True Count

Blackjack basic strategy: the complete chart, explained

Basic strategy is the best possible play for every hand you can be dealt, worked out by computer over millions of hands. Follow it and the casino's edge drops to around half a percent, the lowest of almost any casino game.

How to read the chart

Find your hand down the left side, then the dealer's face-up card across the top. The box where they meet is your play.

  1. Pairs first. If your first two cards match, use the Pairs chart.
  2. Then soft hands. If you have an ace that's counting as 11, use the Soft totals chart.
  3. Everything else is a hard total.

Two small rules cover the cases the chart can't. If the chart says Double but you can't (usually because you already have three cards), hit instead, except soft 18, which stands. If it says Surrender but the table doesn't offer it, hit.

This chart is for the most common rules: 6 decks, the dealer stands on soft 17, you can double after splitting, and late surrender is offered. Other rules change only a few boxes.
Hard totals (no ace, or an ace counted as 1)
You have2345678910A
17 or moreSSSSSSSSSS
16SSSSSHHRRR
15SSSSSHHHRH
14SSSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
12HHSSSHHHHH
11DDDDDDDDDH
10DDDDDDDDHH
9HDDDDHHHHH
8 or lessHHHHHHHHHH
Soft totals (an ace counted as 11)
You have2345678910A
Ace + 9 (soft 20)SSSSSSSSSS
Ace + 8 (soft 19)SSSSSSSSSS
Ace + 7 (soft 18)SDDDDSSHHH
Ace + 6 (soft 17)HDDDDHHHHH
Ace + 5 (soft 16)HHDDDHHHHH
Ace + 4 (soft 15)HHDDDHHHHH
Ace + 3 (soft 14)HHHDDHHHHH
Ace + 2 (soft 13)HHHDDHHHHH
Pairs
You have2345678910A
Two acesPPPPPPPPPP
Two 10sSSSSSSSSSS
Two 9sPPPPPSPPSS
Two 8sPPPPPPPPPP
Two 7sPPPPPPHHHH
Two 6sPPPPPHHHHH
Two 5sDDDDDDDDHH
Two 4sHHHPPHHHHH
Two 3sPPPPPPHHHH
Two 2sPPPPPPHHHH

The ideas behind the chart

You don't have to memorize 280 boxes one by one. Almost the whole chart comes from a handful of ideas.

The dealer's card tells you almost everything

A dealer showing 2 through 6 is weak, because they have to keep drawing to 17 and bust often. A dealer showing 7 through ace is strong and usually ends up with 17 or more.

Stiff hands: stand against weak cards, hit against strong ones

Hard 13 to 16 are "stiff": not good enough to win on their own, but one more card might bust you. Against a weak dealer card, stand and let the dealer take the risk. Against a strong one, you have to hit. Hard 12 is the exception: it only stands against 4, 5 and 6.

Double when you're likely to get a strong total

Doubling doubles your bet for exactly one more card. 11 and 10 are the best hands to double, since any 10, jack, queen or king makes 20 or 21. Soft hands double often against weak dealer cards because one more card can't bust them.

Always split aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s.

Two aces are two hands that start with 11. Two 8s make 16, the worst hand in blackjack, so you split them into two better starts. Two 10s already make 20, and two 5s are a hard 10, which you'd rather double.

Mistakes most players make

MistakeCorrect play
Standing on 12 against a 2 or 3Hit. Only a 10 can bust you.
Never doubling soft handsDouble soft 13 to 18 against the weakest dealer cards.
Standing on soft 17Never. Double against 3 to 6, otherwise hit.
Taking insurance or "even money"Decline it. It's a side bet that loses over time.
Splitting 10sStand on your 20.
Hitting 16 against a 10 when surrender is offeredSurrender and get half your bet back.

Practice it until it's automatic

Reading a chart is easy. Knowing the play in under a second, without thinking, takes practice. The True Count trainer teaches the chart in 12 short lessons, then drills you on the hands you get wrong most.

Practice basic strategy free

Ready for the next step? Read how card counting works.