Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart & Guide (2025)

Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal way to play every hand in blackjack. By following basic strategy perfectly, you can reduce the house edge to as low as 0.5% — making blackjack one of the best bets in the casino.

This guide covers everything you need to know about basic strategy, including a complete strategy chart, explanations for every decision, and tips for memorizing the rules.

What Is Basic Strategy?

Basic strategy is a set of rules that tells you the statistically best play for every possible combination of:

• Your hand total
• The dealer's upcard

These rules were developed using computer simulations that played billions of hands to determine the optimal decision in every situation.

The Complete Basic Strategy Chart

The chart below shows the correct play for every hand. Find your hand on the left, the dealer's upcard on top, and the intersection tells you what to do.

Hard Hands (No Ace, or Ace counted as 1)

Key: H = Hit, S = Stand, D = Double (hit if not allowed)

Soft Hands (Ace counted as 11)

Pair Splitting

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

Understanding the Logic

Why Stand on 12-16 Against 2-6?

The dealer must hit until reaching 17. With a 2-6 showing, the dealer has a high chance of busting (35-42%). Your weak hand becomes a winning hand when the dealer busts.

Why Hit 12-16 Against 7-A?

When the dealer shows a strong card (7-A), they are likely to make a hand of 17-21. Hitting gives you a chance to improve, even though you risk busting.

Why Always Split Aces and 8s?

• Aces: Two hands starting with an ace are much stronger than one hand totaling 12 (soft) or 2 (hard). Each ace gives you a great chance at 21.
• Eights: 16 is the worst hand in blackjack. Two hands starting with 8 each have much better prospects.

Why Never Split 10s or 5s?

• Tens: A total of 20 is an excellent hand. Splitting gives you two mediocre hands.
• Fives: A total of 10 is a great doubling opportunity. Splitting gives you two weak starting points.

How to Memorize Basic Strategy

Step 1: Learn the Hard Totals First

• Always hit 8 or less
• Always stand on 17 or more
• Double 10 and 11 against weak dealer cards
• Stand on 12-16 vs 2-6, hit vs 7-A

Step 2: Learn the Soft Totals

• Always stand on soft 19 and 20
• Double soft 13-17 against dealer 5-6
• Soft 18 stands vs 2-8, hits vs 9-A

Step 3: Learn the Splits

• Always split Aces and 8s
• Never split 10s or 5s
• Split 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s against dealer 2-7
• Split 9s against 2-9 except 7

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Standing on soft 17 — Always hit, you can't bust
2. Splitting 10s — Keep your 20, it's a winner
3. Taking insurance — It's a sucker bet with a 7.7% house edge
4. Not doubling 11 vs dealer 10 — The math says double

Practice Resources

• Use our Blackjack Cheat Sheet as a quick reference
• Check our Blackjack Odds guide to understand the math
• Return to the main Blackjack Guide for complete rules

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Memorizing basic strategy takes effort, but it's the single most important thing you can do to improve your blackjack results. With perfect basic strategy, you're playing nearly even with the house — giving yourself the best possible chance to walk away a winner.