Blackjack Basic Strategy Charts (Printable)

Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal way to play every blackjack hand, calculated by running every possible card combination through probability analysis. It was first published by Roger Baldwin and colleagues in 1956, refined over decades as computing power improved, and hasn’t fundamentally changed since, because the math is fixed. Play basic strategy consistently and the house edge drops to approximately 0.5% in a standard six-deck game. Most players who rely on intuition are giving the house 2–4%.

How to Read a Basic Strategy Chart

Charts are organized with your hand total on the left axis and the dealer’s upcard across the top. Find your total, find the dealer’s upcard, and the cell tells you the correct action: H (Hit), S (Stand), D (Double Down), P (Split), R (Surrender).

There are three separate tables: hard totals, soft totals, and pairs. Always check which one applies to your hand before acting. Using a chart while playing online is completely legal and accepted.

Hard Totals Strategy

Hard hands are hands without an Ace, or with an Ace that counts as 1 (because counting it as 11 would bust you).

H = Hit, S = Stand, D = Double (hit if not allowed), R/H = Surrender if allowed, otherwise Hit

Soft Totals Strategy

Soft hands contain an Ace counted as 11. The key advantage: you can’t bust with one more card, which opens doubling opportunities that don’t exist with hard hands.

Pair Splitting Strategy

When your first two cards are a pair, you can split them into two hands. The right splits are valuable; the wrong ones are costly.

P = Split, H = Hit, S = Stand, D = Double

The Rules That Change the Chart

Basic strategy is slightly different depending on the specific rules of your game. The tables above apply to a standard six-deck game with dealer standing on soft 17. Key rule variations that shift some decisions:

• Dealer hits soft 17 (H17): adds about 0.2% to the house edge; slightly adjusts some doubling decisions (more doubling against dealer Ace)
• Single deck: fewer decks favor the player; some doubling and splitting decisions shift (e.g., A,8 vs 6 becomes a double rather than stand)
• Double after split (DAS) allowed: expands some split decisions (2,2 and 3,3 become splits against dealer 2–3)
• Late surrender available: enables the R/H entries in the hard totals chart

For any game you play regularly, find a chart specific to that rule set. The differences are minor, the tables above will get you to within 0.1% of optimal for almost any standard variant, but they’re worth refining if you play seriously.

The Moves to Memorize First

If the full chart feels overwhelming, these six rules handle the highest-value decisions:

• Always split Aces and 8s
• Never split 10s or 5s
• Always double on 11 (except against dealer Ace)
• Stand on hard 17 and above, always
• Hit soft 17 (Ace + 6), never stand
• Stand on hard 12–16 against dealer 4, 5, or 6