Blackjack Strategy Chart - Plan Your Next Move in the Game
If you’re looking to learn basic strategy, our visual Blackjack strategy chart below is your key tool to learning basic blackjack strategy. The chart will show you the statistically best decisions for you to make in each blackjack situation. Have a look at it below!
Stick to the Plan By using our Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart
As we’ve said countless times before, playing Blackjack online and making the right moves while doing so needn’t be a complicated matter. Of course, our experts always warn players not to place a bet or make a move simply based on a hunch. Frankly, we understand that you might be tempted to double down on a soft 17 against a dealer's 2, but as you can see from our chart below, moves like that are not strategically correct, and will cost you a lot of money in the long run. So when it comes to this table game in particular, learn how to ignore your gut feeling and just take a strategic approach instead.
Did You Know?
- Following our Blackjack strategy chart to the tee will typically cut down the house edge to ½% provided that the dealer follows the casino's house rules.
Looking for a Blackjack Basic Strategy chart printable? Here’s Ours!
If you’re looking for a Free Blackjack strategy chart printable, you’ll be glad to know that our team of gambling experts and designers have come up with CasinoTop10’s own printable version of the chart. The great news is that, you can keep it handy when you’re playing a game of Blackjack online. Have no printer? No problem! If you don’t have a printer you can also view our Blackjack strategy chart online by keeping another tab open or by simply viewing it on your mobile phone or tablet!
The Best Blackjack Strategy Chart
Download our Free Blackjack Strategy Chart pdf
Simply click here on our free Blackjack strategy chart and your download will start in a matter of seconds!
Info about our Strategy Sheet
This Blackjack strategy chart applies to games of Blackjack in which the dealer stands on a soft 17.
Here’s what the different moves stand for:
Stand (S) – Choose this manoeuvre when you’d like to stand pat with your Blackjack hand.
Hit (H) – Select Hit when you’d like the dealer to give you another card.
Double (D) - Choose double when you’d like to double your wager.
Split (SP) – Select split in order to split your cards into two hands.
Memorising the Chart Needn’t be Tough
Although you can very easily keep our Blackjack strategy chart around by taping it your computer screen, it is actually better to learn it off by heart provided that you have the patience. Now if you don’t have a photographic memory like the few straight A students you went to school with, there’s no need to despair - you needn’t worry about remembering the chart as a whole. Instead, try to break it down into chunks and just remember a few basic points about our blackjack strategy chart.
Do dealers and Blackjack players follow the same Blackjack rules and strategy?
- No, dealers play according to house rules. Dealers usually follow one of two common Blackjack rules:
- 1/ According to the first variation of house rules a dealer 's ace is always counted as 11. Moreover, he would typically stand on all 17s and hit on a hand with a total of under 17.
- 2/ According to the second variation of house rules a dealer must hit if he gets a 'soft 17'. Under this rule the house edge is slightly increased, but the dealer doees not have the opportunity of Doubling Down or Splitting.
Below we’ve compiled a list of phrases which will help you to memorize basic Blackjack strategy:
Strategy for Soft Hands
Remember: Soft hands always have an ace present which is counted as 11.
When should I stand with a soft hand?
You should always stand when you have a soft hand with a total score of:
• 20 (A,9) or (10,10)
• 19 (A, 8) unless the dealer’s face up card displays a 6.
• 18 (A,8).
Should you Double or Hit when you have the following?
• 8 always hits.
• 17 (A,6) doubles against a dealer’s face up card 3 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 16 (A,5) doubles against a dealer’s face up card 4 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 15 (A,4) doubles against a dealer’s face up card 4 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 14 (A,3) doubles against a dealer’s face up card 5 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 13 (A,2) doubles against a dealer’s face up card 5 through 6, otherwise hit.
Strategy for Hard Hand
Remember: A hard hand is a hand which sometimes doesn't have an ace, but sometimes does. In cases in which it does, the ace is counted as 1.
When should you stand or hit with a hard hand?
You should also stand or hit when you have a hard hand with a total score of:
• 17 and up.
• 16 stands against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 2 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 15 stands against a dealer face up card with the value of 2 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 14 stands against a dealer face up card with the value of 2 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 13 stands against a dealer face up card with the value of 2 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 12 stands against dealer face up card with the value of 4 through 6, otherwise hit.
• 8 and under always hits.
When should you double with a hard hand?
You should double when you have a hard hand with a score of:
• 11
• 10 against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 2 through 9, otherwise hit.
• 9 against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 3, 4, 5 or 6 otherwise hit.
Strategy for Pairs
When should you Split?
You should Split when you have a pair of:
• 9s splits against a dealer’s face up card of 2 through 9 with the exception of a 7, otherwise Stand.
• 8s and Aces.
• 2s against a dealer’s face up card of 2 (or 4 depending on the rules) -7
• 3s against a dealer’s face up card of 4-7.
• 7s and the dealer has 2 through 7 as his face up card.
• 6s when the dealer has 2 , 3, 4, 5 or 6 as his face up card.
• 3s splits against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 2 through 7, otherwise hit.
• 2s splits against dealer’s face up card 2 through 7, otherwise hit.
When shouldn’t you Split?
Don’t split when you have a pair of:
• 4s.
• 10s.
When should you double pairs?
You should double when you have a pair of:
• 5s against a dealer’s face up card with a value of 2 through 9 card.
• A soft 18 (A,7) doubles against a dealer’s face up card 3,4,5 and 6.
When should you hit pairs?
You should hit when you have a pair of:
• 7s against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 8 through an Ace.
• 6s against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 7 through an Ace.
• 4s against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 2 though an Ace.
• 3s against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 2,3,8,9,10 and an Ace.
• 2s against a dealer’s face up card with the value of 2,8, 9, 10 and an Ace.
Practice Using our Blackjack Basic Strategy Trainer, Then Hit the Casino
Whether you’ve never played Blackjack before or you’re simple looking to improve your strategy, you should definitely consider using our free Blackjack trainer to learn how to use the right move. Our Blackjack strategy trainer will be able to tell you what moves to make according to our basic Blackjack strategy chart. Once you feel confident in your implementation of strategy, head to our list of Blackjack Casinos and prepare to play with a fantastic exclusive Bonus!
