Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart
Memorize Our Blackjack Strategy Chart to Know When to Hit, Stand, Double Down, Split Pairs and Surrender.
Entire books have been written on developing a winning blackjack strategy; it would be impossible to reproduce that content here. However, there are a few basics that you can master rather easily.
The biggest help for you will be to use a blackjack strategy chart. We made it possible to find room in this article to publish an in-depth chart, you can download this in-depth chart on the link above. This chart just print out in concrete form what skilled players recognize as Blackjack common sense. Because to the skilled player, it is common sense what you should do with any possible-card combination. If you follow that advice correctly, it will reduce the House’s edge to a bare minimum…about a half of one percent. There are a few rule variations at different tables and at different casinos, so minor adjustments must be made to any basic blackjack strategy guide. Still, most of them will advise the following.
For starters, the basic rule is that you should normally not take a Hit (another card) if your total is 17 or more. The odds are simply too great that you will bust. You should, however, take one with a 16 or lower. Although the odds are still great that you will bust with a 16, the odds are even better that the House can beat a 16.
Following most blackjack strategy charts, you’ll find that if you receive a 5 and a 3, because you have an 8, you’ll be advised to Hit. Drawing another 3 would give you 11. Most charts tell you to double on 11, except that doubling is only allowed on the first two cards. Therefore, you should request another Hit (because you still have not hit 17). This is just an example. Now let’s look at all possible hands you could get.
The following rules should be followed for a “hard” hand, or a hand which does not have an Ace.
• You could get an 8 with two cards. If you do, always take a Hit.
• You could get a 9 with two cards. Take a Hit unless the dealer has a 3 through 6. If so, then Double.
• You could get a 10 with two cards. Take a Hit unless the dealer has a 2 through 9. If so, then Double.
• You could get an 11 with two cards. Take a Hit unless the dealer has a 2 through 10. If so, then Double.
• You could get a 12 with two cards. Take a Hit if the dealer has either a 2 or 3. Stand if he has 4 through 6. Take a Hit if he has anything else.
• You could get a 13 through 16 on two cards. Take a Hit unless the dealer has a 2 through 6. If so, then Stand.
• Always Stand on 17 through 21.
Now let’s look at your blackjack strategy if you have a “soft” hand, or one with an Ace as one of your starting two cards:
• Always Hit on 8 or less.
• Always Hit on 9 unless the dealer has 3 through 6. In that case, Double.
• Always Hit on 10 unless the dealer has 2 through 9. In that case, Double.
• Always Hit on 11 if the dealer has an Ace. Double, if he has 2 through 10.
• If you have 12 and the dealer has 2 or 3, or something greater than a 7, Hit. If he has 4 through 6, Stand.
• Always Hit on 13 through 16 unless the dealer has 2 through 6. In that case, Stand.
• Always Stand on 17 through 21.
Finally, let’s discuss how to play Pairs:
• Always Split with a pair of A’s or 8’s.
• With a pair, of 2’s or 3’s, Split when the dealer has 2 through 7. Otherwise, Hit.
• With a pair of 4’s, if the dealer has 5 or 6, Split. Otherwise, Hit.
• With a pair of 5’s, if the dealer has 2 through 9, Double. Otherwise, Hit.
• With a pair of 6’s, if the dealer has 2 through six, Split. Otherwise, Hit.
• With a pair of 7’s, if the dealer has 2 through 7, Split. Otherwise, Hit.
• With a pair of 9’s, if the dealer has 2 through 9 or an 8 or 9, Split. Otherwise, Stand (when the dealer has an Ace, 7 or 10).
• Always stand with a pair of 10’s.
Follow the simple blackjack strategy chart and you are sure to your odds in winning.
