Basic strategy

The table below shows optimal strategy for typical casino rules (Vegas Strip) 4 to 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, player may double any 2 cards, double after split (DAS) allowed, and dealer checks for blackjack. If you are were to learn only one strategy by heart, this should be it.

Your hand Dealer’s face-up card
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 R H
16 S S S S S H H R R 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 D/S D/S D/S D/S 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
D/S Double if Possible, Otherwise Stand
P Split (Pair)
R Surrender if Possible, Otherwise Hit
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