The Best Blackjack Strategies
In Blackjack a lot depends upon player's choice, thus a player can reduce the house advantage to less than 1%. The system of best optimal player choices is called a basic strategy. Most of the Best Blackjack Strategies' charts differ in number of the decks used and in other specific rules; however the chart below can be optimal for practically any game of Blackjack, as it is based on the best Best Blackjack Strategies.
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 |
This Best Blackjack Strategies table is for 3 or more decks, when dealer stands on soft 17's, double is allowed on any 2 cards, doubling after split is allowed, dealer peeks for blackjack, and blackjack pays 3:2.
Abbreviations used in the Best Blackjack Strategies charts:
- 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)
In most Las Vegas strip casinos dealer hits on soft 17. This rule variation requires a basic strategy table that differs a bit-- double on 11 vs dealer's A, double on A/7 vs dealer's 2, and double on A/8 vs dealer's 6. However, in most casinos outside of Vegas dealers still stand on soft 17.
Best Blackjack Strategies are to be used by any blackjack player, from beginners to professionals.