Blackjack Strategy Chart Explained – Parimatch Blog

The history of basic blackjack strategy

The journey of blackjack strategy is one of mathematics, probability and the quest to conquer the casino. In the formative years of blackjack, players relied on intuition and gut feeling alone. Then, in the 1950s and 60s, pioneers like Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel and James McDermott changed the game forever. 

Armed with a mastery of equations and a keen understanding of probability, this quartet devised the first basic blackjack strategy – a set of rules outlining the optimal moves for different player hands against various dealer upcards. Their work, published in the groundbreaking paper ‘The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack’, laid the foundation for modern blackjack strategy. 

Fast forward a decade, and the advent of card counting came into play. Blackjack visionaries like Edward O. Thorp refined basic strategy further by integrating the advantage gained from counting cards into optimal play. Casinos scrambled to adjust their rules in response to this newfound knowledge. 

Today, basic blackjack strategy is the set of rules which helps provide a framework for all blackjack games. Blackjack strategy charts help visualise basic strategy, making negating the game’s house edge easier. 

Basic blackjack strategy and the issue of house edge

When the basic strategy is used, the theoretical return to player (RTP) percentage of blackjack can be increased to as much as 99.50%. Every little helps when it comes to minimising the house edge in casino table games. 

Just remember the RTP of 99.50% is a long-term percentage, defined over hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of hands of blackjack. The game could return much more or less than this figure during the short term, but over the long term, you’re supposed to lose £0.50 of every £100 you wager. 

The different types of blackjack strategy charts

Blackjack strategy charts come in various guises. Over the years, multiple charts have been developed depending on which type of blackjack game you play. Below, we’ve put together a list of the most common blackjack strategy charts you’ll be able to find online: 

Single-deck blackjack strategy charts 

Single-deck blackjack is the game with the smallest house edge, as there’s only one version of each card in the dealer’s deck. Single-deck strategy charts are essentially the purists’ charts for basic blackjack. 

Multi-deck blackjack strategy charts 

Multi-deck blackjack games are increasingly common both online and offline. Multi-deck strategy charts factor in subtle tweaks to the game rules and any shifts in probabilities to ensure you always make the optimal decision. 

Late surrender blackjack strategy charts 

In some blackjack games, you can take a late surrender. A quick Google can display several blackjack strategy charts for late surrender in single-deck, two-deck and multi-deck games. 

Early surrender blackjack strategy charts 

It’s also easy to find blackjack strategy charts factoring in the prospect of taking early surrender in a blackjack hand. 

How to read a blackjack strategy chart

These strategy charts are designed to exist as decision matrixes. Each chart is a table with rows and columns. It lists every best-case decision you can make in any given scenario at the blackjack table. 

You only need to use the chart after you’ve been dealt your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard is visible. Find your hand value and the value of the dealer’s upcard on the chart, and you can locate the overlapping square in question – it really is that simple. 

To really master basic blackjack strategy, you’ll need to memorise this chart. You’ll need to be able to commit these charts to memory so you can play freely and enjoy the game. 

The most important phrases to remember from a basic blackjack strategy chart

Soft hands 

Note: A soft total is a blackjack hand with an Ace as one of its first two cards. In this scenario, the Ace is worth 11. 

• Always stand on a soft 20 (A-9) 
• Always double down on a soft 19 (A-8) if the dealer’s upcard is a six – otherwise stand. 
• Always double down on a soft 18 (A-7) if the dealer is showing a two through to six (or hit against a nine or an Ace). 
• Always double down on a soft 17 (A-6) if the dealer’s upcard is a three through to six – otherwise hit. 
• Always double down on a soft 16 (A-5) if the dealer’s upcard is worth four to six – otherwise hit. 
• Always double down on a soft 15 (A-4) if the dealer is showing a four through to six – otherwise, hit. 
• Always double down on a soft 14 (A-3) if the dealer’s upcard is worth five or six – otherwise hit. 
• Always double down on a soft 13 (A-2) if the dealer’s upcard is worth five or six – otherwise hit. 

Hard hands 

Note: A hard total is a blackjack hand which doesn’t contain an Ace in its first two cards. In this instance, any other Ace is worth one. 

• Always stand if your hand is worth hard 17 or greater. 
• Always stand on hard 16 if the dealer’s upcard is worth two through to six – otherwise, hit. 
• Always stand on hard 15 if the dealer’s upcard is worth two through to six – otherwise, hit. 
• Always stand on hard 14 if the dealer is showing a two through to six – otherwise, hit. 
• Always stand on hard 13 if the dealer is showing a two through to six – otherwise, hit. 
• Always stand on hard 12 if the dealer’s upcard is worth four through to six – otherwise, hit. 
• Always double down on hard 11. 
• Always double down on hard 10 if the dealer’s showing a two through to nine – otherwise, hit. 
• Always double down on hard nine if the dealer’s showing a three through to six – otherwise, hit. 
• Always hit on hard eight. 

Splitting hands 

• Always split a pair of Aces. 
• Never split pairs of 10s. 
• Always split a pair of nines if the dealer’s upcard is worth two through to nine (although you should stand if it’s seven). 
• Always split pairs of eights. 
• Always split a pair of sevens if the dealer is showing a two through to seven. 
• Always split a pair of sixes if the dealer’s upcard is worth two through to six. 
• Always double down on a pair of fives if the dealer’s upcard is showing a two through to nine. 

• Always split a pair of fours if the dealer’s upcard is worth five or six. 
• Always split a pair of threes if the dealer’s upcard is worth two through to seven. 
• Always split a pair of twos if the dealer’s upcard is worth two through to seven. 

Surrendering hands 

• Always surrender when your hand is worth 15, and the dealer is showing a 10. 
• Always surrender when your hand is worth 16, and the dealer’s upcard is worth nine through to Ace. 

Why are blackjack strategy charts so complicated?

The reality is they’re not as complex as they appear at face value. The charts display what you need to do based on your and the dealer’s cards. 

The left side of the chart relates to your hand, and the top row relates to the dealer’s upcard. Just marry the two and find the relevant square to get your call to stand, hit, double down, split or even surrender. 

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