Edge 21Blackjack basic strategy chart
Basic strategy is the mathematically correct way to play every hand: for each combination of your cards and the dealer's up card, there's one play that loses the least (or wins the most) in the long run. Played perfectly, it cuts the house edge to about 0.5%. Tap any cell to see the play and why.
6 decks, double on any two cards and double after split. If the dealer at your table hits soft 17, pick that option: a few cells change.
| Your hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|
Tap a cell to see the play and why.
The letters are the standard ones: H hit, S stand, D double, P split. A small letter tells you what to do if the play isn't allowed.
How to read it
1. Check what kind of hand you have. If you have an Ace that can count as 11 without busting, it's a soft hand (A,6 is soft 17, for example). If you have two equal cards, it's a pair. Everything else is a hard hand.
2. Find your row and the column of the dealer's up card. Face cards (J, Q, K) count as 10.
3. Play what the cell says. Always, even if your gut says otherwise: the chart already did the math on millions of hands for you.
The 6 plays that save the most money
- Always split aces and eights. Two aces together are a weak 12; 8,8 is 16, the worst hand in the game.
- Never split tens or fives. 20 almost always wins, and 5,5 is a 10: better to double it.
- Double 11 against almost everything. There are so many 10-value cards that it's your best chance to put more money in.
- Stand on 12 against 4, 5 or 6. The dealer is weak: let them take the risk.
- Hit 16 against 10. It hurts, but standing loses even more.
- Don't take insurance. Without counting cards, it's a losing bet in the long run.
Why it works
The house edge comes from a single rule: if you bust, you lose even if the dealer busts afterwards. Basic strategy doesn't remove it, but shrinks it to the minimum: it tells you when to take risks (double, split) and when to let the dealer take them.
It's pure math: each cell compares how much you win or lose on average with every possible play and keeps the best one. That's why, even if a single hand goes wrong, always playing it this way pays off the most in the long run.
What's next: from the chart to the table
Reading the chart is the first step. What makes the difference is playing it without thinking, and then knowing when to leave it.
Know it by heart
Rounds of hands aimed exactly at the ones you miss, plus spaced-repetition cards, until every play comes out on its own.
Play at a real table
A simulator with other players that corrects every decision as you play, like in a casino.
The 18 deviations
With the count, some plays change: for example, you stand on 16 against a 10 when the count is positive. The Illustrious 18 and the Fab 4, practiced level by level.
Your chart, your table
Adjust every rule (8 decks, dealer hits soft 17, surrender) and practice with the exact chart for the table you play at.
Frequently asked questions
Does basic strategy guarantee winning?
No. It cuts the house edge to the minimum (about 0.5%), but the house still has the edge. It's the foundation for playing well, and the foundation for counting cards.
Does it work at any casino?
It works for 4- to 8-deck games. The only thing that changes a few cells is whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17: pick your table's option above the chart.
Do I have to memorize it?
Yes, to use it at a real table (you can't use your phone at the table). It's quick to learn in parts: pairs first, then soft hands and hard hands last. In Edge 21 the chart lights up as you learn it.