Blackjack Strategy Chart And Tips for 2024
A sound blackjack strategy can significantly improve your odds of winning and doesn’t require any special skills or experience. Following our simple and comprehensive chart, you can win games more often by taking fewer bad actions as you play.
Most players only require about 10 minutes to learn the blackjack basic strategy and start using it to play online or at land-based casinos. To help you understand it more easily, several real-world examples show you how to use the blackjack strategy chart.
Simple Blackjack Strategy For Beginners
If you play the popular game of 21 using a perfect blackjack strategy, you can lower the house edge to 0.5%. Unlike casino games of pure chance, such as slots or roulette, this card game lets you make informed decisions that may directly affect the outcome of the game.
The best part of using the basic strategy for blackjack is that it’s so simple to implement. Using a chart, you can find the best possible action based on your hole cards and the dealer’s face-up card. While not always guaranteed to work, this betting system should lead to significantly more wins, especially for newbies.
The blackjack basic strategy chart is a mathematically proven method that tells you the best way to play your hand. It is based on classic blackjack but can also be adapted to Single Deck Blackjack and other variants.
Blackjack Strategy Chart
The blackjack strategy card, chart, or blackjack strategy table, is a simple tool you can use to play each hand like a pro. It simplifies decision-making during the game and helps you quickly decide whether to hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender. You don’t need any prior experience to use it, but we do recommend knowing how to play blackjack before you do.
Your Hand
Dealer’s Up Card: 2
Dealer’s Up Card: 3
Dealer’s Up Card: 4
Dealer’s Up Card: 5
Dealer’s Up Card: 6
Dealer’s Up Card: 7
Dealer’s Up Card: 8
Dealer’s Up Card: 9
Dealer’s Up Card: 10
Dealer’s Up Card: A
Hard 5-8
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hard 9
Hit
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hard 10
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hit
Hit
Hard 11
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hard 12
Hit
Hit
Stand
Stand
Stand
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hard 13-16
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hard 17+
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Soft 13 (A,2)
Hit
Hit
Hit
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Soft 14 (A,3)
Hit
Hit
Hit
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Soft 15 (A,4)
Hit
Hit
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hit
Hit
Hit
Surrender
Hit
Soft 16 (A,5)
Hit
Hit
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hit
Hit
Surrender
Surrender
Surrender
Soft 17 (A,6)
Hit
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Soft 18 (A,7)
Stand
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Stand
Stand
Hit
Hit
Hit
Soft 19 (A,8)
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Soft 20 (A,9)
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
A,A
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
2,2 or 3,3
Split*
Split*
Split
Split
Split
Split
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
4,4
Hit
Hit
Hit
Split*
Split*
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
5,5
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Double-Down
Hit
Hit
6,6
Split*
Split
Split
Split
Split
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
7,7
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
8,8
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
9,9
Split
Split
Split
Split
Split
Stand
Split
Split
Stand
Stand
10,10
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Instead of referring to the chart above, you may wish to use a blackjack strategy calculator. This free online tool lets you enter your hand and the dealer’s up card and gives you the best action in the same way as the table. However, both the chart and calculator are based on the same principles so will give identical results.
Handy Tip: Split* indicates when you should only split your hand as long as doubling down after a split is possible. If it isn’t, you should hit instead. Moreover, surrender may not be available, so in such instances, the best alternative is to hit.
Using The Blackjack Strategy Chart
The basic blackjack strategy chart shows you the correct action to take in every situation. It is based on probability, so while it does not offer guarantees, it provides very accurate results.
To start using the blackjack strategy card, look at your hand. Your hand is hard if it does not contain an Ace and soft if it does. You should also check if you are holding a pair, which means having two cards of equal rank, such as 2♣ and 2♠.
Find your exact hand by looking down the “Your Hand” column of the blackjack strategy chart.
Next, look at the card that the dealer shows, often referred to as the up card. Check the first row of the chart for the matching card and move down that column until you intersect the row that matches your hand. The intersection point will highlight the best action to take. While this isn’t a blackjack perfect strategy, it’s as close as most players will ever get.
Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart Examples
The quickest way to understand how to implement a blackjack strategy using a chart is with a few examples. The following are three examples of a game we played online at one of the best blackjack casinos in the UK.
Blackjack Betting Strategy Example 1
In this example, our hand consists of a J and 9, which is equal to a hard 19. The dealer’s face-up card is an 8. The action to take is straightforward in this example as you should always stand when your hand is a hard 17 or higher.
Taking this action, we won as the dealer went bust.
Blackjack Betting Strategy Example 2
In this next example, our hand is made up of a 3 and 5 which together make a hard 8. The dealer’s face-up card is a 9. According to the basic blackjack strategy chart, we should hit.
When we hit, we get a 10 which takes our hand total to a hard 18. According to the chart, we should now stand.
The dealer’s second card is a 9, resulting in a push.
Blackjack Betting Strategy Example 3
We were dealt a 3 and 9, so our hand is a hard 12. The dealer’s up-card, meanwhile, is A. We were offered insurance but declined since basic blackjack strategy recommends always avoiding this side bet. The dealer checks the face-down card but does not have a Blackjack. According to the chart, we should hit.
Hitting gives us a 5, resulting in our hand being a hard 17. Looking at the chart once more tells us to stand.
In this example, the dealer’s hand resulted in a 21, so the dealer won.
Handy Tip: Blackjack basic strategy can reduce the house edge to 0.5% which is lower than almost any casino game apart from video poker. However, the more games you play, the greater the likelihood that this edge will skew results in the operator’s favour. This means that while you could turn a small profit playing a few hands, you shouldn’t use the chart as an income-generating tool.
Conditions For The Best Blackjack Strategy
To get the greatest benefit from using the blackjack basic strategy chart, look for games with the following rules and options:
- Dealer must stand on soft 17 – Choose games where the dealer stands on 17, even if this includes an A. Games where the dealer hits on soft 17 give the house an additional advantage.
- Blackjack pays 3:2 – Winning with an A and a 10-value card should pay the classic 3:2. Avoid games that pay 6:5 as this is comparatively lower and increases the house’s edge by about 1.4%.
- No double down restrictions – Games that let you double down on any hole cards are best as they give you optimum flexibility when the opportunity arises. These games let you follow the chart closely without having to use alternative actions.
- Resplitting As allowed – While less common, some blackjack games let you resplit As after initially splitting them, giving you four strong separate hands to play with. Each of these hands could result in a Blackjack or otherwise beat the dealer.
- Doubling down after splitting allowed – Blackjack games that let players double down after splitting pairs can reduce the house edge by about 0.13%. With this flexibility, you’ll be better able to follow the blackjack strategy chart to the letter.
Blackjack Perfect Strategy Chart Tips
While no strategy can guarantee success, your blackjack odds with perfect strategy will be far better than if you played according to your gut. Keeping the following tips in mind will further enhance your gaming experience and complement the chart.
- Practice using the chart in demo mode – Many of the top UK casinos let you play virtual games, including blackjack, for free using demo mode. Take advantage of this option to test the chart several times until you feel confident using it in real money games.
- Use the blackjack strategy chart for every hand – The chart displays the most likely way to win your hand or end the game in a push. Mathematically speaking, there’s no better way to win, so you should refer to it to guide you to play every hand without exception.
- Check the table game’s rules before playing – No matter whether you’re playing free or real money blackjack games, always check the rules. Some games don’t offer the surrender option, others may not support doubling down after a split, and others still may set different rules for the dealer.
- Familiarise yourself with common actions – While you don’t need to memorise any blackjack strategy, knowing to always split pairs of 8s and As while never splitting 10s can help you play faster games. Other popular actions include always standing on hard 17s or higher and doubling down on hard 11s.
- Make use of small unit bets – When you’re playing with real money, stick to lower bet values to extend your bankroll. Keeping a healthy bankroll will help you avoid the risk of making emotional decisions spurred by frustration, allowing you to gamble safely and enjoy your casino experience.
When Should You Use A Blackjack Surrender Strategy?
Surrender is a gameplay action available in some variants, such as Blackjack Surrender. With this action, you can forfeit your hand and receive half your Ante wager back. Doing so in opportune moments can be a strategic decision that reduces your losses when the odds of winning are fairly low.
There are two main types of surrender in blackjack:
- Early Surrender – This option lets you surrender your hand before the dealer checks for Blackjack. It’s rarely offered at casinos as it heavily favours the player, reducing the house edge by about 0.6%.
- Late Surrender – The more common option, late surrender in blackjack lets you forfeit your hand after the dealer has checked for Blackjack. If the dealer has Blackjack, surrender is not allowed and you’ll lose the full bet.
There are only a few scenarios where using blackjack surrender is the best strategy. These include if you’re holding a hard 16 and the dealer’s face-up card is a 9, 10, or A. You should also surrender if you’ve got a hard 15 and the dealer’s up card is a 10.
Handy Tip: Surrendering, when it makes sense to, can reduce the house edge by 0.1%. However, games that offer this option might have additional caveats such as even payouts for Blackjack or different rules for the dealer.
Advanced Blackjack Strategy
Once you’ve become familiar with basic blackjack strategy you might want to explore more advanced betting systems that could help you lower the house edge further. Alternatively, you may wish to play blackjack variants which might require an altered approach.
Card Counting in Blackjack
Card counting is a technique which involves tracking the ratio of high cards, namely 10s, face cards, and As, to low cards, or 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, and 6s left in the shoe. When the shoe is rich in high cards, players raise their bets as the likelihood of getting a strong hand or a Blackjack increases.
Counting cards in blackjack is permitted at online and land-based casinos but requires superb concentration and memory. It’s more effective in single-deck versions of the game as it makes keeping track of cards easier. Over multiple rounds, perfect card counting can reduce the house edge below 0.5%, but even this technique cannot guarantee a win.
Handy Tip: Card counting is not a suitable blackjack strategy for beginners and is challenging even for seasoned players. Moreover, when playing online it is essentially ineffective since most games use a new shoe on every round.
Single Deck Blackjack Strategy
While most classic blackjack games are played with between six and eight 52-card decks, Single Deck Blackjack is played with one. This single difference has a significant effect on the game’s odds so you should adapt your basic strategy for blackjack accordingly.
You should always double down on 11 since the odds of hitting a 10-value card are greater. You should also stand on 12 against a dealer’s 4 since the probability of the dealer busting is slightly higher with that particular up card. Finally, keep splitting As and 8s as it increases the odds of playing with two strong hands.
Martingale Strategy for Blackjack
The Martingale blackjack strategy outlines the value of your wager after a win or loss. Most often used for roulette, the Martingale System can be adapted to several other table games, including craps and baccarat.
To implement the best blackjack betting strategy according to Martingale, you should place the table’s lowest bet first and use the chart to determine your gameplay. If you lose the game, you should double your next wager, and keep doubling it after each successive loss. The moment you win a game, you should revert to your unit wager.
Handy Tip: Use the Martingale strategy for blackjack with caution as your bankroll could deplete before you’ve had a chance to recover your losses. Another factor that could restrict its success is maximum table limits. If you’ve got a fairly limited bankroll, it’s probably best to use flat betting instead, meaning you place the same wager no matter whether you win or lose.
Blackjack Strategy for Side Bets
There is no effective blackjack side bet strategy since the outcome of these optional bets is entirely luck-based. Betting on Perfect Pairs, 21+3, insurance bets, and other popular side bets increases the risk of losing money, so you should only place such bets occasionally. While potential payouts are tempting, the odds of winning are very low.
FAQs
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