Optimal strategy in Blackjack - Blackjack Table Strategy Cha

Mastering blackjack starts with understanding the optimal strategy. Discover how the Blackjack Table Strategy Chart can elevate your game by guiding your decisions on hits, stands, splits, and doubles. This ultimate guide explains the math behind the strategy and provides tips for applying it at the table, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player looking to refine your skills.

Learn When to Hit - Blackjack Table Chart

There are many strategies to achieve success in blackjack. The most commonly used are the so-called Optimal Strategy and Card Counting.

The Basic Strategy is based on the mathematical probability of winning in the given situation. In the Blackjack Basic Strategy table, find the box with coordinates describing your situation. The box contains how to proceed in order to maximize your chances of winning. Learn this table by heart in order to play blackjack in classic casinos or keep it open in another browser window when playing online blackjack.

Blackjack table chart when to hit and stand

	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	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/R	H/R
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
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	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	S	S	H	H	S
A,8	S	S	S	S	Ds	S	S	S	S	S
2,2	H/P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3,3	H/P	H/P	P	P	P	P	H/P	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H/P	D/P	D/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/P	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H/P	H	S/R	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

Key

H	Hit
S	Stand
D	Double, if possible. Otherwise hit
Ds	Double, if possible. Otherwise stand
P	Split
H/P	If double after split, hit
D/P	If double after split, double again
H/R	Surrender, if possible. Otherwise, hit
S/R	Surrender, if possible. Otherwise, stand

Optimal Strategy in Blackjack for Beginners

If you follow these simple guidelines, you can be sure that you play each game in the best possible manner and reduce the house edge to a minimum.

Hard hands

The following rules apply to hard hands:

5 to 8 - always draw, whatever the dealer’s card.
9 - if the dealer has 2 to 6, always double; if he has 7 or more just draw.
10 - double against dealer’s 2 to 9.
11 - double against dealer’s 2 to 10.
12 to 16 - draw if the dealer has 7 to ace; stand otherwise.
17 to 21 - always stand.

Soft hands

For soft hands, the following rules apply:

12 to 15 - always draw.
16 to 17 - double if the dealer has 2 to 6; draw otherwise.
18 - double if the dealer has 2 to 6; stand if he has 7 or 8; draw if he has 9, 10 or ace.
19 to 21 - always stand.

Splitting

Always split aces and eights.
Never split 4, 5 or tens.
Split nines except for when the dealer has 7, ten or ace.
Split the twos, threes, sixes and sevens if the dealer has 2 to 6; if the dealer has 7 or above, only draw for sixes and sevens.

If you are interested to learn how to split in blackjack, read a special article in our blackjack guide.

Never do this!

Never take insurance unless you play with other people and you a ten card on the table.
Never surrender except when you have 15 against ten and 16 against 9, ten and ace.
Never be disrespectful to other players and dealers, they want to enjoy the game just like you. The dealer is not the one who influences the game - it is only your decision how many times you bet and on which table.
The dealer is your friend. If he doesn’t act that way, find another table.
Never raise bets when you’re losing. That’s a surefire way to bury yourself and your bankroll.

Keep in mind!

Remember that blackjack is a wonderful game and is even more fun if you play it well.
At all costs, try to remember all the basic rules for a successful game.
Remember, only you determine how long you will play.
If you’re winning, raise your bets.
Stop playing if you've already achieved your goals or the game is no longer fun.

These are the basic rules for a successful game. No can guarantee that you will always win, but if you follow the instructions above, you can be sure that you have done all you could to reduce the house edge!

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