What basic strategy is
Computer simulations of millions of hands found the action that loses least in each situation: hit, stand, double, split or, where offered, surrender. The result is a chart. It does not beat the casino. It makes every decision the cheapest one available.
The gap is real money. At $10 a hand and 60 hands an hour, $600 goes through the table each hour. At a 0.5% edge you lose about $3 an hour on average; at 3% from guesswork, about $18.
Reading the chart
Find your hand down the side and the dealer's up-card across the top. The chart below assumes four to eight decks, the dealer standing on soft 17 and doubling after a split allowed.
| Your hand | Dealer 2 to 6 | Dealer 7 to ace |
|---|---|---|
| 8 or less | Hit | Hit |
| 9 | Double against 3 to 6, otherwise hit | Hit |
| 10 | Double | Double against 7 to 9, hit against 10 or ace |
| 11 | Double | Double, hit against an ace |
| 12 | Stand against 4 to 6, hit against 2 or 3 | Hit |
| 13 to 16 | Stand | Hit (surrender 16 against 9, 10 or ace if allowed) |
| 17 or more | Stand | Stand |
Soft totals and pairs
- Soft 13 to 18: double against a dealer 4 to 6 where allowed, otherwise hit, and stand on soft 18 against 2, 7 and 8.
- Soft 19 and 20: stand.
- Always split aces and eights. Never split tens or fives.
- Split twos, threes and sevens against a dealer 2 to 7.
Table rules that move the house edge
| Rule | Better for you | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack payout | 3:2 | 6:5 adds about 1.39% |
| Dealer on soft 17 | Stands | Hitting adds about 0.2% |
| Double after split | Allowed | Not allowed adds about 0.14% |
| Late surrender | Offered | Saves about 0.08% |
| Decks | Fewer | Eight decks cost about 0.5% more than one |
Check the payout first. A 3:2 table pays $7.50 on a $5 blackjack, a 6:5 table pays $6. That one change costs more than every other rule on the list together, and no strategy wins it back.
The chart shifts a little with the rules. When the dealer hits soft 17, doubling 11 against an ace becomes correct. Without double after split, 4-4 against a 5 or 6 becomes a hit.
Live dealer and RNG blackjack
The same chart works for both. RNG tables reshuffle after every hand and deal far faster, so the same stake costs more per hour. Live tables deal roughly 30 to 60 hands an hour and most cut the shoe early, which makes card counting impractical online.
Side bets such as Perfect Pairs or 21+3 carry a much higher house edge than the main hand. Our new blackjack sites page shows where to find tables at new casinos.
Bets, insurance and bonuses
- Bet the same amount each hand. Doubling after a loss needs a huge bankroll and runs into the table maximum.
- Turn down insurance. It pays 2:1 but wins only about 31% of the time from a full shoe.
- Take a budget of at least 50 bets: $250 for $5 hands.
- Stop when you reach the loss limit you set before the session.
Blackjack often counts 10% or less toward bonus wagering, or nothing at all. Read the game contribution table first; our guide to casino terms and conditions shows where to find it.
Bonus eligibility changes the value of a blackjack session. Compare the new casino bonuses against each offer's game contribution, wagering multiple and expiry before opting in.