Use the basic strategy chart in this order:

1. If surrender is allowed, this takes priority over any other decision. If basic strategy calls for surrender, throw in the hand.

2. If you have a pair, determine whether or not basic strategy calls for a split.

3. If you have a possible double down hand, this play takes priority over hitting or standing. For instance, in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, you may double down on any two cards. So, with A7 (soft 18) against a dealer 5, your basic strategy play, as per the chart, is to double down. In Northern Nevada, where you may usually double down on 10 or 11 only, you should stand.

4. After determining that you do not want to surrender, split a pair, or double down, consult the "Stand" chart. Always hit a hard total of 11 or below. Always stand on a hard total of 17 or higher. For all stiff hands, hard 12 through 16, consult the basic strategy chart. Always hit soft 17 (A,6) or below. Always stand on soft 19 (A,8) or higher. With a soft 18 (A,7), consult the chart.

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Do not attempt to learn all aspects of basic strategy at once, but remember that regardless of the number of decks in play or the rule variations, basic strategy for any game is essentially the same. Since so few casinos offer early and late surrender, don't bother with these options unless you plan to specifically play those tables that include this variation, or are interested in the academic exercise. Early surrender is not included in these charts; should you find a casino that offers this option, you will find the basic strategy for it in the Complete Basic Strategy Chart section in the Appendix.

The basic strategy chart presented here is a "composite" basic strategy, good for any set of rules and any number of decks. Actually, as these conditions change, some of the basic strategy decisions also change. Usually, these apply to borderline decisions, and do not significantly change your expectation. I know a number of high stakes pros that know only one basic strategy, and ignore the fine changes caused by rule variations and the number of decks in play. In the Appendix, a complete basic strategy, including all the changes according to rule and deck variations, is presented. This is for advanced players, or for players who expect to do most of their playing under the same set of rules and conditions, and who would like to play accurately. For now, I advise learning this composite basic strategy, which may be all you will ever need.

Two pair-splitting tables are presented here. Note that I use the symbol "$" to denote a pair-split decision. The first pair-split table assumes that you are not allowed to double down after splitting, and that's the rule in many casinos, though in some, including many in the Las Vegas Strip and all of Atlantic City's, players are allowed to double down after pair-splits. If you plan to play primarily in these casinos, study the second table, and note that there are only a few differences between these tables. If you'll be playing in games with both rules, just learn the first table, then brush up on the differences prior to playing in the double-after-split (DAS) casinos.

Notice also that I use the symbol "0" to denote a basic strategy surrender decision.
The charts are straightforward: The player's hands are listed vertically down the left side, and the dealer's up-cards are listed horizontally along the top. Thus, if you hold a hand totaling 14 against a dealer's 6, you can see the basic strategy decision is "S," or Stand. With a total of 14 against a dealer 7, the "H" indicates you would hit. Note: If your total of 14 is comprised of a pair of sevens, you must consult the pair-splitting chart first. You can see that with a pair of sevens against either a dealer 6 or 7, you would split ($) your 7s.

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In a 52-card deck there are 16 ten-valued cards: four tens, four jacks, four queens, and four kings. (For purposes of simplification, when I refer to a card as a "ten" or "X," it is understood to mean any 10, jack, queen, or king.) Every other denomination has only four cards, one of each suit. You are four times more likely to pull a ten out of the deck than, say, a deuce. Because of this, when the dealer's upcard is "high" —7, 8, 9, X, or A—he has a greater likelihood of finishing with a strong total than when his upcard is "low"—2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

So, if the dealer's upcard is a 7, 8, 9, X, or A, and you hold a "stiff"— any hand totaling 12 through 16—you would hit. When the dealer's hand indicates strength, you do not want to stand with a weak hand. Even though when you hit a stiff you're more likely to bust than to make a pat hand, you will lose more money in the long run if you stand on these weak hands when the dealer shows strength.

On the other hand, if the dealer's upcard is 2,3,4,5, or 6, and you hold a stiff hand, you should stand. Since he must hit his stiff hands, and since stiffs bust a large percentage of the time, hitting your weak hand isn't the right play.

Similarly, if the dealer's upcard indicates he may be stiff, it's in your favor to double down or to split pairs, thereby getting more money onto the table when the dealer has a good chance of busting. You double down and split pairs less often when the dealer shows a strong upcard.

That's the basic logic of casino blackjack. There are exceptions to these oversimplified guidelines, as the actual basic strategy decision for any given hand is determined by working out all of the mathematical probabilities, but this gives you a working idea of the strategy.

EARNING YOUR WHITE BELT
2 GENERIC BASIC STRATEGY
FOR ANY NUMBER OF DECKS 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 X A
STAND
17 S S S S s s S S S S
16 S S S S s H H H H H
15 S S S s s H H H H H
14 S s S s s H H H H H
13 S s S s s H H H H H
12 H H S s s H H H H H
A7 S s S s s s S H H H
DOUBLE DOWN
11 D D D D D D D D D D
10 D D D D D D D D
9 D D D D
A7 D D D D
A6 D D D D
A5 D D D
A4 D D D
A3 D D
A2 D D
SURRENDER (LATE)
16 0 0 0
15 0
S = Stand H = Hit D = Double Down 0 = Surrender
This generic basic strategy may be used for any g. ime. See Appendix
for comprehensive basic strategy according to all rule variations and the
specific number of decks in play.

PAIR-SPLITS
23456789XA
NO DOUBLE AFTER SPLITS
AA $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
99 $ $ $ $ $ $ $
88 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
77 $ $ $ $ $ $
66 $ $ $ $
33 $ $ $ $
22 $ $ $ $
WITH DOUBLE AFTER SPLITS
AA $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
99 $ $ $ $ $ $ $
88 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
77 $ $ $ $ $ $
66 $ $ $ $ $
44 $ $
33 $ $ $ $ $ $
22 $ $ $ $ $ $
INSURANCE
Do Not Take Insurance $ = Split

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Once you understand how to play blackjack, you can get into a game without losing your bankroll. If you make your decisions by playing your hunches, you will lose in the long run—there is only one correct decision for any given play, and that decision is based strictly on mathematics. Whether or not you should hit or stand, double down or split a pair, depends on what the laws of probability dictate. Mathematicians, using computers, have matched every possible hand you might hold against every possible dealer upcard—and it's their way or the highway.

Basic strategy is the best way, mathematically, to play your hands if you are not counting cards.

Depending on the rules and the number of decks in use, basic strategy will usually cut the house edge to no more than about 1/2% over the player. This makes blackjack the most advantageous game in the casino, even if you are not a card counter.
To explain why various basic strategy decisions work would require extensive mathematical proof. Unless you understand the math, and have a computer to work it out, you'll have to accept basic strategy on faith.

There is an underlying logic to basic strategy, however, which can be understood by anyone who understands the rules of blackjack.

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The dealer completes his own hand only after all players have completed theirs. The dealer has no options: He is not allowed to double down or split any pair, he's not allowed to surrender, and he must hit any hand totaling less than 17 and stand on any hand of 17 or more. The only exception to this is that some casinos require the dealer to hit a soft 17 (such as A, 6). In these casinos, the dealer stands on hard 17 or over, and soft 18 or over. In no casino does the dealer have any choice about how to play his hand. He must follow house rules. If, for instance, you are playing in a face-up game and the dealer sees that you have stood on a total of 15, when his hand totals 16, he does not automatically win. He must hit his hand when his total is less than 17, and he will only win your bet if he does not bust.

That covers all of the rules of standard casino blackjack, although there are some obscure practices you may encounter that do not affect the game significantly: A few casinos offer bonuses for certain player hands, such as three sevens, or 6, 7, 8 of the same suit; some casinos offer a blackjack variation called Double Exposure in which both of the dealer's first two cards are dealt face up, but the dealer wins all ties. This is a relatively rare game, requiring a different strategy.

A few casinos also offer various side-bet options—Over/Under, Royal Match, and Super Sevens are among the most common. These types of options allow the player to place a separate bet, usually in a specially marked area of the table, and do not affect the play of the regular blackjack hand.

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Some casinos use special table layouts that allow players to place up to three simultaneous bets. In these Multi-Action games, the player will play his hand once, but the dealer will play out his hand three times. He will use the same upcard, but will draw a new hole card, and hit cards if necessary, against each successive player bet. In these games, all other blackjack rules and options remain the same.

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In some casinos, the dealer does not check his hole card until after all the players complete their hands; in others, the dealer does not even deal his hole card until the players' hands are completed. This means that the dealer may ultimately get a natural and beat the table. If a player had doubled down or split a pair, he would lose only his original bet if he were playing in any U.S. or Canadian casino, but the European no-hole-card rule is different. In most European casinos, if the player doubles down or splits a pair, he will lose all double and/or split bets if the dealer gets a natural.

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