Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart: How to Read It and When to Hit or Stand

A blackjack basic strategy chart is a grid that tells you the mathematically best move for every hand you can be dealt against every card the dealer is showing. Computer simulations of millions of hands produced these decisions, so the chart is not opinion or a betting system — it is the single play that loses the least (or wins the most) in the long run for each situation. Learning to read one is the first and biggest step any player can take to cut the casino’s advantage, and it is the kind of reference most players save and keep beside them.

This guide shows the full chart for the most common game — multiple decks with the dealer standing on soft 17 — explains how to read it, and is honest about what it does: basic strategy minimises the house edge, it does not eliminate it. If you are new to the game, read our guide to how to play blackjack first for card values, dealer rules and the basic actions, then come back here for the chart.

What is a blackjack basic strategy chart?

A basic strategy chart is a decision table built from probability, not intuition. One axis lists every total or pair you can hold; the other lists the dealer’s single face-up card (the “upcard”). Each cell gives the correct action: hit, stand, double, split or surrender.

The chart assumes you can see only your own cards and the dealer’s upcard — exactly the information you have when it is your turn to act. It does not track which cards have already been dealt; that is card counting, a different and more advanced topic this guide does not cover. Basic strategy is simply the best play given what you can see, and it is the same every single hand.

Because it is fixed, a chart doubles as a “cheat sheet” — a harmless nickname. It contains no secret and breaks no rule. Most casinos sell these cards in their own gift shops.

How to read the chart

Reading a basic strategy chart takes three steps:

1. Find your hand down the left-hand column — your hard total, your soft total (a hand with an ace counted as 11), or your pair.
2. Find the dealer’s upcard along the top row (2 through 10, and A for ace).
3. Read the cell where they meet. That letter is your move.

The abbreviations used in every chart below are:

• H = Hit (take another card)
• S = Stand (take no more cards)
• D = Double down if allowed; if you cannot double, hit instead
• P = Split the pair
• Su = Surrender if the table offers it; if not, hit instead

One more rule makes the whole chart simpler: decide in the order surrender, split, double, then hit or stand. Check whether the hand is a surrender or a split first, because once you take another card those options disappear.

Hard totals chart

A hard total is any hand without an ace, or a hand where an ace must count as 1 to avoid going over 21. The key idea is that the dealer’s upcard decides the close calls: you stand more often when the dealer shows a weak card (2 through 6, cards the dealer is more likely to bust with) and hit more often against a strong card (7 through ace).

In plain words: always hit a hard 8 or lower, always stand on a hard 17 or higher, and never take a card that can bust you when the dealer is showing a bust card. The hard 12 to 16 band is where most money is won or lost, so it is worth memorising first.

Soft totals chart

A soft total is a hand with an ace counted as 11, such as A-6 (a “soft 17”). These hands are played more aggressively because one extra card can never bust them — if a big card arrives, the ace simply drops to 1. That safety net is why you hit and double soft hands you would never risk as hard totals.

Soft 18 (A,7) is the hand players get wrong most often. It is strong enough to stand against a weak dealer card and worth doubling against 3 to 6, but against a 9, 10 or ace it is a loser that you should hit to try to improve.

Pairs: when to split

When your first two cards match, you can split them into two separate hands. The pairs chart below tells you when that is worth the extra bet. Two rules never change: always split aces and eights, and never split tens or fives.

Why always split aces and eights? A pair of aces is a soft 12 — weak as one hand, but two hands each starting with an ace are strong. A pair of eights is a hard 16, the worst total in the game; splitting turns one bad hand into two that can each become good. A pair of fives, by contrast, is a hard 10 you should double, and a pair of tens is already a 20 you should keep. Note that the splits for 2,2, 3,3, 4,4 and 6,6 against a dealer’s low cards assume the table lets you double after splitting, which most Canadian and online tables do; if yours does not, split these slightly less often.

How much does basic strategy lower the house edge?

With perfect basic strategy at a good table, the house edge on blackjack falls to roughly 0.5% — about 0.4% to 0.6% depending on the exact rules. That is among the lowest edges on the casino floor and far better than the 1.5% to 2.5% or more that a typical player gives up by guessing. For every $100 wagered over time, the difference is several dollars of expected loss per round of play. You can see how this figure sits against other games in our explainer on how the house edge and RTP work.

Two points matter more than any single number. First, 0.5% is a long-run average; over one session results swing wildly in both directions, and the chart cannot change what happens on the next card. Second, that edge is still positive for the house. Basic strategy makes blackjack one of the fairest games you can play, but it does not make it a winning game — over enough hands the casino still comes out ahead. Anyone who tells you a chart guarantees profit is wrong.

How table rules change the chart

The chart above is for the most common game: four to eight decks with the dealer standing on all 17s. Other rules shift both the edge and a few of the plays, so always match your chart to the felt in front of you.

• Dealer hits soft 17 (H17): adds about 0.2% to the house edge and changes a handful of plays (for example, doubling hard 11 against an ace). Look for “dealer stands on all 17s” — it is better for you.
• Number of decks: fewer decks favour the player slightly; single-deck games allow a few more aggressive doubles. Most tables today use six or eight decks.
• Double after split (DAS): if allowed, you split a few extra pairs, as noted above. If not, split a little less.
• Surrender: if the table offers it, the few “Su” cells above apply; if not, hit those hands instead.
• Blackjack payout: this is the biggest trap. A natural blackjack should pay 3:2 ($15 on a $10 bet). A 6:5 payout ($12 on a $10 bet) adds about 1.39% to the house edge — roughly tripling it — and no chart can offset that. Check the payout printed on the table and avoid 6:5 games.

For the full menu of rule differences and how they change the game, see our overview of casino table games and their odds.

Common mistakes when using a strategy chart

Knowing the chart is only half the job; using it consistently is the other half. These are the errors that quietly cost players the most:

• Playing hunches instead of the chart. Standing on 16 against a dealer 7 “because it feels due” is exactly the kind of guess the chart exists to replace.
• Taking insurance. Insurance and “even money” are side bets with a high house edge; basic strategy says never take them. They are not on the chart for a reason.
• Using the wrong chart. A single-deck or H17 chart used at a six-deck S17 table will have you misplaying borderline hands.
• Forgetting the fallback. When you cannot double or split, revert to the plain hit-or-stand move — do not skip the hand’s logic entirely.
• Chasing losses. The chart governs how to play a hand, never how much to bet. Raising your stake to win money back ignores that each hand is independent and the edge is unchanged.
• Mixing up soft and hard totals. Treating A-6 as a hard 17 and standing throws away the whole advantage of a soft hand.

Is using a basic strategy chart cheating?

No. Using a basic strategy chart is legal skill, not cheating. The chart only uses information every player can see — your cards and the dealer’s upcard — and makes no attempt to track or predict the deck. Casinos openly sell these cards, and many land-based tables in Canada will let you keep one beside you as long as it does not slow the game.

This is different from card counting, which tracks the ratio of high to low cards still to be dealt and is beyond the scope of this guide. Basic strategy asks nothing of your memory and gives the same answer on every hand; it simply ensures you never make a mathematically losing decision.

Who basic strategy is for

Basic strategy suits every blackjack player, from a first-timer to a regular. For beginners it removes guesswork and the most expensive mistakes on day one. For experienced players it is the foundation that any further study builds on. Because the chart is fixed, you can practise it free in a browser or with a printed card until the common hands are automatic, then glance at the chart only for the rare ones.

It is not a way to beat the casino or a substitute for a budget. The point of basic strategy is to make your money last longer and your decisions sound — treating blackjack as entertainment with a known, small cost rather than a way to earn.

Responsible gambling

This article is educational and is not betting advice or a promise of winnings. Blackjack is a game of chance with a built-in house edge: basic strategy lowers that edge but the casino still profits over time, and no chart can predict the next card or guarantee a win. In Canada you must be of legal gambling age in your province (18 or 19 depending on where you live). Set a budget before you play, treat any losses as the cost of entertainment, and never gamble to recover money.

If gambling is causing you or someone you know harm, free, confidential help is available. In Ontario, ConnexOntario offers 24/7 support at 1-866-531-2600 (or text CONNEX to 247247), and the Responsible Gambling Council provides information and tools nationwide. See our guide to responsible gambling in Canada for deposit limits, self-exclusion programs and provincial help lines.

Vanliga frågor (FAQ)

Does a basic strategy chart guarantee I will win at blackjack?

No. A chart gives the best possible move for each hand and lowers the house edge to roughly 0.5% under good rules, but the casino still keeps a small edge over time. Results swing in the short term, and no chart can change what the next card will be.

Can I use a strategy chart at a real casino table?

Yes. Using a basic strategy chart is allowed and is not cheating, because it relies only on cards everyone can see. Many casinos even sell the cards. Most land-based tables let you keep one at the table if it does not slow play, and online you can keep it open beside you.

Which chart should I use if my table’s rules are different?

Match the chart to your table’s deck count and whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17. The chart in this guide is for four to eight decks with the dealer standing on soft 17, which is the most common game. If the dealer hits soft 17, a few plays change slightly.

What is the difference between basic strategy and card counting?

Basic strategy is a fixed chart that uses only your hand and the dealer’s upcard, giving the same answer every time. Card counting tracks which cards have already been dealt to adjust bets and decisions, and it is a separate, advanced topic this guide does not cover.

Why does the chart say to double when my table will not let me?

Some tables restrict doubling or splitting. When you cannot double, hit instead; when you cannot double after a split, split those borderline pairs a little less often. The “if allowed” notes in the chart’s key tell you the fallback move.