Basic Strategy Table
For those learning Blackjack nothing can be more important than learning basic strategy. Unfortunately remembering all the rules of basic strategy can be a little overwhelming when you are still worried about betting and not offending other blackjack players. Luckily there is nothing wrong or illegal about using a Basic Strategy Table to help you out in your games. Of course you shouldn't rely on the table. You may be politely asked by the dealer or other players to leave the table if you rely on the table for every play. But as a reference to make sure your on the right track there is nothing better.
Basic Strategy TableYour Hand | Dealer's Face-up Card | |||||||||
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
Hard totals | ||||||||||
18-20 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
17 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | Rs |
16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | Rh | Rh | Rh |
15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | Rh | Rh |
13-14 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
12 | H | H | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H |
10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H |
9 | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
5-8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Soft Totals | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
A, 9 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A, 8 | S | S | S | S | D | S | S | S | S | S |
A,7 | D | D | D | D | D | S | S | H | H | H |
A,6 | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A,4-5 | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A,2-3 | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
Pairs | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
A,A | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP |
10,10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
9,9 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | S | SP | SP | S | S |
8,8 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | Rsp |
7,7 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H |
6,6 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H | H |
5,5 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H |
4,4 | H | H | H | SP | SP | H | H | H | H | H |
2,2 & 3,3 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H |
The above is a basic strategy table for the most common 6- to 8-deck, Las Vegas Strip rules. Specifically: dealer hits on soft 17, double after split allowed, multiple split aces, one card to split aces, blackjack pays 3:2, and (optionally) late surrender.
Key: | ||
S | = |
Stand |
H | = |
Hit |
D | = |
Double |
SP | = |
SPlit |
Rh | = |
suRrender if allowed, otherwise Hit |
Rs | = |
suRrender if allowed, otherwise Stand |
Rsp | = |
suRrender if allowed, otherwise SPlit |