Blackjack Strategy Charts — Basic And Advanced

However, what if we told you that there is a way to prep yourself before you go ahead and place your bets blindly? Betting strategies and systems help you make better and smarter decisions to optimise your gameplay AND safeguard your funds at the same time. And, the best part is that any player can use them, no matter their level of knowledge!

Knowing the basic rules of play is just the tip of the iceberg, so with this article, we will crack down on some common blackjack strategies and blackjack charts to help you turn up the heat and amp up your gameplay.

BASIC RULES OF BLACKJACK

At online casinos, a typical blackjack game is played with eight decks of cards, as, when playing online blackjack, most casinos offer multi-deck games. The aim is to form a hand with a value that is as close to 21 as possible without surpassing it; otherwise, you’ll go bust. You also need to get closer to 21 than the dealer.

Knowing how each card is valued is essential before when building your hand. Cards ranging from two to 10 are taken at face value. Face cards like jacks, queens and kings all have a value of 10, and the ace cards are either counted as one or 11, depending on the state of your hand.

There are three ways you can win in a game of blackjack:

• Earning a hand closer to 21 than the dealer.
• Earning ‘blackjack’ and receiving an instant win — Blackjack is a hand consisting of an ace and a 10-point card, adding up to 21 exactly.
• The dealer going bust.

There are also several actions you can take/ bets you can place to form your hand:

• Hit — Draw an additional card.
• Stand — Remain with your current hand.
• Double Down — Double your bet and receive an additional card.
• Split — Split your cards into two separate hands.

BLACKJACK BASIC STRATEGY

There are many strategies out there, but if you’re still starting out, the blackjack basic strategy is a solid choice. It is arguably the easiest blackjack strategy to learn and is also the most recommended, especially for newbies (though you’ll often find more knowledgeable players reverting back to the basics too).

The blackjack basic strategy is a mathematically calculated set of decisions that will tell you when to hit, stand, split, double down or surrender. With the use of this blackjack strategy, blackjack players can potentially slice the house edge in half and bring it down to as low as 0.20%.

This blackjack basic strategy is influenced by several factors, including the dealer’s drawing and standing rules, the number of decks used, whether surrendering is available, and whether you can double down after splitting pairs. It is important that you check the rules of the blackjack table you’re playing at and make use of basic strategy charts.

WHEN TO HIT ON BLACKJACK

Deciding whether to hit or stand solely depends on the score of your hand. It is always safe to hit when your hand’s value is 10 short of 21 or if you were dealt a pair or an ace, as you would be able to split your hand in those cases.

Although your strategy chart may vary depending on the rules of your chosen blackjack table, here is a general idea of when to hit according to the blackjack basic strategy:

• Always hit a hard 12 against a dealer’s two or three upcard
• Always hit an A-7 when the dealer’s upcard is nine, 10 or ace — Holding a soft 18 puts you as the underdog whether you hit or stand, but hitting offers better odds since the ace can count as 11 or one. In the case of a single-deck game, you are better off standing when the dealer’s upcard is an ace.
• Always hit an eight.
• Hit a soft 18 against a dealer’s nine, 10 or ace.

WHEN TO STAND BLACKJACK

Basic strategy blackjack charts generally imply that you should stand when your hand value is 17 or over. If you have a hand value between 13 and 16, you can choose to stand only if the dealer has a low-value card. Here are a few other instances where standing is considered the best choice:

Stand with a pair of nines if the dealer’s hand shows a seven — Splitting against a dealer’s seven is not favourable to the player, but splitting and doubling down (if allowed) on two-six, eight or nine might be.

• Stand on a hard 12 when the dealer is showing a four, five or six, otherwise hit.
• Stand on hard 13, 14, 15, and 16 against a dealer’s two – six, otherwise hit.
• Stand on hard 17 or greater.
• Stand on soft 18  if the dealer does not hold a nine, 10 or ace, otherwise hit.
• Stand on soft 19 or greater.

WHEN TO DOUBLE DOWN IN BLACKJACK

At the beginning of each round, you’ll be given the option to double down as soon as your hand is dealt. It is one of the actions you’d be able to take instead of choosing to hit unless you have a classic blackjack — in which case you won’t be able to double your bet. If you double your bet, you can only hit once, after which your only option is to stand. So, you should double down when you have the least chances of busting:

• Always double down on a hard 11
• Always double down on 10 when the dealer’s upcard is nine or less.
• If the dealer must hit a soft 17: Double down on a hard 11 against the dealer’s ace, double down on a soft 19 against a dealer’s six and double down on a soft 18 against the dealer’s two.
• Always double down A-2 through A-7 against the dealer’s five or six.
• Always double down on eight when the dealer is showing a five or six in a single-deck game.
• Double down on a hard nine if the dealer shows a three, four, five or six.
• Double down on a soft 13 or 14 against a dealer’s five or six.

WHEN TO SPLIT IN BLACKJACK

Splitting involves splitting two cards to form two separate hands and potentially boost your chances of winning. According to a basic strategy chart, the best time to split a blackjack hand is when you have a pair of aces or eights. By contrast, the worst time to split your hand is when you have a pair of 10s, nines, fours or fives:

• Always split aces and eights
• Never split a pair of fives or 10s
• Split a pair of twos and threes when the dealer is showing a four, five, six or seven.

With so many different blackjack games out there, it is likely that you’ll find different tables with different rules. Some tables allow you to double down after a split, in which case, the basic strategy may vary slightly:

• Split twos and threes when the dealer is showing a two or three.
• Split sixes against dealer’s two.
• Split fours against the dealer’s two.

WHEN TO SURRENDER IN BLACKJACK

As we’ve said, different casinos may offer different blackjack games with specific rules only found at specific tables. The ability to surrender is not so commonly offered because it proves to be quite beneficial to blackjack players, but you may find it at some tables nonetheless.

The surrender option allows you to opt out of the hand before the dealer checks for blackjack, with a few exceptions. Your playing decisions depend on the number of decks used as well as the rules of the online blackjack table. With that said, when playing against a dealer’s 10 or ace, surrendering can significantly reduce the house advantage.

As a general rule of thumb:

• Forfeit any 15 or 17 against the dealer’s ace, unless the dealer hits a soft 17.
• Surrender on any 16 against the dealer’s ace or 10-point card.

BEST STRATEGIES FOR BLACKJACK

If you find yourself stuck on which strategy to use, and are not ready to dive into an advanced blackjack strategy, here are a few of the best blackjack strategies you can use when you go to play blackjack:

STRATEGY 1: ALWAYS DOUBLE DOWN ON A HARD 11

Doubling down on a hard 11 yields positive results, against a dealer’s upcard of lower values with one exception. If you are playing a multi-deck game where the rules specify that the dealer stands on soft 17, you are better off hitting against a dealer’s ace rather than doubling down. That said, doubling down on a hard 11 (or 10) is a relatively safer play, as it is impossible to bust when doubling down on this hand.

STRATEGY 2: ALWAYS SPLIT A PAIR OF ACES AND EIGHTS

Regardless of the dealer’s upcard, it is always best to split a pair of aces or eights. In the case of two eights, your chances of winning are greater when splitting rather than hitting a hard 16, which is considered to be a weak hand. The ace card in blackjack has a value of either one or 11, so having two cards in one hand gives you a soft 12 — having two hands at 11 is far more advantageous than a soft 12. It is so advantageous, that many casinos impose additional rules on splitting aces, such as allowing you to hit only once and prohibiting you from resplitting aces a second time.

STRATEGY 3: NEVER SPLIT A PAIR OF FIVES OR 10S

A split hand of two fives has too low of a value for it to be successful, so it is always best to play two fives in one hand. The same applies to a pair of fours. Choosing to split a pair of 10s can be successful, but much harder to improve than a strong start of 20. If the game allows doubling down after a pair split, split a pair of twos or threes against a dealer’s two or three, hit if not.

STRATEGY 4: ALWAYS HIT A HARD 12 IF THE DEALER’S CARD IS A TWO OR THREE

In the long run, you will always lose money if the dealer’s card is a two or three upcard. However, if you choose to hit rather than stand you will lose less money over time, which is why it is the more optimal choice.

STRATEGY 5: NEVER INSURE

Like the surrender rule, the insurance bet, an even-money bet, is not one that is offered at every blackjack game you’ll find. That said, taking insurance is not something that is advised by the basic blackjack strategy. Taking an insurance bet basically implies that you’ll be betting on the dealer hitting blackjack, which can ultimately increase the house edge. Even if you have blackjack, you will only win your original bet.

BLACKJACK STRATEGY TIPS

The basic blackjack strategy is often regarded as a kind of ‘cheat sheet’ due to it being a near-perfect blackjack strategy. Realistically, though, there is no perfect blackjack strategy that can help you beat blackjack and guarantee success every single time. So here are a few tips to keep in mind as you play:

• Find an online casino with favourable house rules regarding the number of decks used, when the dealer stands (on a hard or a soft 17), and the outcome of a tie.
• Select a table with good odd payouts (3:2 or 2:1 odds are more favourable than 6:5 odds).
• Take advantage of any promotions you can get your hands on. Having additional funds in your account may help you stick around for longer.
• When in doubt, consult a basic strategy chart to decide what actions to take.
• Test out your blackjack strategy on free versions of online blackjack games. You won’t be able to win real cash, but you can put your knowledge to the test risk-free.
• Don’t risk your money on the insurance bet, as the odds of winning are very low since the insurance wager raises the house edge.

BLACKJACK STRATEGY CHARTS

Utilising a blackjack strategy chart is an excellent way to ensure you’re making smart decisions and playing with the best odds while safeguarding your bankroll — even when you play online. You wouldn’t need to memorise each decision in specific situations, although you would probably become better at deciding what to do all on your own.

Here are a few blackjack strategy charts that make great additions to your toolkit. Each blackjack strategy chart is based on the basic strategy, although many blackjack strategies exist. More advanced blackjack strategies may offer more entertainment, but the basic strategy is probably the best strategy you could use, especially if you’re a novice player.

CHART 1: BLACKJACK ABBREVIATIONS

To understand a blackjack betting strategy chart, you need to understand the abbreviations used for each strategy guide:

Abbreviation	Definition
H	Hit
S	Stand
Dh	Double Down if allowed. Otherwise, Hit.
Ds	Double Down if allowed. Otherwise, Stand.
Rh	Surrender if allowed. Otherwise, Stand.
Rs	Surrender if allowed. Otherwise, Split.
Rp	Surrender if allowed. Otherwise, Split
P	Split
Ph	Split if Hit after Double Down is allowed. Otherwise, Hit
Pd	Split if Hit after Double Down is allowed. Otherwise, Double Down
Ps	Split if Hit after Double Down is allowed. Otherwise, Stand

CHART 2: SINGLE-DECK BLACKJACK GAME (DEALER STANDS)

As we’ve said, the decisions you must take are greatly affected by a number of factors, including whether you’re playing single-deck or multi-deck games. Here’s what to do when the dealer stands in a single-deck game.

CHART 2.1: SINGLE-DECK BLACKJACK — CROUPIER STANDS ON SOFT 17 (HARD)

Hard	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
5, 6, 7	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
8	H	H	H	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
9	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
10	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H
11	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	Rh	Rh
17+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

CHART 2.2: SINGLE-DECK BLACKJACK — CROUPIER STANDS ON SOFT 17 (SOFT)

Soft	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
13	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
14	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
15	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
16	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
17	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
18	S	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	S	S	H	H	S
19	S	S	S	S	Ds	S	S	S	S	S
20	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

CHART 2.3: SINGLE-DECK — CROUPIER STANDS ON SOFT 17 (SPLITS)

Splits	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
2, 2	Ph	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3, 3	Ph	Ph	P	P	P	P	Ph	H	H	H
4, 4	H	H	Ph	Pd	Pd	H	H	H	H	H
6, 6	P	P	P	P	P	Ph	H	H	H	H
7, 7	P	P	P	P	P	P	Ph	H	Rs	H
8, 8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9, 9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
A, A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

CHART 3: SINGLE-DECK GAME (DEALER HITS)

Here is a strategy guide on what to do if a dealer hits:

CHART 3.1: DEALER HITS ON SOFT 17 (HARD)

Hard	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
4, 5, 6, 7	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
8	H	H	H	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
9	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
10	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H
11	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	Rh
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	Rh	Rh
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	Rs
18	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

CHART 3.2: DEALER HITS ON SOFT 17 (SOFT)

Soft	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
13	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H
14	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H
15	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H
16	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H
17	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H
18	S	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	S	S	H
19	S	S	S	S	Ds	S	S	S
20	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

CHART 3.3: DEALER HITS ON SOFT 17 (SPLITS)

Splits	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
2, 2	Ph	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3, 3	Ph	Ph	P	P	P	P	Ph	H	H	H
4, 4	H	H	Ph	Pd	Pd	H	H	H	H	H
6, 6	P	P	P	P	P	Ph	H	H	H	H
7, 7	P	P	P	P	P	P	Ph	H	Rs	Rh
8, 8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9, 9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	Ps
A, A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

CHART 4: MULTI-DECK GAMES (DEALER STANDS)

Now, take a look at what decisions to take when playing a game of blackjack featuring multiple decks of cards.

CHART 4.1: CROUPIER STANDS ON SOFT 17 (HARD)

Hard	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
4, 5, 6, 7, 8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
10	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H
11	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H
12	H	H	H	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	Rh	H
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	Rh	Rh	Rh
17+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

CHART 4.2: CROUPIER STANDS ON SOFT 17 (SOFT)

Soft	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
13	H	H	H	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
14	H	H	H	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
15	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	Dh	H
16	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	Dh	H
17	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
18	S	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	S	S	H	H	S
19+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

CHART 4.3: CROUPIER STANDS ON SOFT 17 (SPLITS)

 

Splits	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
2, 2	Ph	Ph	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3, 3	Ph	Ph	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4, 4	H	H	H	Ph	Ph	H	H	H	H	H
6, 6	Ph	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7, 7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8, 8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9, 9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
A, A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

CHART 5: MULTI-DECK BLACKJACK GAMES (DEALER HITS)

Take a look at these blackjack strategy charts to see what to do if the dealer decides to hit.

CHART 5.1: CROUPIER HITS ON SOFT 17 (HARD)

Hard	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
4, 5, 6, 7,8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
10	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H
11	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	Rh	Rh
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	Rh	Rh	Rh
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	Rs
18+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

CHART 5.2: CROUPIER HITS ON SOFT 17 (SOFT)

Soft	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
13	H	H	H	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
14	H	H	H	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
15	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
16	H	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
17	H	Dh	Dh	Dh	Dh	H	H	H	H	H
18	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	S	S	H	H	H
19	S	S	S	S	Ds	S	S	S	S	S
20+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

CHART 5.3: CROUPIER HITS ON SOFT 17 (SPLITS)

 

Splits	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
2, 2	Ph	Ph	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3, 3	Ph	Ph	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4, 4	H	H	H	Ph	Ph	H	H	H	H	H
6, 6	Ph	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7, 7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8, 8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	Rp
9, 9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
A, A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

HOW TO USE BLACKJACK STRATEGY CHARTS PROPERLY

Before you pick up the first strategy chart you can find, you must master the rules of blackjack as well as the general gameplay. Once you’ve built a solid foundation, it is recommended that you stick to one strategy per game or session, or you might risk losing more money than intended. And, before diving into the actual gameplay, test out a few strategies in the demo mode to see which one you prefer using and get a few practice sessions in.

BLACKJACK BETTING SYSTEMS

On top of having a blackjack strategy chart handy, having a blackjack betting strategy is a great way to keep your funds in check. Think of a betting system like a bankroll management strategy — a guide that helps you decide when to bet, how to bet and how much to bet.A betting strategy does not guarantee that it will work every time, though.

Finding the best blackjack betting strategy for you often depends on your style of play and the size of your bankroll. Here are the most common types of systems you can use:

POSITIVE PROGRESSION SYSTEMS

A positive progression system involves increasing your bet every time you land a win and decreasing your bet every time you lose. The idea behind this is to capitalise on winning streaks and minimise losses at the same time. The 1-3-2-6 betting strategy and the Paroli betting system are two common systems that may potentially help you earn more money.

NEGATIVE PROGRESSION SYSTEMS

As the opposite of a positive system, a negative progression system involves decreasing your bet value after a win, and increasing the bet value when hitting a losing streak. A negative progression system is quite an advanced strategy, so be sure to utilise one carefully. The Martingale and the Fibonacci systems are two of the most widely-used betting systems.

FLAT BETTING SYSTEMS

“Flat betting” simply refers to betting the same amount each time you play. While it may not be the most entertaining betting system, it is great for getting a grip on your bankroll and ensures you stay within your budget.

LEARN HOW TO UTILISE A BLACKJACK STRATEGY

Now that you’ve gotten the gist of what the basic strategy is, we’re sure you’re now wondering how you can learn to use it. Here are a few tips:

• Practise playing in the demo mode — Online blackjack games allow you to play for free in the demo mode using virtual funds. Take the opportunity to test out your strategy while getting used to the mechanics and rules of the game.
• Keep strategy charts handy — The best thing about using the basic strategy is that you won’t have to memorise every decision you need to make. Keep a few strategy charts close by, so that you can refer to them at any time.
• Establish a betting system — The best players always have a good bankroll management system intertwined with their playing strategy. Bet and play in the smartest, most efficient way possible.
• Learn table etiquette — Blackjack is a game with specific etiquette that guides players’ behaviour at the table. Make sure you’re up to speed with all of these unwritten rules to ensure you’re using your strategy in the most optimal way possible.

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