rules. Always use the chart that matches your game.

Can I bring a chart to the table?

Many casinos tolerate a printed strategy card at the table, but policies vary, so ask first.

Does basic strategy guarantee I win?

No. It minimizes the house edge, but you will still lose over time and have losing sessions. It is the best way to play, not a winning system.

Should I ever deviate from the chart?

Only if you are counting cards, and then only in specific situations. For everyone else, following the chart exactly gives the best result.

Practice it in the free trainer →