Casino rules
blackjack strategy
Basic strategy: the mistake-free way to play each hand
Blackjack "basic strategy" is the mathematically best decision for every hand — how to play your total against the dealer's upcard to lose the least over time. It doesn't guarantee a win on any hand, but it is the way to avoid costly mistakes, and it is simple to summarise with a few rules of thumb.
Basic strategy assumes standard rules and is purely about your decisions (hit, stand, double, split). It is not a betting system and cannot overcome the house edge — it just makes that edge as small as possible. First make sure you know the the rules of blackjack.
What basic strategy is
For every combination of your hand and the dealer's upcard there is one choice that loses the least money on average. The complete set of those choices is called basic strategy, usually shown as a colour-coded chart. Memorising it is optional — understanding a handful of rules of thumb gets you most of the benefit.
Core rules of thumb
Always stand on hard 17 or more, and always hit a hard 11 or less (you can't bust). On stiff totals of 12–16, stand when the dealer shows a weak upcard (2–6) and hit when the dealer shows 7 or higher. Always split aces and eights, and never split tens or fives. Double down on 11, and on 10 when the dealer shows 9 or less.
These cover the large majority of hands. The logic is always the same: when the dealer's upcard is weak they bust more often, so you can stand on a risky total; when it's strong you must improve your own hand.
What strategy can't do
Basic strategy reduces mistakes, but it cannot flip the odds in your favour — the house keeps a small edge, and no sequence of bets changes that. Be wary of "systems" that promise guaranteed profit. The honest value of strategy is simply playing each hand correctly. If you're still learning the flow of a hand, see playing blackjack.
How to apply basic strategy, step by step
- Read the dealer's upcard A 2–6 is weak; a 7 through ace is strong.
- Identify your hand type Hard total, soft total (with an ace as 11), or a pair.
- Hard totals Stand on 17+, hit 11 or less, and let the dealer's upcard decide 12–16.
- Pairs Split aces and eights; never split tens or fives.
- Doubling Double on 11, and on 10 when the dealer shows 9 or lower.
- Repeat Apply the same logic every hand — consistency is the point.
Frequently asked questions
Does blackjack strategy guarantee a win?
No. Basic strategy is the lowest-mistake way to play each hand, which keeps the house edge as small as possible — but the house still keeps a small edge, and no strategy guarantees winning any hand or session.
Should I always split aces?
Yes. Splitting aces (and eights) is one of the few universal rules of basic strategy. Never split tens or fives.
Is basic strategy the same as card counting?
No. Basic strategy is simply the best decision for each hand given the cards you can see. Card counting is a separate, advanced technique that tracks the cards already played.