In the early 2000s, I walked into the local casino with €1,500 in my pocket and a head full of ambition. Eleven months later, I was walking out with €10,000 in monthly winnings - and a permanent ban from the tables.
The casino had seen enough. They weren’t interested in playing with me anymore.
How did I do it? Card counting.
But that wasn’t the start of my story. Before I ever counted a card, I had to learn the bones of the game.
I had to learn basic strategy.
Basic strategy is the foundation of blackjack.
Memorizing the basic strategy chart doesn’t make you rich in blackjack. It won’t let you walk out a winner every night. But it’s your first line of defense, a way to claw back the house edge just enough to stay alive.
Learning it was the first step to my winnings and the reason I lasted as long as I did.
If you’re here to learn, I’ll give you everything you need.
This is my guide as a professional gambler to blackjack basic strategy for every player who wants to keep a little extra in their wallet and have some fun at the tables, even when the odds aren’t exactly rooting for them.
What is Blackjack Basic Strategy?
Blackjack basic strategy is simple. It’s a chart, plain and clear, laying out every possible hand you can have against every card the dealer could be showing.
No guesswork, no gut feelings; just math telling you when to hit, stand, split, or double down.
Now, this isn’t the secret to rolling in cash.
Follow this strategy, and you won’t be making money.
But if you’re serious about blackjack, it’s the first step you take to turn the tables a little in your favor. Basic strategy minimizes the casino’s edge, helping you lose less over time.
In other words, it keeps your wallet from bleeding dry.
They say the house always wins.
Most gamblers accept that they’re going to lose and make peace with it so long as they’re having a good time.
But somewhere along the way, they start dreaming up schemes to beat the dealer. They think they’ve found loopholes, shortcuts, and magic moves.
Eventually, they lose because they’ve overlooked one brutal fact.
Casino games are built on math, and math doesn’t lie.
And whether you’re playing live or online, blackjack is still a numbers game in gambling. Stick to the basic strategy chart, and at least you’ll keep yourself in the fight.
How Blackjack Rules Affect Basic Strategy
Blackjack basic strategy is tailored towards specific blackjack rules. Depending on the six rules of the game, there can be basic strategy variations so that the dealer’s edge is minimized on each occasion.
First, a few definitions.
What is S17 in blackjack?
S17 in blackjack stands for "Stand on Soft 17."
A soft 17 is a hand that totals 17 and includes an Ace counted as 11 (for example, A6). The rule of S17 means that the dealer must stand or not draw any more cards when their hand totals a soft 17.
This rule affects the house edge and can influence the player's strategy, as it slightly favors the player compared to the alternative rule, H17 (Hit on Soft 17), where the dealer must hit on a soft 17.
What is DA2 in blackjack?
DA2 in blackjack stands for "Double Any Two."
This rule allows players to double down on any initial two-card hand. Doubling down is a move where the player doubles their initial bet in exchange for committing to stand after receiving exactly one more card.
We can double down even when the sum of the cards is as low as 5! You may also double A9 according to that rule (I still remember when I did that back in my card counting days!). Alternatively, you may be allowed to double only when the cards’ sum is between 9 and 11 (D9) and even worse when the cards’ value is either 10 or 11 (D10)
The DA2 rule is advantageous to players because it provides more opportunities to double down, potentially increasing their winnings.
What is DAS in blackjack?
DAS in blackjack stands for "Double After Split."
This rule allows players to double down on their bet after they have split a pair of cards into two separate hands.
For example, if a player is dealt two 8s and decides to split them, they can then double down on either or both of the new hands after receiving the second card. If a 2 or a 3 is dealt at either card (for a sum of 10 or 11), I may want to double, depending on the dealer's hole card.
DAS is favorable to players because it provides additional opportunities to maximize their bets in advantageous situations.
Other blackjack rules that affect the odds
- Number of card decks: There are a definite number of decks in each shoe. Most casinos use six decks of cards, although you may find games with as low as two decks or as high as 8! Many decks favor the casino; less decks reduce the house’s edge.
- Surrender: Quitting before we hit or stand and losing half of the wager at the start of the hand is called surrender. There are two types of “surrender” depending on the choice given before or after the dealer checks their hole card for a likely blackjack; the very rare “early surrender” and the “late surrender” (ES and LS respectively). You should sit at blackjack tables that offer any type of surrender, as that rule favors your odds.
- US/European style: In US blackjack tables, dealers are dealt two cards, one facing down. In Europe, the dealer is dealt just one card facing up, obviously.
Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart: 6 decks, S17, DAS, No surrender, European
These are the rules of the game I played nearly every day until the casino caught on; first banning me from the tables, then installing automatic shufflers just to be sure.
For anyone wanting to play “by the book,” this blackjack hand chart was the bible. Memorizing it wouldn’t make them rich, but it would make sure their time at the tables came at the lowest possible cost.
In blackjack, that’s as close to winning as most people get.
Basic Blackjack Strategy Examples
- Me
35, dealer9: My cards’ value is 8. Reading the 4th line of the blackjack chart I am instructed to hit my hand, given the “H” under the dealer’s “9” column. Besides, whatever the dealer’s card, I must take a card. The real issue here isn’t whether I hit my hand or not. It’s about a “double” being a better option. - Me
64, dealer10: Holding a combined 10 and according to the 6th line of the basic strategy chart, I have to just hit and avoid doubling up. That course of action (double) should be taken if the dealer’s card was anything but a10,J,Q,Kor anAce. - Me
J2, dealer5: The basic strategy chart’s 8th line prompts me to stand on 12! This applies when the dealer shows a4, a5, or a6; otherwise, I need to draw a card. - Me
97, dealerK: The basic strategy chart (12th line) says I have to hit. No matter my position at the table, I have to follow that rule. Even if I am sitting at the last seat of the blackjack table, I MUST hit. Although other players sitting at the same table will negatively comment on my action and recommend me to stand on 16, it’s a mistake mathematically to stand. - Me
A4, dealer4: Blackjack basic strategy recommends doubling if the dealer’s card is a4to6. In any other case, I should just hit. In that instance, we should consider our hand as a “5” and not a “15”. If a ten comes along, our cards’ value is “15” and the strategy chart’s 11th line advises us to stand. - Me
44,dealer5: I need to split my 4’s. If the dealer’s card was any other card than a5or a6, my hand would have been a plain8. - Me
55, dealer9: Double. In case the dealer was showing a10or anA,, I should hit. Of course you should never split fives. Don’t lose focus when the dealer asks you “Split sir?” when you double your bet. They are trying to win more money from you! - Me
99, dealer7: Blackjack basic strategy chart’s recommended action is to stand. If I split my nines, I would lose more money in the long run.
Why Blackjack Basic Strategy Matters
Using the blackjack basic strategy chart isn’t about beating the house; it’s about trimming down their advantage.
By following this strategy without a single misstep, the casino’s edge against you shrinks to just 0.55%.
In real terms, that means for every $10 you bet, you’re only losing 5.5 cents in the long run. Play 50 hands an hour, and your cost for the entertainment is about $3; far better odds than most casino games.
But stray from the strategy chart, and the cost goes up.
Skipping the right moves like:
- standing on 16 against the dealer’s ten
- not doubling my
9or - not splitting my
33against the dealer’s2to7
and the house’s edge can jump by over 1%. That could mean doubling your losses.
Make bigger blunders, like:
- refusing to split Aces,
- hitting 15 against a dealer’s 6, or
- doubling your 11 against a low dealer card
and you’re looking at a disadvantage that could balloon past 3%.
Now you’re not just playing; you’re practically donating to the casino.
Stick to the basic strategy chart, though, and you’ll get the best odds Blackjack has to offer.
How to Memorize the Basic Strategy Chart
If you’re serious about playing blackjack right, there’s one way to memorize the basic strategy chart: practice.
Start dealing cards to yourself and an imaginary dealer.
Flip over the dealer’s card, check your own hand, and decide—hit, stand, double, or split. Keep the chart close at first, but the goal is to know it cold.
After enough hands, you’ll be making decisions without thinking.
Break it down. Start with the hard totals; the 12s to 16s, where every choice counts. Then work on the soft hands, A-6 or A-7, and finally, when to split pairs.
Piece by piece, you’ll know it by heart.
If you need a push, use flashcards or a blackjack trainer app.
With every hand you practice, you’ll get quicker, sharper. Soon enough, you’ll walk up to a real table and play with confidence, knowing exactly what to do, no chart needed.
Basic Blackjack Strategy: The Foundation for Card Counting
Basic strategy isn’t just about keeping the casino’s edge in check; it’s the bedrock for something much bigger: counting cards.
Before I could count cards, I had to drill the basic strategy chart into my head.
Every hit, every stand, every split had to be automatic.
If I had to pause and think about it, the casino would’ve spotted me before I got through the first shoe.
Card counting isn’t a gimmick or a trick; it’s math. You’re tracking high cards and low cards, and every decision you make depends on knowing exactly when to shift your bet or adjust your play.
But to pull that off, basic strategy has to be second nature. You can’t waste time thinking about the fundamentals. You have to know them cold, or you’ll slip up.
Counting cards demands total focus, and basic strategy frees up the mind. It lets you zero in on the count without second-guessing every move.
Blackjack Etiquette: Respecting the Game with Basic Strategy
Using basic strategy isn’t just about the math; it’s about respect for the game and the players at the table.
In blackjack, etiquette matters.
When you stick to the basic strategy chart, you’re not just helping yourself; you’re playing by the unspoken code that seasoned players respect.
At a crowded blackjack table, your decisions affect more than just your own hand. Stand on a 16 when the dealer shows a 10, and the serious players around you will give a nod of approval.
Start hitting on random hands or ignoring the chart, and you’ll feel the tension from players who rely on strategy to keep the odds in check.
Good blackjack players watch each other’s moves, and when they see you playing by the book, they’re more likely to trust you. Some might even bet on your hand when the odds are in your favor, showing their confidence in your decisions.
Stick to basic strategy, and you’ll not only protect your bankroll but earn a place among players who know and respect the game.
In blackjack, there’s a right way to play and a respectful way to lose.
