Blackjack is one of the few casino games where your decisions change the result. Every time you choose to hit, stand, double or split, you shift the odds slightly in one direction or the other. Basic strategy is simply the set of choices that gives you the best mathematical result for every hand you can be dealt against every card the dealer can show. It won’t guarantee a win on any hand, and the house still keeps an edge, but it keeps that edge as small as the rules allow.
Blackjack rules in 60 seconds
- The aim is to finish with a higher total than the dealer without going over 21.
- Number cards are worth their face value, picture cards are worth 10, and an Ace is worth 1 or 11, whichever helps you more.
- A blackjack is an Ace plus a 10-value card as your first two cards. It usually pays 3 to 2.
- You see one of the dealer’s two cards (the “upcard”). The dealer plays their hand last, by fixed rules.
- If you go over 21 you “bust” and lose immediately, even if the dealer later busts too. That ordering is where the house edge comes from.
Hard and soft hands
A soft hand contains an Ace counted as 11, such as Ace and 6 (soft 17). It can’t bust on the next card, because the Ace can drop back to 1. A hard hand has no Ace, or has an Ace that must count as 1, such as 10, 6 and Ace (hard 17). Basic strategy treats them differently, so it’s worth learning to spot which you’re holding.
The core decisions
- Hit: take another card.
- Stand: keep your total and end your turn.
- Double down: double your stake, take exactly one more card, then stand.
- Split: if your first two cards are a pair, split them into two hands with a second stake equal to the first.
- Surrender: where offered, give up half your stake and fold the hand.
Basic strategy for hard totals
The guidance below is for a typical multi-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17 and doubling after a split is allowed. Rules vary between tables, so treat this as a strong general guide rather than a universal chart.
| Your hand | Dealer shows 2 to 6 | Dealer shows 7 to Ace |
|---|---|---|
| 8 or less | Hit | Hit |
| 9 | Double against 3 to 6, otherwise hit | Hit |
| 10 | Double | Double against 7 to 9, hit against 10 or Ace |
| 11 | Double | Double against 7 to 10, hit against Ace |
| 12 | Stand against 4 to 6, hit against 2 or 3 | Hit |
| 13 to 16 | Stand | Hit |
| 17 or more | Stand | Stand |
The logic is easier to remember than the table. When the dealer shows a 2 to 6, they have a higher chance of busting, so you let them take that risk and stand on totals you’d otherwise hit. When they show 7 or higher, they’re more likely to finish with a strong total, so you need to improve your hand.
Basic strategy for soft totals
- Ace-2 and Ace-3: double against a dealer 5 or 6, otherwise hit.
- Ace-4 and Ace-5: double against 4 to 6, otherwise hit.
- Ace-6: double against 3 to 6, otherwise hit.
- Ace-7 (soft 18): double against 3 to 6, stand against 2, 7 or 8, hit against 9, 10 or Ace.
- Ace-8 and Ace-9: stand.
Soft 18 is the hand most players get wrong. It feels strong, but against a dealer 9, 10 or Ace it’s an underdog, and taking a card can’t bust you.
When to split pairs
| Pair | What to do |
|---|---|
| Aces | Always split |
| 8s | Always split |
| 10s | Never split, stand on 20 |
| 5s | Never split, play as a hard 10 |
| 9s | Split against 2 to 6, 8 and 9. Stand against 7, 10 and Ace |
| 7s | Split against 2 to 7, otherwise hit |
| 6s | Split against 2 to 6, otherwise hit |
| 4s | Split against 5 or 6, otherwise hit |
| 2s and 3s | Split against 2 to 7, otherwise hit |
Bets and rules worth knowing
Insurance
When the dealer shows an Ace, you’ll be offered insurance: a side bet that pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack. It sounds protective, but in the long run it costs more than it returns for a basic strategy player, so the standard advice is to decline it.
3 to 2 vs 6 to 5 blackjack
Some tables pay only 6 to 5 for a blackjack instead of 3 to 2. On a $10 stake, that’s $12 instead of $15. It’s a small-looking difference that noticeably increases the house edge, so check the felt or game rules before you sit down.
Dealer stands or hits on soft 17
Tables marked “Dealer stands on soft 17” are slightly better for the player than those where the dealer hits soft 17. The table rules panel will tell you which applies.
How to practise without pressure
- Learn the hard totals first. They come up most often.
- Add soft totals and pairs once the hard totals feel automatic.
- Play RNG blackjack at a low stake, where you control the pace and can check each decision.
- Move to live tables when you can play correctly without looking anything up. Our live dealer guide covers what changes at a streamed table.
When you’re ready, you can browse live blackjack on TWIN, including faster variants and tables with different limits.
The bottom line
Basic strategy is the closest thing blackjack has to “playing well”. Stand more often when the dealer shows a weak card, push your advantage with doubles on 10 and 11, always split Aces and 8s, and skip insurance. Do that consistently and you’ll be playing the game the way the maths intends, which is the best any player can do.
Next, see how baccarat compares, a game where the cards are played for you.
