Blackjack Basic Strategy: Chart and Calculator

Last updated: November 10, 2026

Basic strategy tells you the best move for every blackjack hand based on your two cards and the dealer's upcard. Pick your hand below to get the answer, or use the full chart. Played perfectly, it lowers the house edge to about 0.5% under common rules — the lowest of any casino table game, but still an edge for the house.

Blackjack basic strategy chart

Rules assumed: 4 to 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double on any first two cards, double after split allowed, no surrender. H hit · S stand · D double (hit if not allowed) · Ds double (stand if not allowed) · P split · Ph split if you can double after splitting, otherwise hit.

The rules of blackjack in one minute

• Number cards count face value, J/Q/K count 10, an ace counts 1 or 11 — whichever helps.
• A hand with an ace counted as 11 is soft (A,6 is soft 17); otherwise it is hard.
• Go over 21 and you bust and lose, even if the dealer busts afterwards.
• The dealer has no choices: draw to 16, stand on 17 (at most tables including soft 17).
• A two-card 21 is a blackjack and normally pays 3 to 2. Avoid 6-to-5 tables: they cost about 1.4% more.

Five rules that cover most hands

1. Always split aces and eights; never split tens or fives.
2. Stand on hard 17 or more; hit hard 8 or less.
3. Against a dealer 2–6, stand on hard 13–16 and on 12 vs 4–6 — the dealer is most likely to bust.
4. Against a dealer 7 or higher, hit hard 12–16.
5. Double 11 vs 2–10, 10 vs 2–9 and 9 vs 3–6.

Why the dealer's upcard matters

The dealer must keep drawing until reaching 17. With a 4, 5 or 6 showing, the dealer busts roughly 40% of the time, so you should avoid risking a bust yourself and push more money out with doubles and splits. With a 7 through ace showing, the dealer usually finishes on 17–21, so a hard 12–16 has to be improved. The same idea — comparing the chance of winning to the cost of a decision — is how pot odds and expected value work in poker.

Frequently asked questions

Gambling involves risk; basic strategy reduces the house edge but does not remove it. Play only with money you can afford to lose, and only where it is legal for you.