Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart — Free Six-Deck Tables

Blackjack basic strategy chart for six-deck S17 games — hard hands, soft hands, and pair splitting tables. Cut the house edge to 0.5%. Free, no sign-up.

Blackjack basic strategy is the mathematically correct action for every hand you can be dealt. Applied consistently, it cuts the house edge to approximately 0.5% in a standard six-deck game — one of the lowest of any casino game. This guide explains what basic strategy is, how to read a strategy chart, and gives you the complete tables for hard hands, soft hands, and pairs so you can start applying it straight away.

What is blackjack basic strategy?

Basic strategy is a decision matrix built from exhaustive probability analysis. For every possible player hand and every possible dealer upcard, the strategy calculates the expected value of each available action — hit, stand, double, or split — and prescribes the one that maximises your expected return.

A hard hand is any hand with no ace, or one where the ace must count as 1 to avoid busting. A soft hand contains an ace currently counting as 11 without causing a bust. The distinction matters because soft hands allow you to take an additional card without the immediate risk of going over 21.

The mathematical foundation for basic strategy was formalised by Edward Thorp in his 1962 book Beat the Dealer, which used early computer analysis to work through every possible hand combination. Julian Braun and subsequent researchers refined the strategy for specific rule sets. The core decisions have remained stable for decades because the underlying probabilities do not change.

Basic strategy applies across the full range of deck counts, though the correct plays shift slightly depending on the number of decks and specific table rules. The tables below cover the most common configuration: six decks, dealer stands on soft 17 (S17), doubling after split allowed (DAS).

How to read a strategy chart

A strategy chart is a grid. The rows are your hand — listed as hard totals, soft totals, and pairs. The columns are the dealer’s upcard, running from 2 through 10 then ace.

Each cell contains a code:

CodeMeaning
HHit
SStand
DDouble down; if the rules do not allow doubling, hit
DsDouble down; if the rules do not allow doubling, stand
PSplit
P/HSplit if doubling after split (DAS) is allowed; otherwise hit

To use the chart: find the row that matches your hand, find the column that matches the dealer’s upcard, and take the action in that cell. There is no interpretation required.

Worked example: You are dealt a 9 and a 3 — hard 12. The dealer shows a 5. Find the Hard 12 row, move to the dealer 5 column: the cell reads S (stand). Against a dealer 4, 5, or 6, you stand on hard 12 because the dealer has a meaningful chance of busting.

Many casinos permit players to consult a printed strategy card during play. Using one is not cheating. For a color-coded single-page reference covering all three tables, see the blackjack strategy chart.

Complete basic strategy tables

Hard hands

Your hand runs down the left; the dealer’s upcard runs across the top.

Your hand2345678910A
8 or lessHHHHHHHHHH
9HDDDDHHHHH
10DDDDDDDDHH
11DDDDDDDDDH
12HHSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHHH
16SSSSSHHHHH
17–21SSSSSSSSSS

Soft hands

Your hand2345678910A
A-2 (soft 13)HHHDDHHHHH
A-3 (soft 14)HHHDDHHHHH
A-4 (soft 15)HHDDDHHHHH
A-5 (soft 16)HHDDDHHHHH
A-6 (soft 17)HDDDDHHHHH
A-7 (soft 18)SDsDsDsDsSSHHH
A-8 (soft 19)SSSSSSSSSS
A-9 (soft 20)SSSSSSSSSS

Pair splitting

Valid for six decks, S17, DAS allowed.

Your pair2345678910A
A-APPPPPPPPPP
2-2PPPPPPHHHH
3-3PPPPPPHHHH
4-4HHHPPHHHHH
5-5DDDDDDDDHH
6-6PPPPPHHHHH
7-7PPPPPPHHHH
8-8PPPPPPPPPP
9-9PPPPPSPPSS
10-10SSSSSSSSSS

Hard hand strategy explained

Hard hands form the majority of decisions at the table. The principle running through each range is consistent: when the dealer shows a weak upcard (2–6), play conservatively and let the dealer bust; when the dealer is strong (7 through ace), take more risk because standing on a weak total is unlikely to win.

Hard 8 or less. Always hit. Your total is too low to bust on a single card, and no dealer upcard is weak enough to justify standing.

Hard 9. Double against a dealer 3, 4, 5, or 6. These are the weakest dealer upcards — the dealer busts at significantly higher rates when showing 5 or 6, and doubling maximises your return when you are the favourite. Against everything else, hit.

Hard 10. Double against dealer 2 through 9. Hard 10 is a strong doubling hand across most of the dealer’s range. Stand down only against dealer 10 and ace, where the dealer’s potential for a strong result narrows your edge.

Hard 11. Double against dealer 2 through 10. There are more 10-value cards in a six-deck shoe than any other denomination, making a 21 the single most likely outcome when you double hard 11. Against a dealer ace, hit; the dealer’s blackjack possibility and overall strength tips the balance just enough.

Hard 12. Stand against dealer 4, 5, or 6; hit against everything else. Hard 12 is an uncomfortable hand: four card values (10, J, Q, K) bust you immediately, but the total is too low to stand against a strong dealer. Against dealer 4–6, the dealer’s bust probability makes standing the correct play.

Hard 13–16. Stand against dealer 2 through 6; hit against dealer 7 through ace. This is the range where recreational players make the most expensive mistakes. Hard 16 in particular feels like a losing hand regardless — and over the long run, against a dealer 7 or higher, it often is. But standing is worse. The only path to improving your position is to draw.

Hard 17 and above. Always stand. The bust risk on any additional card outweighs the potential gain from improving the total.

Soft hand strategy explained

Soft hands are underutilised by most players because they look deceptively strong. Soft 18 (ace-7) feels comfortable, and many players simply stand every time. But soft hands offer doubling opportunities that meaningfully increase your expected return — especially when the dealer is weak.

Soft 13 and 14 (A-2, A-3). Double against dealer 5 or 6, otherwise hit. These are modest starting totals with limited doubling value; the opportunity exists only when the dealer’s two weakest upcards are showing.

Soft 15 and 16 (A-4, A-5). Double against dealer 4, 5, or 6, otherwise hit. The range widens as your total strengthens.

Soft 17 (A-6). Double against dealer 3 through 6, otherwise hit. Many players stand on soft 17 by instinct, but this is a mistake. A total of 17 does not win very often — the dealer makes 17 or better the majority of the time — and the flexible ace makes doubling safe.

Soft 18 (A-7). This is the most nuanced soft hand. Double against dealer 3 through 6. Stand against dealer 2, 7, or 8. Hit against dealer 9, 10, or ace. Soft 18 is a strong hand against a dealer 7 or 8 — standing is correct. But against dealer 9, 10, or ace, the dealer is likely to make 19, 20, or 21, and the flexibility of the ace makes hitting mathematically superior to standing.

Soft 19, 20, and 21. Always stand. These are strong totals with no realistic case for any other action.

Pair splitting strategy explained

When dealt a pair, you can split into two separate hands by placing a second bet equal to your original wager. Some pairs should always be split; others should never be. The decision depends on your pair’s strength relative to the dealer’s upcard and, in some cases, whether the rules allow doubling after a split.

Always split aces. A pair of aces gives you soft 12 or hard 2 — neither useful. Split unconditionally. Each ace becomes the foundation of a new hand drawing to 21. Most casinos allow only one additional card per split ace; splitting is still correct by a wide margin.

Always split 8s. Two 8s total 16, the worst hand in blackjack — weak enough to lose to almost every dealer total, yet high enough that hitting carries serious bust risk. Split against every dealer upcard, including 10 and ace. You will not win every resulting hand, but splitting 8s against a dealer 10 loses less money over time than playing a hard 16.

Never split 10s. A pair of 10-value cards is a 20 — it wins the vast majority of the time. Splitting breaks one strong hand into two that will usually finish with 20 or less. The expected value of standing is significantly higher.

Never split 5s. A pair of 5s is hard 10 — one of the best doubling hands in the game. Splitting creates two hands starting at 5, which are far weaker.

9-9. Split against dealer 2–6 and 8–9. Stand against dealer 7 (your 18 beats a likely dealer 17), 10, and ace.

7-7. Split against dealer 2–7; hit against higher upcards.

6-6. Split against dealer 2–6; hit otherwise.

4-4. Split only against dealer 5 or 6 when DAS is allowed; otherwise treat as hard 8 and hit.

2-2 and 3-3. Split against dealer 2–7; hit against higher upcards.

How rule variations change the strategy

Basic strategy is not universal — the correct plays shift depending on the table rules in play. The tables above cover the most common six-deck, S17, DAS configuration. The main variations to watch for:

Dealer hits soft 17 (H17). When the dealer hits soft 17 instead of standing, the house edge increases slightly. This changes a handful of decisions — for example, you should double A-7 vs dealer ace in an H17 game, whereas you hit in an S17 game. The differences are small but real.

Single or double deck. Fewer decks improve the player’s odds marginally. Some doubling ranges expand; pair splitting rules may shift. A single-deck, H17 game has slightly different correct plays from a six-deck S17 game.

Surrender allowed. Some tables offer late surrender, allowing you to forfeit the hand and recover half your bet before the dealer checks for blackjack. When available, surrendering hard 15 vs dealer 10 and hard 16 vs dealer 9, 10, or ace are the key plays basic strategy adds.

No double after split (no DAS). When the rules prohibit doubling after splitting, some pairs — 4-4 vs dealer 5-6, 2-2 vs dealer 2, 3-3 vs dealer 2 — should be hit rather than split.

Always check the table placard for specific rules before sitting down. The combination of rules in play determines the correct strategy, not the label on the chart.

Common mistakes to stop making

Taking insurance. Insurance pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack when showing an ace. In a six-deck game, the probability of the hole card being a 10-value does not justify the side bet. It carries a negative expected value and should be declined every time, regardless of your hand.

Standing on 16 versus a dealer 7. Hard 16 is the most misplayed hand in the game. Standing feels less painful than busting, but the dealer is likely to finish with 17 or better, and standing guarantees a loss in that scenario. Hit.

Not doubling 11 versus a dealer 10. Some players hesitate when the dealer shows a strong card. The math does not support the caution: hard 11 vs dealer 10 is still a doubling situation in a six-deck S17 game, and your expected return is higher when doubling than when hitting.

Splitting 10s. The logic — “I could win two hands” — overlooks that 20 is already nearly certain to win. Splitting destroys a near-guaranteed winner.

Standing on soft 18 versus a 9. Soft 18 looks strong, but against a dealer 9 the dealer is likely to make 19 or 20. Hit. The ace protects you from busting on a high card.

Memorising the chart

Learning basic strategy completely takes time; you do not need to master every cell at once. A practical sequence: start with hard hand totals, which account for roughly 70% of all decisions. Once those are automatic, add pair splitting — there are only ten pairs and several have absolute rules (always split aces and 8s; never split 10s or 5s). Finish with soft hand decisions.

Practice with free play before risking real money. Playing at your own pace without time pressure makes it easier to check decisions against the chart and build recall. The free blackjack game on this site lets you play at any speed you need. When you need a quick lookup at the table, the strategy chart has every decision in a single color-coded grid.

For the underlying rules that inform when each strategy decision applies — including how surrender, re-splitting, and peek rules interact — see the complete blackjack rules guide.

How to use a basic strategy chart — step by step

  1. Check if you have a pair. Look at your two starting cards. If both have the same value — 8-8, A-A, 7-7, etc. — go directly to the pair splitting table and find your pair in the left column.
  2. Check if you have a soft hand. If one card is an ace that currently counts as 11 without causing a bust, you have a soft hand. Go to the soft hands table and find your total — for example, ace + 7 is soft 18 (A-7).
  3. Identify your hard total. If you have neither a pair nor a soft hand, add up all card values to get your hard total — for example, 9 + 5 = hard 14.
  4. Find the dealer’s upcard column. Look at the dealer’s one face-up card. Find the matching column across the top of the chart. Columns run from 2 through 10, then Ace.
  5. Read the cell and execute the action. The cell where your row meets the dealer’s column shows the correct action: H (hit), S (stand), D (double down, or hit if not allowed), Ds (double down, or stand if not allowed), or P (split). Take that action without second-guessing.

Frequently asked questions

What is blackjack basic strategy?

Blackjack basic strategy is the mathematically correct action for every possible combination of your hand and the dealer’s upcard. Derived from exhaustive computer simulation of every possible deal, it tells you exactly when to hit, stand, double down, or split. Applied consistently in a standard six-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17, it reduces the house edge to approximately 0.5% — one of the lowest of any casino game.

Does basic strategy guarantee I will win at blackjack?

No. Basic strategy maximises your expected return over the long run but does not eliminate the house edge — it minimises it. You will still lose hands and have losing sessions. What basic strategy does is ensure you are making the mathematically optimal decision every time, so you lose as little as possible to the house over many hands. Think of it as reducing the house advantage, not reversing it.

What is the house edge when using basic strategy?

In a standard six-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17 (S17), doubling after split is allowed, and blackjack pays 3:2, the house edge with perfect basic strategy is approximately 0.5%. Without any strategy, guessing or playing by feel, the house edge rises to roughly 2–4%. A player who switches from guessing to basic strategy effectively saves about $1.50–$3.50 per $100 wagered on average.

Should I always split a pair of 8s, even against a dealer 10 or ace?

Yes. A pair of 8s totals 16, the worst hand in blackjack — weak enough to lose to almost every dealer total yet high enough that hitting carries serious bust risk. Splitting gives you two hands each starting at 8, a much stronger position. Against a dealer 10 or ace you will still lose those hands more often than you win, but splitting 8s loses less money over time than playing hard 16. Split 8s unconditionally, every time.

When should I double down in blackjack?

The primary doubling opportunities in a six-deck S17 game are: hard 11 against any dealer upcard 2–10; hard 10 against dealer 2–9; hard 9 against dealer 3–6. For soft hands: A-6 (soft 17) against dealer 3–6; A-7 (soft 18) against dealer 3–6; A-4 and A-5 against dealer 4–6; A-2 and A-3 against dealer 5–6. Doubling is most profitable when the dealer shows 4, 5, or 6 — the upcards that lead to the most dealer busts.

Yes. Using a basic strategy card at the blackjack table is legal and permitted in virtually every casino. Casinos retain a house edge even against perfect basic strategy players, so they have no reason to prohibit strategy cards. Some casinos sell them in their gift shops. Simply keep the card on the table, consult it for any decision you are unsure about, and play your hand. No casino rule prohibits this.

Why should I hit soft 17 rather than stand?

Soft 17 (ace + 6) is a weak total despite containing an ace. A dealer making 17 or better means your soft 17 only wins if they bust. Basic strategy says to hit soft 17 (and double against dealer 3–6) because the flexible ace eliminates bust risk on the next card, and improving to 18, 19, 20, or 21 happens more often than staying at 17 loses to a dealer 17. Standing on soft 17 is one of the most common and costly mistakes recreational players make.

Sources and methodology

The strategy tables on this page are computed for six decks, dealer stands on soft 17 (S17), double after split allowed (DAS), late surrender not offered. They align with the published work of the following primary sources:

  • Edward O. Thorp, Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One (Vintage Books, 1966 revised edition). Thorp’s early computer analysis established the mathematical framework for basic strategy and demonstrated that card counting was viable. The core hard-hand and soft-hand recommendations originate here.
  • Julian H. Braun, How to Play Winning Blackjack (Data House Publishing, 1980). Braun refined Thorp’s calculations using IBM simulation runs covering billions of hands, producing the rule-specific strategy matrices that underpin most modern published charts.
  • Peter A. Griffin, The Theory of Blackjack (Huntington Press, 6th edition, 1999). Griffin’s statistical analysis of expected values per hand and per rule variation is the standard academic reference for house-edge calculations.
  • Stanford Wong (John Ferguson), Basic Blackjack (Pi Yee Press, 1992). Wong’s per-rule strategy tables are widely cited for single-deck, double-deck, and multi-deck variations under both H17 and S17 conditions.

If the table rules at your casino differ from the six-deck S17, DAS configuration described here, some plays will change — particularly for H17 games and single-deck configurations. Consult a rule-specific chart before adapting.

About this guide

This article is produced by the livecasino.net editorial team, who research, draft, and fact-check all strategy content on this site. Strategy recommendations are cross-verified against published academic sources (listed above) and checked for consistency with the six-deck S17, DAS rule set before publication. The team updates this page when academic consensus or commonly available rule sets change; the current revision reflects August 2026 standards.

livecasino.net is a free-to-play resource — there is no real money involved, no affiliate links to casinos, and no incentive to recommend a particular strategy over another. The recommendations here reflect the mathematics, nothing else.

Responsible gambling

Blackjack basic strategy is an educational tool. This site is free-to-play with no real money involved.

If you choose to play blackjack for real money elsewhere, keep these principles in mind: gambling involves risk and the house always retains an edge — even with perfect basic strategy. Set a budget you can afford to lose, treat it as entertainment, and never chase losses.

If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, free confidential help is available:

Play responsibly. Know your limits.

Related Articles

Betting Systems — Why Martingale, Fibonacci, and D'Alembert Don't WorkWhy popular betting systems like Martingale, Fibonacci, and D'Alembert cannot change the house edge. They redistribute variance but not expectation — the math explained clearly.Read article →Card Counting in Blackjack — How It Works and Why It's HardHow blackjack card counting works: the Hi-Lo system explained, true count vs running count, betting spread, and why casinos countermeasures make it impractical for most players.Read article →Casino House Edge Explained — Every Game ComparedWhat the house edge means, how it's calculated, and how every major casino game compares: blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, poker, and slots. Includes a full comparison table.Read article →

Also Try

Blackjack The most strategic card game — beat the dealer without busting. Play free → Roulette European single-zero roulette — spin the wheel for free. Play free → Baccarat Elegant card game of James Bond — no skill needed. Play free →