Definition
Basic Strategy
Also known as Blackjack Strategy, Optimal Play, Strategy Chart
By Abhinav VasudevanReviewed Editorial policy
In short
Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal decision for every blackjack hand against every dealer upcard. It reduces the house edge to around 0.5% and is the single most valuable thing to learn in a casino.
Basic strategy is the solved answer to blackjack. Every possible combination of your hand and the dealer’s upcard has one correct play, computed by exhaustive simulation. There is no judgement involved and no disagreement about what it says.
What it is worth
| How you play | Approximate house edge |
|---|---|
| Perfect basic strategy | 0.5% |
| Reasonable instinct | 1.5–2% |
| Poor play | 3%+ |
Learning the chart is worth roughly 1.5 percentage points of edge. Over £10,000 of turnover that is £150, for memorising something that fits on a wallet card.
The core rules
The full chart has about 250 cells, but these cover most hands:
Hard totals
- 8 or less → always hit
- 9 → double against 3–6, otherwise hit
- 10 or 11 → double against anything lower than your total, otherwise hit
- 12 → hit against 2 and 3, stand against 4–6, hit against 7+
- 13–16 → stand against 2–6, hit against 7+
- 17+ → always stand
Soft totals (hands with an ace counted as 11)
- Soft 13–15 → hit, doubling against 5–6
- Soft 16–18 → double against 3–6, otherwise hit or stand per chart
- Soft 19+ → stand
Pairs
- Always split aces and 8s
- Never split 10s or 5s
- Split 2s, 3s, 7s against dealer 2–7
- Split 9s against 2–9 except 7
Never take insurance.
The counterintuitive parts
Two plays that feel wrong and are correct:
Hitting 16 against a dealer 10. You will bust most of the time. You will also lose more often by standing, because the dealer makes 17+ from a 10 upcard about 77% of the time. Basic strategy minimises loss, not bust frequency.
Splitting 8s against a dealer 10. Two 8s is 16, the worst hand in blackjack. Splitting turns one terrible hand into two mediocre ones, which loses less.
What it does not do
Basic strategy does not make blackjack profitable. It reduces the edge to about 0.5%, small, but still negative, and still charged on every hand.
Turning the game positive requires card counting, which means varying your bet size according to the composition of the remaining deck. Basic strategy is the foundation that makes counting possible, but on its own it is a way of losing slowly rather than a way of winning.
Common questions
Does basic strategy guarantee a win?
No. It reduces the house edge to about 0.5%, which is small but still negative and still charged on every hand. It is a way of losing slowly rather than a way of winning.
Why hit 16 against a dealer 10?
Because you lose less often by hitting. You bust about 62% of the time, but standing loses roughly 77% of the time since a dealer showing 10 makes 17 or better far more often than they break.