Blackjack Basic Strategy
Master the optimal play for every hand with our interactive strategy charts
Hard Hands Strategy
Hard hands are hands without an Ace, or hands where the Ace counts as 1. Click on any cell to see the reasoning behind the decision.
| Player Hand |
2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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A
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Soft Hands Strategy
Soft hands contain an Ace that can be counted as 11 without busting. These hands offer more flexibility in your playing decisions.
| Player Hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
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Pairs Strategy
When you're dealt a pair, you have the option to split them into two separate hands. Use this chart to determine when splitting is the optimal play.
| Player Pair | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
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Understanding Basic Strategy
What is Basic Strategy?
Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal way to play every hand in blackjack. It's based on computer simulations of millions of hands and gives you the best chance of winning in the long run.
Action Abbreviations
Take another card
Keep your current hand
Double your bet and take exactly one more card
Split pairs into two separate hands
Give up half your bet and fold
Double if allowed, otherwise hit
Why Use Basic Strategy?
- Reduces the house edge to approximately 0.5%
- Provides consistent, optimal decisions
- Forms the foundation for card counting
- Maximizes your long-term winnings
Pro Tips
Practice Makes Perfect
Use our counting trainer to practice basic strategy decisions until they become second nature.
Memorization Tricks
Start with the most common situations: always split Aces and 8s, never split 10s or 5s.
House Rules Matter
Basic strategy can vary slightly based on specific casino rules like dealer hits soft 17.