Blackjack with basic strategy cuts the house edge to under 0.5%. This is the complete guide to every decision - when to hit, stand, double, and split.
Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal way to play every possible hand in blackjack. It was derived by computer simulation of millions of hands and tells you exactly what to do in any situation to minimise the house edge. With basic strategy, the house edge on most blackjack variants drops to 0.4% to 0.6%.
The Core Rules of Basic Strategy
The decisions are based on two things: your total and the dealer's upcard. Here are the fundamental rules:
Hard Hands (No Ace, or Ace counted as 1)
- Hard 8 or less: Always hit.
- Hard 9: Double if dealer shows 3-6, otherwise hit.
- Hard 10: Double if dealer shows 2-9, otherwise hit.
- Hard 11: Double always (except if dealer shows Ace - hit instead).
- Hard 12: Stand if dealer shows 4-6, otherwise hit.
- Hard 13-16: Stand if dealer shows 2-6, otherwise hit.
- Hard 17+: Always stand.
Soft Hands (Ace counted as 11)
- Soft 13-14 (A-2, A-3): Double if dealer shows 5-6, otherwise hit.
- Soft 15-16 (A-4, A-5): Double if dealer shows 4-6, otherwise hit.
- Soft 17 (A-6): Double if dealer shows 3-6, otherwise hit.
- Soft 18 (A-7): Stand vs 2, 7, 8. Double vs 3-6. Hit vs 9, 10, Ace.
- Soft 19+ (A-8, A-9): Always stand.
Pairs
- Aces and 8s: Always split.
- 10s: Never split (20 is too strong).
- 5s: Never split (treat as hard 10 - double if possible).
- 4s: Split only if dealer shows 5-6.
- 2s and 3s: Split if dealer shows 2-7, otherwise hit.
- 6s: Split if dealer shows 2-6, otherwise hit.
- 7s: Split if dealer shows 2-7, otherwise hit.
- 9s: Split if dealer shows 2-6 or 8-9. Stand vs 7, 10, Ace.
Why You Can Use Charts at Live Tables
Online blackjack and live blackjack games have no rule against using a strategy chart while you play. Keep a chart in another tab or printed beside your keyboard. Casinos accept this because basic strategy still gives them a positive edge - just a smaller one.
