Printable Blackjack Strategy Chart

Basic strategy on one page. Find your hand in the left column, the dealer's face-up card along the top, and play the letter. Six decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed, no surrender.

Practise free (play money)

H hit · S stand · D double, else hit · Ds double, else stand · P split

Hard totals (no Ace counted as 11)
You2345678910A
17+SSSSSSSSSS
16SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
12HHSSSHHHHH
11DDDDDDDDDH
10DDDDDDDDHH
9HDDDDHHHHH
5–8HHHHHHHHHH
Soft totals (an Ace counted as 11)
You2345678910A
A,9SSSSSSSSSS
A,8SSSSSSSSSS
A,7SDsDsDsDsSSHHH
A,6HDDDDHHHHH
A,5HHDDDHHHHH
A,4HHDDDHHHHH
A,3HHHDDHHHHH
A,2HHHDDHHHHH
Pairs
You2345678910A
A,APPPPPPPPPP
10,10SSSSSSSSSS
9,9PPPPPSPPSS
8,8PPPPPPPPPP
7,7PPPPPPHHHH
6,6PPPPPHHHHH
5,5DDDDDDDDHH
4,4HHHPPHHHHH
3,3PPPPPPHHHH
2,2PPPPPPHHHH

Five things to remember

  1. Always split Aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s.
  2. Never take insurance or even money.
  3. Stand on hard 12 to 16 when the dealer shows 2 to 6 (hit 12 against a 2 or 3); hit them against 7 or higher.
  4. Double 11 against anything but an Ace, and 10 against 2 to 9.
  5. Soft 18 is not a standing hand against a 9, 10 or Ace: hit it.

cardcouch.com/blackjack: free play-money Blackjack with this chart as an optional hint.

How to use it

Learn the hard totals first: they come up most. Then the pairs, which are short, and the soft hands last. A pair you should not split is played as its total, which is why 5,5 reads like a hard 10 and 4,4 like a hard 8. The fastest way to make the chart stick is to play with it beside you: CardCouch's Blackjack uses exactly these rules and can show the chart's answer for every hand as a hint.

For why each play is right, read the basic strategy guide. New to the game? Start with how to play Blackjack, the rules and card values.

Frequently asked questions

Which rules is this Blackjack chart for?

Six decks, the dealer stands on soft 17, Blackjack pays 3 to 2, you may double on any two cards and after splitting, and there is no surrender. Those are the rules of the free Blackjack game on CardCouch and the most common shoe-game rules. If the dealer hits soft 17, double 11 against an Ace and double soft 18 against a 2 and soft 19 against a 6; everything else stays the same.

What do H, S, D, Ds and P mean?

H is hit, S is stand, D is double down if you are allowed to and otherwise hit, Ds is double if allowed and otherwise stand, and P is split the pair. The columns are the dealer's face-up card.

Can I use a strategy chart at a real casino table?

Most casinos allow a basic strategy card at the table as long as it does not slow the game, and many sell them in the gift shop. Card-counting aids and phones are a different matter. CardCouch's Blackjack is play money only, so there you can simply switch the hint on.

Does basic strategy mean I will win?

No. It is the play that loses the least: with these rules the house keeps about half a percent of every bet in the long run. The chart removes mistakes; it does not remove the house edge.

Practise with play money

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