Blackjack is hands down the best casino table game there is.
Why? Well… Unlike slots or roulette.. your decisions actually affect the outcome.
That’s where blackjack strategy charts come in.
Strategy charts take the guessing out of every hand. It lays out exactly what you should do — hit, stand, double down, split — depending on your hand and the dealer’s up card.
You play smarter. You lose less. And you give yourself the best chance to win BIG.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- What Is a Blackjack Strategy Chart?
- Why Blackjack Strategy Charts Work
- How To Read a Blackjack Strategy Chart
- Hard Hands vs. Soft Hands
- When To Split Pairs
- Beginner Mistakes To Avoid
What Is a Blackjack Strategy Chart?
A blackjack strategy chart is pretty much what it sounds like — a chart that tells you the best course of action for any blackjack hand you could be dealt.
It takes into account your hand total and the dealer’s up card to show you the mathematically correct play every time.
Essentially it’s a cheat sheet… that’s legal.
This blackjack chart is the foundation of playing with proper blackjack strategy. Without it you’re left up to instinct (aka guessing) — which leads to losing money on hands you should be winning.
This chart is built from computer simulations running millions upon millions of blackjack hands — determining the optimal play for every possible scenario. Every play reduces the house edge against you as low as is mathematically possible.
Powerful stuff.
Why Blackjack Strategy Charts Work
Listen, blackjack already works in your favor when you use basic strategy.
Most beginners don’t realise that blackjack is a math game. Sure luck will play a role. But if you’re playing blackjack WITHOUT a strategy chart your luck runs out fast.
Remember: every card dealt impacts what remains in the deck — and therefore improves the odds in your favour. Blackjack strategy automatically adjusts for all of these changing odds.
When followed correctly, basic strategy pushes the house edge down to around 0.5%. That’s one of the lowest of ANY casino game out there.
Compare that to blackjack played without strategy. In those cases, the house edge balloons to 4% or higher. Suddenly that doesn’t look so great after playing for a few hours.
You can EXPECT a return to player (RTP) of up to 99.5% when using basic strategy in blackjack. No other table game even comes CLOSE to those odds.
How To Read a Blackjack Strategy Chart
If you’ve never seen a blackjack strategy chart before they can look intimidating.
It doesn’t take long to learn them.
Here’s the layout:
- The rows are your hand total (your first two cards added together)
- The columns are the dealer’s up card (only card they’ve placed face up on the table)
- The cell where they intersect is the move you should make
All of the moves are simple letters:
- H = Hit
- S = Stand
- D = Double Down
- P = Split
- Su = Surrender (if available at the table you’re playing)
Locate your hand. Locate the dealer’s card. Make the recommended play. It takes time to fluidly navigate a chart — but once you learn the patterns they’ll stick.
Hard Hands vs Soft Hands
This is SUPER important to understand before the strategy chart will make complete sense.
A hard hand is any hand that…
Either does not contain an Ace OR contains an Ace that can ONLY be used as a value of 1.
A soft hand contains an Ace valued at 11. That means you can’t bust by hitting — because if you go over 21 you simply drop the value of the Ace down to 1.
Why you need to know this:
Certain play, like hitting on a hard 16, can vary dramatically depending on whether you’re soft or hard. A hard 16 vs the dealer’s 10 has nearly a 62% chance of busting if you hit. That’s why the strategy chart tells you to stand (or surrender if the option is available).
If you have a soft 16 in that same situation? You should hit or double down without hesitation.
Confusing the two can be very costly for beginners.
When To Split Pairs
Pulled a pair in your starting hand? The strategy chart doesn’t leave any of these decisions up to debate.
Let’s go over when you should ALWAYS or NEVER split pairs:
- Always split a pair of Aces
- Always split a pair of 8’s
- Never split 10’s
- Never split 5’s and instead “hit” the 5 as if it were a 10
Remember these and you’ll never go wrong when it comes to splitting pairs. They apply to the majority of blackjack games out there.
Beginner Mistakes To Avoid
Strategy charts don’t mean crap if you don’t follow them closely. Let’s go over some common pitfalls that’ll hurt your chances:
Accepting insurance bets. Aside from slowing down the pace of play, insurance adds roughly 7% to the house edge for that hand alone. The strategy chart will never suggest taking insurance.
Neglecting to use the dealer’s up card. A dealer could be smiling with a hole card of 6 — they’re probably losing their hand. A dealer with a 10 means trouble. The strategy chart takes that up-card into account for every recommended play — so make sure to factor it into your game.
Using the wrong strategy chart. Games with six decks play slightly differently than ones with only one deck. Rules that allow the dealer to hit soft 17s change the optimal strategy as well. Make sure you’re using the correct chart for the game you’re playing.
Conclusion
Strategy charts are the single greatest weapon in a beginner’s blackjack arsenal. Not only do they tell you the best move for any situation — they teach you how to play smart and lose LESS.
Let’s recap:
- Look up your hand total and the dealer’s up card on the chart. Make that play every time.
- Know the difference between hard hands and soft hands
- Remember to always split Aces and 8’s, never split 10’s and 5’s
- Don’t fall for insurance or other bet variations that increase the house edge
- Use the RIGHT strategy chart for the game you’re playing
A strategy chart isn’t a silver bullet that wins you every hand. But it does align your play with the best odds possible on EVERY hand.
FAQs
What is a blackjack strategy chart?
Blackjack strategy charts tell you the optimal play for every hand possible in blackjack. These charts factor in both your hand total and the dealer’s up card.
Can using a blackjack strategy chart guarantee me winning?
No strategy chart can guarantee a win (unless you cheat). However, using a chart can bring the casino edge against you DOWN to around 0.5% — allowing for the greatest possibility to win over the long run.
Does the blackjack chart change if I’m playing different deck counts?
Yes! Playing with one deck versus six or eight changes the strategy slightly. Some games allow the dealer to hit soft 17s, other rules force them to stand. Each of these rules require different strategy charts.