Blackjack Strategy Guide

The Mathematics of the Deck

Blackjack is one of the few games where player agency significantly impacts the outcome. By following a mathematically optimized "Basic Strategy," you aren't guessing—you are making the statistically superior move every time.

Blackjack Fundamentals

In blackjack, every card is worth its face value. So if you have a 4 and a 7, then you have a total of 11. Tens, jacks, queens, and kings all have a value of 10 and an ace can be worth either 1 or 11.

The Deal

The game starts when you place a wager. You and the dealer are both dealt two cards, but only one of the dealer's cards is exposed. This is called the dealer's 'upcard' and the hidden card is called the dealer's 'hole card'. Once you receive your hand, you have to make a decision. Do you want to hit - in which case you take another card - or do you want to stop going, in which case you stay.

You will also have the option of doubling down, which means you take exactly one more card, and double your wager. This is a strong move if you have 11 or 10 because there are so many ten value cards in the deck (more than 30% of the deck). If you have a pair you get the option to split. And if you have a natural blackjack - which is an ace with any ten value card - then you win immediately and get a payoff of 3:2. Finally, if the dealer has an ace showing, they will offer you insurance, which you should simply decline, as the odds are definitely not worth it.

To Hit

To signal a hit, the dealer will want you to tap the table. All plays in blackjack are done via hand signal so that if there is any dispute they can go to the cameras and see what really happened. The most obvious hit is a hand like 5 and 2, where you have a total of seven. No matter what the dealer has for an upcard, you are going to want to hit, because it is a free hit. You can't bust. All you can do is improve your hand. The best result would be to get a three or a four, so you have a strong total of 10 or 11.

If you start with a total of 9, 10, or 11, then you have to consider doubling down. If the dealer has a "bust card" - meaning 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, then you want to double down on a total of 9, 10, or 11. Those are the weakest dealer upcards, and it is the perfect time to get some more money on the felt. You basically have two shots to win. Either you can land your double, in which case you are a big favourite, or if you miss and get a low card instead, you can still hope for the dealer to break. But don't get over confident. Even with a low card up, the dealer is still going to make a hand most of the time.

If the dealer has a big card up - anything 7 or above - then you are going to want to hit until a total of 17 or above.

To Stay

To stay, you wave your hand over the table in a horizontal line. Any time you start with 17 or above, you are going to want to stay (unless it is a soft hand but more on that later). Also, if the dealer has a bust card, and you have what is called a "stiff" (a hand like 13, 14, 15 anything above 11 and below 17) then you are going to want to stay and hope that the dealer busts.

The Guru Strategy Matrix

Use this chart based on a standard 4-8 deck game where the dealer stands on Soft 17.

Your Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
8 or less	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
13-16	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

Soft Hands

A hand like A6, where you have an ace, is called a soft hand. It is soft because you can hit, get a ten value card, and you still don't bust. Instead of going to 27 you go back down to 17, counting the ace as a one now. Soft hands are versatile. If the dealer has a bust card, then you might double down depending on the specifics. If you have soft seventeen or less, you are definitely going to want to take a card. A hand like A5 is a free hit. You might just luck out and get a 5 for 21. But even if you don't, if you catch a 10 and go back to 16, then you are no worse off than if you had stayed. Slightly better off actually because you still have the option to take one more card.

Spitting Pairs

If you start with two cards of the same rank, for example 7,7 you then have the option to split your pairs into two separate hands. This will mean matching your initial wager, so if you bet $25 originally, you will have to put up another $25 - but hey, the more you bet, the more you can win. Once you split, you can also double down if you get a good card. For example you can start with 3,3 and then split and get an 8 on your first hand 3,8 or 11. You then double down. This is one aspect of blackjack that makes it pretty exciting. You can easily start off wagering $25 but the next thing you know there is $100 on the line after multiple splits and doubles.

The Guru Pair-Splitting Matrix

Splitting allows you to place a second bet and play two separate hands. Follow this chart to know when to divide your forces.

Your Pair	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
6,6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
5,5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
3,3 / 2,2	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H

P = Split S = Stand (Don't Split) H = Hit (Don't Split) D = Double Down (Treat as a Hard 10)