Basic Strategy Charts

Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal play for every possible hand against every dealer upcard. Memorizing these charts eliminates guesswork and minimizes the house edge. This is what the Daily Challenge tests.

How to Read the Charts

Rows = your hand total or pair

Columns = the dealer's face-up card (2 through A)

H = Hit

S = Stand

D = Double Down (Hit if doubling is not available)

P = Split

Chart Rule Set

These charts are built for S17 rules. If you select H17 in Settings, a small number of optimal plays change. See H17 Differences below.

Hard Totals

A "hard" hand is any hand without an Ace counted as 11, or any hand where the Ace must count as 1 to avoid busting.

Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
5-8	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	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+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

H = Hit · S = Stand · D = Double Down

Key takeaways:

Always hit 8 or below. You cannot bust and any card improves your hand.

Always stand on 17 or above. The risk of busting outweighs any potential improvement.

Double 10 and 11 against weak dealer cards. These are your strongest doubling hands.

Stand on 12-16 against dealer 2-6. The dealer is likely to bust with a weak upcard. Hit against 7 or higher.

Soft Totals

A "soft" hand contains an Ace counted as 11. You cannot bust by hitting a soft hand because the Ace can revert to 1.

Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
A,2 (Soft 13)	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,3 (Soft 14)	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4 (Soft 15)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,5 (Soft 16)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6 (Soft 17)	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7 (Soft 18)	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
A,8 (Soft 19)	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,9 (Soft 20)	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

H = Hit · S = Stand · D = Double Down

Key takeaways:

Never stand on soft 17 (A,6). This is one of the most common mistakes. Soft 17 is weak. Always hit, or double against dealer 3-6.

Hit soft 18 (A,7) against dealer 9, 10, or A. This is counterintuitive, but 18 loses more often than it wins against strong dealer cards. Since you cannot bust, hitting is correct.

Double soft hands against dealer 5 and 6. The dealer is most likely to bust with these upcards, making it profitable to get more money on the table.

Always stand on soft 19 and 20. These are strong hands. Do not try to improve them.

Pairs

When you are dealt two cards of the same value, you can split them into two separate hands. The chart below shows when splitting is correct.

Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	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	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
T,T	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

H = Hit · S = Stand · D = Double Down · P = Split

Never Split 5s, Never Split 10s

A pair of 5s is a strong 10, perfect for doubling. A pair of 10s is 20, one of the best hands in blackjack. Keep both together.

Always Split Aces and 8s

Two Aces give you two shots at 21. Two 8s give you 16 (the worst total in blackjack). Splitting gives you two fresh starts from 8.

Key takeaways:

Always split Aces and 8s, no matter what the dealer shows. These are the two most important splitting rules.

Never split 5s. Play them as a hard 10 and double when the dealer shows 2-9.

Never split 10s. 20 is too strong to break up.

Split 9s against everything except 7, 10, and A. Against a 7, your 18 likely beats the dealer's 17. Against 10 and A, the dealer is too strong.

Split 2s, 3s, 6s, and 7s against weak dealer cards (2-6 or 2-7). Hit against strong dealer cards instead.

Common Mistakes

The most costly strategy errors, ranked by how much they cost per hand. Study these first for the biggest improvement in your game.

Scenario	What Players Do	Correct Play	Why
A,A vs. strong dealer	Hit	Split	Two shots at 21 beats playing a soft 12.
Soft 17 (A,6) vs. anything	Stand	Hit	You cannot bust a soft hand. Soft 17 is weak, always improve it.
8,8 vs. dealer Ace	Stand or Hit	Split	16 is the worst hand. Two 8s are a better starting point, even against an Ace.
Soft 18 (A,7) vs. 9 or 10	Stand	Hit	18 is not strong enough against a 9 or 10. You can still improve without risk of busting.
Hard 11 vs. dealer 10	Hit	Double	11 is the best doubling hand in blackjack, even against a 10.
8,8 vs. dealer 10	Hit or Stand	Split	Same logic as vs. Ace: escape the 16.
Hard 12 vs. dealer 2	Stand	Hit	The dealer does not bust often enough with a 2 to justify standing on 12.
Soft 18 (A,7) vs. dealer 10	Stand	Hit	18 loses more often than it wins against a 10. Hitting gives you a chance to improve.

Study These First

If you only memorize a handful of plays, focus on this table. These are the decisions that cost players the most when played incorrectly.

H17 Differences

When H17 is selected in Settings, the following optimal plays change:

Hand	Dealer Shows	S17 Play	H17 Play
Soft 18 (A,7)	A	Stand	Hit
Soft 18 (A,7)	2	Stand	Double
Soft 19 (A,8)	6	Stand	Double

All other decisions remain the same as the S17 charts above.

Auto Hint

Auto Hint adjusts automatically to your active setting.

Daily Challenge: Test your knowledge of these charts with five questions a day.

Hand Actions: Detailed explanation of every action (Hit, Stand, Double Down, Split).

Rules Reference: Card values, payouts, and game flow.

Basic Strategy Charts

How to Read the Charts

Hard Totals

Soft Totals

Pairs

Common Mistakes

H17 Differences

Related Pages

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