Blackjack Basic Strategy: Hit, Stand, Double, Split

What basic strategy is and is not

Basic strategy tells you whether to hit, stand, double down or split for each combination of your hand and the dealer's visible card. It does not predict the next card. It chooses the play with the best average result for the situation you are in.

Used correctly, it reduces the casino's advantage compared with playing by instinct. It does not turn the game around. Our probability basics piece explains why a lower edge is still an edge, and our live blackjack guide covers the table rules and bets.

The core rules in plain language

Think in terms of the dealer's upcard. A dealer showing a low card, from 2 to 6, is more likely to bust, so you can stand on lower totals. A dealer showing a 7 or higher is more likely to finish with a strong hand, so you need to improve weak totals.

Hard totals are hands without an ace counted as 11. With a hard 8 or less, hit. With 17 or more, stand. With 12 to 16, stand against a weak dealer card and hit against a strong one. With 11, double down against most dealer cards, and with 10 double unless the dealer shows a ten or ace.

Soft hands and pairs

A soft hand contains an ace counted as 11, so it cannot bust on the next card. Soft totals up to 17 are usually hit, and low soft hands can be doubled against weak dealer cards. A soft 18 or more is normally a stand, with some exceptions against strong dealer cards.

For pairs, a few rules cover most situations. Always split aces and eights. Never split tens, since twenty is already a strong hand, and never split fives, which are better played as a ten for doubling. Other pairs depend on the dealer's card and on whether doubling after a split is allowed. Check the table rules on screen.

Things that change the chart

Table rules shift the best play. Whether the dealer stands or hits on soft 17, how many decks are used, whether doubling after splitting is allowed and what blackjack pays all matter. A table that pays less for a natural blackjack is worse for you. Read the rules on the table before sitting.

Also ignore insurance and most side bets as a habit. They are built with larger house edges than the main game. If you want a printable chart, search for one that matches the exact rules shown at your table, and keep it open as a guide.

• Check the payout for blackjack before you sit
• Check whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17
• Avoid insurance as a default
• Use a chart matching the table's rules

Strategy cannot fix a bad session

Even perfect play loses plenty of hands. Streaks of losses are normal, and nothing in a chart prevents them. Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and treat the time as paid entertainment. Betting systems that raise stakes after losses do not improve your play, as our Fibonacci betting article shows. If you notice frustration building, take a break and read about spotting tilt.