|
|
|
Basic Blackjack Strategy
The basic blackjack strategy is the optimum way to play your hand if you are not
counting cards. This strategy is derived by computer simulation where the
computer deals out millions of hands, plays them in all possible ways, and then
records and analyzes the results. The basic strategy is not based on guesswork
or hunches. It is the mathematically correct way to play your hand against every
dealer's upcard.
What does the basic strategy get you?
The casino's initial edge in the
game of blackjack is about 5.75%, which includes the 3 to 2 payoff on player
blackjacks. By employing the correct basic strategy plays it is possible to
whittle down the casino's edge to about 0.5%. |
 |
Initial casino's edge 5.75%
Correct hitting and standing -3.25%
Correct doubling -1.5%
Correct pair splitting -0.5%
Casino's edge with basic strategy 0.5%
Of course it's possible to lower the casino's edge to less than 0.5% by playing
in games that have very favorable rules. One of the best blackjack games is
offered at the Slots-A- Fun Casino in Las Vegas. Here they deal a single deck
game with the dealer standing on soft 17 and double after pair splitting is
allowed. A basic strategy player has in fact a slight edge against the casino
(ca. 0.1%) in this game
The basic playing strategy is slightly dependent on the number of decks of
cards. Thus the basic strategy for a single deck game is slightly different than
a six deck game. For simplicity the table below summarizes the basic strategy
rules that you can use for any number of decks.
To use the table, go across the top to find the dealer's upcard and go down the
first column and find your hand. Where the row and column intersect you'll find
the correct basic strategy play. The strategy assumes that doubling after pair
splitting is allowed (see bottom of chart for deviations if doubling after pair
splitting is not allowed).
Generic Basic Strategy
H=hit
S=stand
D=double down
P=pair split
Su=surrender
X/Y=Do X if allowed, otherwise do Y
| |
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
A
|
|
17
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
16
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
Su/H
|
Su/H
|
Su/H
|
|
15
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
Su/H
|
H
|
|
14
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
13
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
12
|
H
|
H
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
11
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
|
10
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
|
9
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
8
or
less
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 19
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
Soft 18
|
S
|
D/S
|
D/S
|
D/S
|
D/S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 17
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 16
|
H
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 15
|
H
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 14
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
Soft 13
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
D/H
|
D/H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
2,2
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
33
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
44
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
55
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
H
|
H
|
|
66
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
77
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
88
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
|
99
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
S
|
SP
|
SP
|
S
|
S
|
|
1010
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
AA
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
Never take insurance!
If double after pair splitting is not permitted use these rules for pair
splitting.
|
22
|
H
|
H
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
33
|
H
|
H
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
44
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
55
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
H
|
H
|
|
66
|
H
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
77
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
88
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
|
99
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
S
|
SP
|
SP
|
S
|
S
|
|
1010
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
AA
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
|
SP
| | |
