Strategy Chart

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart

By VectorLogic · Updated October 2026

Find your hand in the left column and the dealer's upcard along the top. Played perfectly, basic strategy cuts the house edge to about 0.5%.

Rules: 4–8 decks · dealer stands on soft 17 (S17) · double any two cards · double after split · no surrender · dealer peeks. See the surrender and H17 changes below.

Hard totals

A hard hand has no ace, or an ace that must count as 1.

Hard totals: your hand (rows) against the dealer's upcard (columns)
Hand2345678910A
17+SSSSSSSSSS
16SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
12HHSSSHHHHH
11DDDDDDDDDH
10DDDDDDDDHH
9HDDDDHHHHH
8HHHHHHHHHH

Soft totals

A soft hand has an ace that counts as 11 without busting, such as A,6 (soft 17).

Soft totals: hands with an ace counted as 11
Hand2345678910A
A,9SSSSSSSSSS
A,8SSSSSSSSSS
A,7SDsDsDsDsSSHHH
A,6HDDDDHHHHH
A,5HHDDDHHHHH
A,4HHDDDHHHHH
A,3HHHDDHHHHH
A,2HHHDDHHHHH

Pairs

Check this table first when your first two cards match. If the answer isn't split, play the hand by its total.

Pairs: when to split
Hand2345678910A
A,APPPPPPPPPP
10,10SSSSSSSSSS
9,9PPPPPSPPSS
8,8PPPPPPPPPP
7,7PPPPPPHHHH
6,6PPPPPHHHHH
5,5DDDDDDDDHH
4,4HHHPPHHHHH
3,3PPPPPPHHHH
2,2PPPPPPHHHH

From blackjackcounter.app: free card counting trainer for Android

Test yourself on every hand in the free basic strategy trainer.

How to use the chart

Basic strategy is the best play for every hand you can be dealt, worked out by computer simulation.

  1. If you hold a pair, check the pairs table first.
  2. If your hand has an ace counted as 11, use the soft totals table.
  3. Otherwise use the hard totals table.
  4. When the chart says double but doubling isn't allowed (for example after a third card), hit, or stand on Ds.

If late surrender is offered

Surrender gives up half your bet instead of playing the hand. Where the casino allows it after the dealer checks for blackjack, surrender:

Never surrender a pair of 8s in an S17 game; split them.

If the dealer hits soft 17 (H17)

H17 tables add about 0.2% to the house edge. Change these plays:

Count-based deviations

Card counters change a handful of plays when the count moves. These are Hi-Lo index plays: make the change when the true count is at or above the index. Counting Edge highlights them on its strategy chart in real time.

Hand vs dealerChangeTrue count
Insurance vs ATake insurance+3
16 vs 10Stand0
15 vs 10Stand+4
10,10 vs 5Split+5
10,10 vs 6Split+4
10 vs 10Double+4
10 vs ADouble+4
12 vs 3Stand+2
12 vs 2Stand+3
11 vs ADouble+1
9 vs 2Double+1
9 vs 7Double+3
16 vs 9Stand+5

These are the main plays. The Illustrious 18 page lists all 18, including the five that run below an index, plus the late surrender plays and the indexes converted for other counts.

New to counting? Start with the Hi-Lo system or the full beginner's guide.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Does basic strategy change with the number of decks?
Slightly. This chart is for 4 to 8 decks. Single- and double-deck games have a few different plays, mostly more doubling and splitting.
Can I use a basic strategy chart at the casino?
Most casinos allow a printed strategy card at the table as long as it doesn't slow the game. Policies vary, so check with the casino.
Should I ever take insurance?
Not with basic strategy alone. A Hi-Lo counter takes insurance when the true count is +3 or higher.
What is the house edge with perfect basic strategy?
About 0.5% in a 6-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17, blackjack pays 3:2 and doubling after splits is allowed. Worse rules, such as 6:5 blackjack, raise it.
Practice on Android

Drill It Until It's Automatic

Counting Edge shows this chart for your exact table rules, highlights count deviations at the current true count, and tracks the count while you practice. Free and open source.

Download APK — Free