Blackjack learning guide

Blackjack Basic Strategy: Make the Correct Playing Decision

Basic strategy is a rule-based way to choose how to play a hand from the player’s cards, the dealer’s visible card and the table rules. It replaces guessing with repeatable decisions.

The four core decisions

Hit: take another card.
Stand: keep the current total.
Double: double the wager and receive one final card when the rules permit it.
Split: separate a pair into two hands when the rules permit it.

Why the table rules matter

The correct decision can change with the number of decks, whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17, and the available doubling and splitting rules. Use a strategy table that matches the game being practised.

A disciplined practice routine

Identify whether the hand is hard, soft or a pair.
Compare it with the dealer’s visible card.
Make the strategy-table decision before looking at the result.
Review mistakes by decision type rather than by whether one hand won or lost.

What basic strategy can and cannot do

Basic strategy reduces avoidable decision errors compared with improvised play. It does not predict the next card, guarantee a winning session or eliminate the house edge.

Two complete strategy charts

Choose the chart that matches the table. The same hand can require a different decision when the dealer does not check for blackjack before you act.

Find your hand on the left, then follow the column for the dealer’s visible card.

HHitSStandDDouble; otherwise hitPSplit

European — no hole card

6 decks · dealer stands on soft 17 · double only on hard 9–11 · double after split · no peek · no surrender · blackjack pays 3:2

Hard totals

Your hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
5–8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13–16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
17+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Soft totals

Your hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
A,2–A,6	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
A,7	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H
A,8–A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Pairs

Your hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
2,2–3,3	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
5,5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
6,6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	H

American — dealer peek

6 decks · dealer stands on soft 17 · double on any first two cards · double after split · dealer peeks · no surrender · blackjack pays 3:2

Hard totals

Your hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
5–8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13–16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
17+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Soft totals

Your hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
A,2–A,3	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4–A,5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
A,8–A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Pairs

Your hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
2,2–3,3	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
5,5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
6,6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

If splitting is unavailable, play the hand as a hard total.

The percentages apply only to the listed rules and assume every decision is played correctly. Different payouts or rules change the result; the chart reduces the house edge but never creates a guaranteed profit.

Put disciplined practice into action

Use virtual results, review every hand and compare structured methods without risking real money.