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Blackjack Strategy Guides

Free guides to the trickiest parts of blackjack basic strategy.

Basic strategy in one paragraph

Blackjack basic strategy is the best way to play every hand based on your cards and the dealer's face-up card. It is worked out by maths, not guesswork, and it gives the lowest house edge you can get without counting cards. The guides below cover the parts people find hardest. To look up a single hand, use the blackjack calculator, and to test yourself, try the strategy trainer.

Guides

Blackjack basic strategy chartA printable chart for hard totals, soft totals and pairs that changes with your table rules.16 against a dealer 10Hit, stand or surrender? The numbers behind blackjack's most famous decision.Soft hands strategyHow to play soft 13 to soft 20, such as ace and 7 or ace and 6.When to split pairsWhich pairs to split against each dealer card, and which never to split.When to surrenderThe few hands where giving up half your bet is the best move.Dealer hits or stands on soft 17What the rule changes and which plays are different.

Quick rules to remember

  • Always split aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s.
  • Always stand on hard 17 or more.
  • Double 11 against a dealer 2 to 10, and 10 against a dealer 2 to 9.
  • Stand on 12 to 16 against a dealer 2 to 6 (12 against a 2 or 3 is a hit). Hit them against a 7 or higher.
  • Never hit hard 17 or stand on soft 17. Never take insurance.

The strategy chart has every hand and lets you print it.

Check any hand in the calculator

Choose the dealer's card and your cards to see the best move for your table rules.

Blackjack calculatorStrategy trainer

Frequently asked questions

What is blackjack basic strategy?

It is the mathematically best way to play each hand, given your cards and the dealer's card. It cuts the house edge to its lowest level without card counting.

Does basic strategy guarantee I will win?

No. Blackjack always has a house edge, and results over a few hands are mostly luck. Basic strategy reduces the edge but cannot remove it.

Do I need to memorise the whole chart?

You can use a printed chart or this calculator at first. Most people learn the common hands quickly with practice, and the strategy trainer helps with that.