Basic Blackjack strategy is the very basic system that all players must memorize and master if they want to become a successful player. Basic strategy in blackjack is based on mathematical chart system that shows the players the correct mathematical way to play. To know proper play you need to know this fundamental system of basic strategy charts inside and out as blackjack strategy is based upon this. When it is rightly followed and applied it reduces the house edge to the minimum.

The Basic blackjack strategy has been developed and refined through computer simulations and research over the years. Depending on the type of Blackjack you are playing there is wide variety of charts with minor adjustments and variations. Two most common strategy charts are the following-

  • Single Deck Blackjack Strategy Charts
Action Mean: H = Hit S =
Stand D = Double P = Split
Hard Totals
Hard Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A
8 H H H D D H H H H H
9 D D D D D H H H H H
10 D D D D D D D D H H
11 D D D D D D D D D D
12 H H S S S H H H H H
13 S S S S S H H H H H
14 S S S S S H H H H H
15 S S S S S H H H H H
16 S S S S S H H H H H
17-20 S S S S S S S S S S
Soft Totals
Soft Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A
A 2 H H D D D H H H H H
A 3 H H D D D H H H H H
A 4 H H D D D H H H H H
A 5 H H D D D H H H H H
A 6 D D D D D H H H H H
A 7 S D D D D S S H H H
A 8 S S S S D S S S S S
A 9 S S S S S S S S S S
Pair Splitting
Pairs 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A
2 2 H P P P P P H H H H
3 3 H P P P P P H H H H
4 4 H H H D D H H H H H
5 5 D D D D D D D D H H
6 6 P P P P P H H H H H
7 7 P P P P P P H H H H
8 8 P P P P P P P P S P
9 9 P P P P P S P P S S
10′s S S S S S S S S S S
A’s P P P P P P P P P P
  • Multiple Deck Blackjack Strategy Charts
    • Action Means: H = Hit S =
    Stand     D = Double   P = Split
    Hard Totals
    Hard Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A
    8 H H H H H H H H H H
    9 H D D D D H H H H H
    10 D D D D D D D D H H
    11 D D D D D D D D D H
    12 H H S S S H H H H H
    13 S S S S S H H H H H
    14 S S S S S H H H H H
    15 S S S S S H H H H H
    16 S S S S S H H H H H
    17-20 S S S S S S S S S S
    Soft Totals
    Soft Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A
    A 2 H H H D D H H H H H
    A 3 H H H D D H H H H H
    A 4 H H D D D H H H H H
    A 5 H H D D D H H H H H
    A 6 H D D D D H H H H H
    A 7 S D D D D S S H H H
    A 8 S S S S S S S S S S
    A 9 S S S S S S S S S S
    Pair Splitting
    Pairs 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A
    2 2 P * P * P P P P H H H H
    3 3 P * P * P P P P H H H H
    4 4 H H H P P H H H H H
    5 5 D D D D D D D D H H
    6 6 P P P P P H H H H H
    7 7 P P P P P P H H H H
    8 8 P P P P P P P P S P
    9 9 P P P P P S P P S S
    10′s S S S S S S S S S S
    A’s P P P P P P P P P P
    * HIT = If Double After Splitting is Not Allowed.

How to use Blackjack Basic Strategy

To use basic blackjack strategy is not a tough task if the player thoroughly read and memorizes basic strategy charts. The top horizontal column of the charts stands for the dealer’s hand and the left vertical column is player’s hand. To find where your hand meets the dealer’s hand simply line up the columns correctly. Commonly found abbreviations on the blackjack basic strategy charts are-

  • H – Hit
  • S – Stand
  • D – Double if allowed, otherwise hit
  • Ds – Double if allowed, otherwise stand
  • P – Split
  • H/P – Split if you can double after split, otherwise hit
  • H/R – Surrender if allowed, otherwise hit
  • P/R – Surrender if allowed, otherwise split
  • S/R – Surrender if allowed, otherwise stand

To make decisions correctly while playing blackjack you’ll need to memorize Basic strategy charts. Logical patterns in the charts should be understood to easily memorize the charts. These logical patterns will be helpful in understanding every move.

Last thing to remember is that there is no guaranteed winning system in any game. Blackjack basic strategy charts are just mathematical calculations for every blackjack move thus this does not gives guarantee foe sure shot winning. Simply any player must learn it to become serious player.