Basic Blackjack Strategy: Charts for Every Hand

Basic blackjack strategy is the mathematically optimal decision for every player hand against the dealer’s up-card, worked out through computer simulations.

The charts below cover single-deck and 4-8 deck games in both S17 and H17 rules, so you can find the correct play for any hand at a glance and keep the house edge as low as the rules allow.

These charts assume you already know how to split, double, surrender and take insurance. If you need those rules first, see the how to play blackjack guide.

• Download our full basic strategy blackjack charts (PDF) – all single-deck and 4–8 deck tables, S17 and H17.

Single-Deck Strategy Charts

Every chart reads the same way: your hand total sits in the vertical column, the dealer’s up-card sits in the horizontal row, and the point where they meet gives the correct play. Single-deck blackjack shifts a handful of those decisions, so its charts are split into soft hands, hard hands and pairs.

H2: Hard Hands, Soft Hands and the Soft 17 Rule

A hard hand contains no ace, so it holds a single fixed total: a 10 and a 7 can only ever be 17. A soft hand contains an ace counting as 1 or 11, so it has two possible totals and can’t bust on the next card. That difference is why the two hand types need their own charts. For definitions of any terms used here, see the glossary of blackjack terms.

The soft 17 rule sets what the dealer does on an ace-6. In an H17 game, the dealer hits soft 17, which nudges the house edge up. In an S17 game, the dealer stands, lowering the house edge by about 0.2%. It’s the most common variation worth checking, so confirm the table rule before you play and use the matching chart.

H2: 4–8 Deck Strategy Charts

Multi-deck blackjack is the standard game today, with six decks being the most common setup. These charts apply to 4-8 deck games, again split by the S17 and H17 rule.

H2: Quick Blackjack Strategy Tips

Keep these core rules in mind. The reasoning behind each one is what makes it stick.

• Split aces and 8s. Splitting aces gives you two shots at blackjack, and splitting 8s breaks up a weak hard 16 into two hands that can’t bust on the first hit.
• Never split 5s or 10s. Two 5s leave you with two low totals, so hit instead; two 10s already make a strong 20 that’s hard to beat, so keep them together.
• Hit on a soft 17. Your hand can’t bust, and there’s a solid chance of improving toward 21.
• Stand on a hard 17. It’s a low total, but hitting busts easily, so hold what you have.
• Hit on a hard 16. It’s a poor total, so hit and hope for a low card, or surrender against a dealer’s 9, 10 or ace where the table allows it.
• Double down on 11 against any dealer card except an ace or face card.
• Double down on 10 against anything except an ace, face card or 10.
• Double down on 9 against a dealer’s 3 through 7.

To commit the charts to memory, try flashcards and test yourself after a day, a week and a month using spaced repetition, or practise hands with the blackjack trainer tool.

Play blackjack at William Hill Vegas if you want to put basic strategy into practice on a real table. 18+. Please play responsibly. BeGambleAware.org