Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart: When to Hit, Stand, Double and Split

By Chris Wyatt · Updated October 2026

Quick answer: Basic strategy is the mathematically best decision for every blackjack hand based on your cards and the dealer’s upcard. Following it cuts the house edge to roughly 0.5% in typical multi-deck games. The key rules: always split aces and 8s, never split 10s or 5s, double 11 against everything except an ace, and stand on hard 12 to 16 against a dealer 2 to 6 (hit 12 against 2 and 3).

In this guide:

• How to Read the Chart
• Hard Totals
• Soft Totals
• Pairs
• The Most Important Rules to Remember
• How Rules Change the Chart
• Basic Strategy, House Edge and Card Counting
• Where to Play Blackjack with Crypto
• Blackjack Basic Strategy FAQs

How to Read the Chart

Find your hand on the left and the dealer’s upcard across the top. The chart below assumes a common online setup: 4 to 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed.

Hard Totals

A hard hand has no ace, or an ace that must count as 1.

Soft Totals

A soft hand contains an ace counted as 11.

Pairs

Use this table when your first two cards are a pair.

The Most Important Rules to Remember

• Always split aces and 8s.
• Never split 10s or 5s (treat 5,5 as a hard 10).
• Double 11 against every upcard except an ace.
• Stand on hard 12 against 4 to 6, and on 13 to 16 against 2 to 6.
• Hit hard 12 to 16 against 7 or higher.
• Never take insurance.
• If late surrender is offered, surrender hard 16 against 9, 10 or ace, and hard 15 against 10.

How Rules Change the Chart

• Dealer hits soft 17: double 11 against an ace, double A,8 against 6, and double A,7 against 2.
• No double after split: split 2,2, 3,3, 4,4 and 6,6 less often.
• Single deck: slightly different doubling rules apply.
• 6:5 blackjack payouts: avoid these tables. They add more than 1% to the house edge.

Basic Strategy, House Edge and Card Counting

Perfect basic strategy brings the house edge down to around 0.5%, one of the best odds in the casino. See how it compares in our RTP and house edge guide. Card counting can shift the edge further in live shoe games, but it does not work against continuous shufflers or online RNG blackjack. Learn more in our guides to counting cards and advanced counting strategies, or start with how to play blackjack.

Where to Play Blackjack with Crypto

Live and RNG blackjack is available at Stake, BitStarz, BC.Game and 7Bit Casino. Check table rules before you sit down: 3:2 blackjack payouts and dealer standing on soft 17 are best.

Blackjack Basic Strategy FAQs

18+ only. Gambling involves risk; never bet more than you can afford to lose. Visit our responsible gambling page for support. More beginner guides in our Crypto Casino 101 hub.