Complete Blackjack Basic Strategy Guide
Master blackjack basic strategy with our complete strategy chart covering every possible hand combination against every dealer upcard.
What Is Basic Strategy?
Basic strategy is a mathematically proven method for playing every blackjack hand optimally. It was developed through computer simulations of millions of hands and tells you the statistically best action for every combination of player hand and dealer upcard. Following it reduces the house edge to approximately 0.5%.
Hard Hands Strategy
With hard totals (no ace counting as 11): always stand on 17 or higher. Always hit on 8 or lower. Double on 10 or 11 if your total beats the dealer's upcard. With 12-16, hit against dealer 7 or higher, stand against dealer 2-6.
Soft Hands Strategy
A soft hand contains an ace counting as 11. Soft 17 (A-6) should always be hit or doubled. Soft 18 (A-7) is trickier: stand against 2, 7, 8; double against 3-6; hit against 9, 10, A. Soft 19 and 20 should always be stood on.
When to Split Pairs
Always split aces and eights. Never split tens or fives. Split twos, threes, sixes, sevens against dealer 2-7. Split fours only against dealer 5-6. Split nines against everything except 7, 10, and A (stand on those).
Practice Makes Perfect
Memorize the strategy chart by category: hard hands, soft hands, and pairs. Use free online blackjack games to practice until the decisions become automatic. Even small deviations from basic strategy increase the house edge significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written by
Michael Thompson
15y expMichael is a veteran of the American online gambling industry with 15 years covering state-by-state regulation. He is an authority on the patchwork of US gambling laws and their evolution since PASPA's repeal. His analysis helps American players navigate the complex state licensing landscape.