Blackjack Strategy Chart Explained

Blackjack is a multifaceted game, where players face several challenges. A basic blackjack strategy chart displays a mathematically optimal action for different player hands against the dealer’s visible card, calculated through computer simulations.

Typical actions can include hitting, standing, or surrendering. Charts are a valuable tool in a player’s armoury, but their usefulness is based on specific blackjack rules. Differing deck counts and table rules can produce contrasting recommendations.

When applied correctly, basic strategy can reduce mathematical house advantage, but it doesn’t guarantee winning outcomes. This guide equips players with information on hard hands and soft hands, as well as when to double or split.

What Is a Blackjack Strategy Chart?

A blackjack strategy chart is a decision table showing the mathematically recommended action for each player hand and dealer upcard under a specified set of rules.

We’ve outlined a few other fundamental principles connected to strategy charts:

• The player’s hand will appear on one axis.
• The dealer’s visible upcard will appear on the other.
• This intersection gives the recommended course of action.
• Charts are produced by analysing various potential blackjack outcomes.
• Strategy charts are designed to identify the action with the best expected mathematical result under a particular set of rules.
• They serve as a reliable tool for online learning.
• However, strategy charts don’t predict which card will come next, nor will they guarantee a hand will win or remove a casino’s mathematical advantage completely.
• Basic blackjack strategy therefore works on decisions based on the current player hand and a dealer’s upcard.
• This shouldn’t be confused with other techniques, such as card counting, where players can keep track of high and low cards remaining in the dealers’ cards. 

 

How to Read a Blackjack Strategy Chart

If you’re unfamiliar with how to read a blackjack strategy chart, this section should clarify things for you. We’ve outlined the process and created a compact terminology table, so you know what to look out for:

• Choose the correct strategy card by establishing how many decks are used in a live casino game. 
• Identify the player’s hand which is usually found vertically on the left side of the chart.
• Determine whether a player’s hand is hard, soft, or features a pair.
• Find the dealer’s upcard along the top of the chart.
• Locate where the two values intersect on the chart, which offers the suggested play or appropriate strategy to adopt.
• Follow the action that has been represented by the relevant abbreviation.

In some cases, a blackjack hit stand chart might combine instructions:

• Dh – double if permitted, otherwise hit.
• Ds – double if permitted, otherwise stand.

Exact notation can differ between charts, so it is advised to check the type of game and how many decks are used.

Hard Hands on a Blackjack Strategy Chart

A hard hand in blackjack is any hand that has been compiled without an ace, or a hand has been formed where an ace counts as 1 to avoid exceeding 21.

Hard totals from 12 to 16 are often called stiff hands because taking another card carries a meaningful risk of exceeding 21. However, not every hard hand is classified as stiff. Here are some common examples:

• Hard 12: 10 + 2 or 8 + 4.
• Hard 16: 10 + 6 or 9 + 7.
• Hard 17: 10 + 7 or 9 + 8.

Hard totals often represent the majority of hands players will be dealt in blackjack. Recommendations often depend on the player’s total and the dealer’s visible card, and therefore hard hands should be influenced by mathematics rather than intuition. 

 

Soft Hands on a Blackjack Strategy Chart

A soft blackjack hand is any hand containing an ace being counted as 11 without exceeding 21. Below are some common examples of soft hands:

• Soft 15: Ace + 4.
• Soft 16: Ace + 5.
• Soft 17: Ace + 6.

A soft hand cannot bust when one additional card is drawn because the ace can change from 11 to 1. However, the hand may then become hard, and further cards can cause it to exceed 21. The flexibility of this hand should not be overlooked, and they occupy their own section within strategy charts.

However, players need to be aware of specific dealer rules or the number of decks used. So, whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17 can often change basic strategy decisions.

 

Pair Splitting on a Blackjack Strategy Chart

Pair splitting occurs when players have two cards of the same rank, such as two 2s or two Kings as their starting hand.

A split entails separating into two hands, requiring an additional stake equal to the original bet, or players can keep their cards together and use their total.

General guidelines for splitting pairs will depend on basic strategy and a dealer’s upcard, and the following suggestions often pop up:

• Always split Aces and 8s: Two 8s is considered one of the worst hands in blackjack, so splitting this or a pair of Aces which gives you two chances to hit 21 might give you a better chance of improving hands.
• Never splitting 5s or 10s: A pair of 5s equals 10 which gives players an excellent platform to double down. A pair of 10s, meanwhile, is considered a strong hand to keep intact.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that charts should match specific table splitting rules. Relevant table rules can include whether doubling after a split is permitted, whether pairs can be resplit, or if there are special restrictions imposed after splitting aces.

 

What Do Hit, Stand, Double, and Surrender Mean?

Blackjack has a few key terms dictating play patterns, and we have provided a short glossary, explaining each succinctly:

 

Hit

Players can take another card from the dealer to add to their existing hand.

 

Stand

Here, players will refuse to take any further cards from the dealer, keeping their current total.

 

Double Down

This entails placing a second bet equal to the original stake according to full table rules, and receiving one further card before standing.

 

Split

Players can separate an eligible pair into two hands. Splitting separates an eligible pair into two individual hands and normally requires an additional stake. The appropriate decision depends on the player’s cards, dealer upcard and applicable splitting rules.

 

Surrender

A surrender is an optional hand where players can give up a hand before the round reaches a natural conclusion. Here, players will forfeit a percentage of their original stake.

However, surrender is not available for all blackjack games. The rule will vary by game type, so players should check to see whether surrender is offered before sitting down at a table.

 

Why Do Blackjack Strategy Charts Differ?

Blackjack charts may help visualise player strategy, but there is no single universal blackjack strategy chart. We’ve discussed several underlying factors as to why recommendations can vary, which are as follows:

 

Number of Decks

Blackjacks are often played with the following decks:

• Single deck
• Double deck
• Six Decks
• Eight Decks

With single deck blackjack, this usually has the smallest house edge, as there is only one version of each card in the dealer’s deck. Whereas, with multi-deck games, this can help players optimise mathematical decisions.

 

Dealer Soft 17 Rule

Some strategy charts are adapted to specific rulesets, such as whether the dealer stands on soft 17 (S17) or hits soft 17 (H17).

Understanding the distinction is crucial as a dealer standing on S17 can reduce the house edge, shifting the balance more in favour of the player.

 

Doubling Rules

Whether doubling after a split is permitted can change pair-splitting recommendations. If doubling is unavailable, the alternative action may be to hit or stand depending on the hand and dealer upcard.

 

Surrender Rules

Surrender availability can often add further strategic decisions that do not exist at tables without it. In certain situations, players should consider surrendering where there are borderline standing dilemmas.

 

Other Table Rules

Other rules, such as re-splitting, splitting aces, and dealer hole-card procedure, can affect basic strategy. Users should check a game’s rules and refer to a chart that adheres to a particular ruleset to avoid any problems.

 

Does a Blackjack Strategy Chart Guarantee Winning?

No it doesn’t. Basic blackjack strategy is influenced by long-term mathematical probabilities and it doesn’t predict individual card sequences. Therefore, there is no future knowledge that can be applied.

The blackjack charts are supposed to be a reference point. Using the appropriate chart for a game can reduce mistakes relative to arbitrary decisions while also reducing a game’s mathematical house advantage under the relevant rules.

Even a mathematically preferred action can lose a particular hand, so a strategy chart, when used properly, doesn’t remove randomness or guarantee profits.

 

Common Blackjack Strategy Chart Terms

As a quick recap, here’s a compact reference of key strategy chart terms:

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