Blackjack
Blackjack strategy
Blackjack has an element of player choice. Players can reduce casino advantage to a small percentage by playing basic strategy, which is keeped in internet blackjack. This strategy determines basic rules - in what cases you should hit or stand, when to double down or split.
It is based on the player’s point total and the dealer’s visible card.
There are slight variations depending on the house rules and number of decks.
| Your hand |
Dealer's face-up card |
| 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
| Hard totals |
| 17-20 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| 16 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
SU |
SU |
SU |
| 15 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
SU |
H |
| 13-14 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 12 |
H |
H |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 11 |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
H |
| 10 |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
H |
H |
| 9 |
H |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 5-8 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| Soft totals |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
| A,8 A,9 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| A,7 |
S |
Ds |
Ds |
Ds |
Ds |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
| A,6 |
H |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,4 A,5 |
H |
H |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,2 A,3 |
H |
H |
H |
Dh |
Dh |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| Pairs |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
| A,A |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
| 10,10 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| 9,9 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
S |
SP |
SP |
S |
S |
| 8,8 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
| 7,7 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 6,6 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 5,5 |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
Dh |
H |
H |
| 4,4 |
H |
H |
H |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| 2,2 3,3 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
The above is a basic strategy table for 3 or more decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double on any 2 cards, double after split allowed, dealer peeks for blackjack, and blackjack pays 3:2. Key:
- S = Stand
- H = Hit
- Dh = Double (if not allowed then hit)
- Ds = Double (if not allowed then stand)
- SP = Split
- SU = Surrender (if not allowed, then hit)
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