| Because blackjack has an element of player choice, players can reduce casino advantage to less than 1% by playing optimally. The complete set of optimal plays is known as basic strategy. There are slight variations depending on the house rules and number of decks. |
| |
Dealer's face-up card |
| Your 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 |
H |
| 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/R |
H |
| 16 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H/R |
H/R |
H/R |
| 17+ |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| |
| A,2 |
H |
H |
H |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,3 |
H |
H |
H |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,4 |
H |
H |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,5 |
H |
H |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,6 |
H |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| A,7 |
S |
Ds |
Ds |
Ds |
Ds |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
| A,8 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| A,9 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
| |
| 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 |
| 10,10 |
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 if possible, otherwise hit |
| Ds |
Double if possible, otherwise stand |
| P |
Split (pair) |
| H/R |
Surrender if possible, otherwise hit |
|
