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Table & Live Games

Blackjack Basic Strategy for Beginners

Blackjack is one of the few casino games where your decisions change the house edge. Basic strategy is the mathematically best play for each hand, and this guide summarises it.

By Bonus888 Slots Editorial Team · Updated

The basics in one paragraph

Cards 2–10 count at face value, face cards count as 10, and an Ace counts as 1 or 11. You try to finish closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. A "hard" hand has no Ace counted as 11; a "soft" hand has an Ace counted as 11 (for example A-6 is soft 17). You can hit, stand, double (double your bet and take one card) or split a pair into two hands.

Hard totals

Basic strategy: hard totals
Your handDealer shows 2–6Dealer shows 7–Ace
8 or lessHitHit
9Double vs 3–6, otherwise hitHit
10DoubleDouble vs 7–9; hit vs 10 or Ace
11DoubleDouble vs 7–10; hit vs Ace
12Stand vs 4–6; hit vs 2–3Hit
13 to 16StandHit
17 or moreStandStand

Soft totals

Basic strategy: soft hands
Your handWhat to do
A-2, A-3Double vs 5–6, otherwise hit
A-4, A-5Double vs 4–6, otherwise hit
A-6Double vs 3–6, otherwise hit
A-7Double vs 3–6; stand vs 2, 7, 8; hit vs 9, 10, Ace
A-8, A-9Stand

Pairs

Basic strategy: pairs
PairWhat to do
A-A, 8-8Always split
10-10Never split; stand
5-5Never split; play as a hard 10
2-2, 3-3, 7-7Split vs 2–7, otherwise hit
4-4Split vs 5–6, otherwise hit
6-6Split vs 2–6, otherwise hit
9-9Split vs 2–6 and 8–9; stand vs 7, 10, Ace

Insurance

When the dealer shows an Ace, you may be offered insurance. For basic strategy players, insurance is a poor bet and should be declined.

Table rules that matter

How common rules affect the player
RuleEffect
Blackjack pays 3:2Standard and better for the player
Blackjack pays 6:5Much worse for the player; avoid if possible
Dealer stands on soft 17Slightly better for the player
Double after split allowedSlightly better for the player

For how blackjack compares with other games, see our house edge guide and the live casino overview.