Winning Blackjack Strategy
| Updated: Blackjack is one of the most recognizable table games in the world and is a top choice for millions of players at both web-based casinos and brick-and-mortar gambling venues. Also known as Twenty-One, blackjack is a game in which the player competes against the dealer, aiming to achieve a higher hand total without exceeding 21.
Unlike casino classics such as roulette and craps, blackjack is not entirely based on luck. By using basic strategy and making informed decisions, players can reduce avoidable mistakes and improve their chances, although no strategy guarantees a profit. The following article provides insights into successful blackjack gameplay, including optimal moves such as splitting pairs, hitting, standing, and doubling down. Advantage play is also discussed briefly.
-
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $500
400% Bonus!9.7 -
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $3500
350% Bonus!9.4 -
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $3000
300% Bonus!9.3
Splitting Pairs
When a player’s starting hand consists of two cards with the same value, they may have the option to split them. This creates two separate hands and requires the player to place an additional bet. Splitting a pair can improve a player’s chances of winning, but it can also weaken the hand. Holding two cards of identical value does not always mean that splitting them is the optimal move. Under basic strategy, players should split only when their hand and the dealer’s face-up card support that decision. The following scenarios are commonly considered the best opportunities to split a pair in blackjack.
- As a rule of thumb, Aces are the best pair to split. Keep in mind that players may receive only one additional card on each Ace and may not be allowed to hit afterward. If a 10 or another ten-value card is dealt to one or both Aces, the hands are counted as 21 rather than natural blackjacks, meaning they pay even money.
- Splitting a pair of 8s is also generally a good idea, regardless of what the dealer is showing. A pair of 8s adds up to 16, which is considered one of the worst hands in blackjack. Splitting the 8s gives players an opportunity to form two stronger hands.
- Another general rule recommends splitting pairs of 2s or 3s if the dealer shows 4, 5, 6, or 7, as this can improve the player’s position.
- If the dealer shows an up card of 6 or lower, splitting pairs of 6s or 7s may be a viable option, depending on the table rules.
- Splitting a pair of 9s is also recommended if the dealer shows 2 through 6, 8, or 9. Although 18 is a relatively high total, the dealer can still beat it. This is why splitting two 9s can be the right move against these cards.
While the scenarios above are generally the best opportunities to split pairs, these are the hands players should usually avoid splitting:
- Players should never split 10s, as a total of 20 on the initial two cards already provides a considerable advantage against the dealer. Splitting two 10s risks turning one strong hand into two weaker hands while requiring an additional wager.
- It is generally not recommended to split a pair of 4s. A total of 8 cannot go bust on the next hit and has room to improve. Splitting the 4s creates two weak starting hands and requires the player to place an additional bet.
- Splitting a pair of 5s would also be a mistake because the player has a total of 10, which is one of the strongest starting values in blackjack. Splitting the 5s risks creating two weak hands. When holding a pair of 5s, players may opt to double down instead.
Before playing any blackjack variant, whether at a land-based casino or online, there are a few splitting rules players should check.
- Some games may allow players to split ten-value pairs only if the cards are of the same rank, meaning they can split 10-10 but not a hand consisting of a Queen and a Jack.
- After a pair has been split, there may be limitations on doubling down or splitting the two newly formed hands again.
- After a split, a 10-Ace hand may be counted as 21 rather than a blackjack.
- Players who split Aces may not be allowed to hit the newly formed hands more than once.
Hit or Stand?
Many inexperienced blackjack players face the difficult decision of whether to hit, drawing another card from the deck or shoe, or stand and play the cards they already have. Making informed decisions about when to hit or stand is a pivotal aspect of blackjack. Here are a few basic tips for players who are new to the game of 21.
- Players are advised to hit when their hand totals 8, regardless of the dealer’s up card. They cannot go bust by drawing one additional card and have a good opportunity to improve their total.
- Players holding a total of 12 through 16 are also advised to hit if the dealer shows 7, 8, 9, 10, or an Ace.
- Hitting on a total of 11 can be appropriate when the dealer shows an Ace. An Ace is one of the strongest up cards for the dealer, so players may need to take a more aggressive approach.
- When the dealer shows 7, 8, or 9, players are generally advised to hit rather than double down if their own hand totals 9.
- With the dealer holding an up card of 10, players should generally hit if their own hand also totals 10.
- If the dealer reveals 8, 9, or 10, players are advised to hit on soft 18, which is a hand containing an Ace that can be counted as 11 without causing the player to go bust.
- Standing is generally recommended when the player obtains a hard hand totaling 17 or higher, regardless of the dealer’s up card. Soft hands containing an Ace require separate strategic decisions.
- Standing is also a viable option for players holding a hand that totals 13 through 16, provided that the dealer shows 2 through 6. As a general rule, 4s, 5s, and 6s are unfavorable up cards for the dealer because the risk of going bust is higher.
- Players are also advised to stand on pairs of 10s or other ten-value cards. A total of 20 is already a strong starting hand, so there is no reason to weaken it by splitting the pair.
Doubling Down
Doubling down is one of the most popular options among blackjack players. Doubling down means that the player doubles the size of their initial wager after receiving their starting hand. The player then receives only one additional card and cannot draw any more cards from the shoe or deck.
It is important to mention that the availability of this option and the rules for doubling down vary depending on the casino and blackjack variant. In some gambling establishments, players are allowed to double down only on hands that total 11. The following are two basic guidelines for doubling down in blackjack.
- Doubling down is a viable option for players with hands that total 9 when the dealer shows a bust card such as 4, 5, or 6. Another option is to double when holding an Ace with a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 while the dealer shows 5 or 6. In these situations, several cards can improve the player’s hand, while the dealer has a considerable chance of going bust.
- Doubling down can work to the player’s advantage when their hand totals 10 or 11. There are sixteen ten-value cards in a standard 52-card deck, giving the player a reasonable chance of reaching 20 or 21 with one additional card.
In addition to the best opportunities for doubling down, players should consider the scenarios in which this action is not recommended:
- Doubling down against a dealer’s Ace is generally not the optimal move, as there is a considerable chance of the dealer getting a blackjack or reaching a total close to 21.
- If players are holding a hand with a total above 11, doubling down is not recommended because they risk going bust when they draw another card.
- Because doubling down increases the amount at risk and limits the hand to one additional card, players should use this option only when their strategy and the table rules support it.
Advantage Play and Card Counting
Card counting is a well-known advantage-play technique that can help skilled players determine when the remaining cards may be favorable. It is not foolproof and does not guarantee a profit, but it remains one of the most important aspects of advantage play. Under favorable conditions, card counting can reduce the house edge and may give skilled blackjack players an advantage.
In general terms, card counting involves tracking the ratio of high-value to low-value cards remaining in the shoe. The shoe may contain between two and eight standard decks. Hi-Lo is one of the most popular card-counting systems. Cards from 2 through 6 are assigned a value of +1, while 10s, Aces, and picture cards are assigned a value of -1. The 7s, 8s, and 9s are neutral and assigned a value of 0.
Using these values, the player maintains a running count based on the cards that have been dealt. In multiple-deck games, an advantage player can then calculate the true count by dividing the running count by the estimated number of decks remaining in the shoe.
Advantage players may increase the size of their bets when the count is favorable because a greater proportion of high-value cards remains to be dealt. When the count drops, the player’s potential edge decreases, so they adjust their subsequent wagers by betting smaller amounts.
Tracking the cards removed from the shoe can help players make better-informed decisions and adjust their bets accordingly. However, mastering this form of advantage play is not easy. It requires considerable time, persistence, patience, and practice. In addition, counting cards in online blackjack games where the outcome is determined by RNGs is impossible because the virtual shoe is reshuffled after each hand.
Rule Variations that May Alter Blackjack Strategy
Even if players master blackjack strategy and know the optimal move for every hand total, different versions of the game may require slight strategic adjustments. Changes to certain blackjack rules can affect when doubling down, splitting, standing, or hitting is the optimal move. The following are key blackjack rules that players should always consider before applying a particular strategy.
Soft 17 Rule
Depending on the table rules, the dealer may be required to hit rather than stand on soft 17. This rule can have a significant effect on the strategy used in the game. If the dealer is required to hit on soft 17, the dealer may either go bust or improve the hand. Players should therefore use a strategy tailored to the applicable soft 17 rule.
When the dealer is required to hit on soft 17, the following adjustments to basic blackjack strategy should be made:
- Instead of hitting a total of 11 against a dealer’s Ace, players are advised to double down.
- Rather than standing, players should double down on soft 18 against a dealer’s 2.
- Rather than standing on soft 19 against a dealer’s 6, players are advised to double down.
Surrender Rule
Some forms of blackjack allow players to take either late or early surrender, which means forfeiting the hand and receiving half of the original bet back. Both types of surrender affect strategic play and require specific adjustments. With late surrender, players may forfeit their hand only after the dealer checks for blackjack when showing an Ace or a ten. If the dealer has a blackjack, the surrender option is no longer available, and the player loses the entire bet unless they also hold a blackjack. If late surrender is available in a six-deck blackjack game where the dealer stands on all 17s, players should adjust their strategy as follows:
- Rather than hitting on 15 against a dealer’s 10, opt for late surrender.
- Instead of hitting on 16 against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace, opt for late surrender. This does not apply to a pair of 8s, as the optimal move in this case is to split.
Early surrender may be available in blackjack games where the dealer does not draw a hole card until players have acted on their hands. With this type of surrender, players can forfeit their hands against a dealer’s Ace or ten-value card before the dealer checks for blackjack. If a multi-deck blackjack variation offers early surrender, follow these strategic actions:
- Surrender hard 5 through 7, including a pair of 3s, and hard 12 through 17, including 6-6, 7-7, and 8-8, against a dealer’s Ace.
- Surrender hard 14 through 16, including 7-7 and 8-8, against a dealer’s 10.
- Surrender hard 16, including 10-6 and 9-7 but excluding a pair of 8s, against a dealer’s 9.
Double Down After Split
While doubling down after a split is allowed in many blackjack variations at land-based and online casinos, some variants do not allow this action after players split a pair. If a multi-deck variation requires the dealer to stand on all 17s and does not allow doubling down after a split, players should adjust their strategy as follows:
- Hit on a pair of 2s or 3s against a dealer’s 2 or 3.
- Hit on a pair of 4s when the dealer shows a 5 or 6.
- Hit on a pair of 6s if the dealer shows a 2.
No Hole Card Blackjack
In many European blackjack variations, the dealer does not draw a hole card until all players have acted on their hands. This rule can affect the house edge because players may lose to a dealer’s blackjack after they have already doubled down or otherwise played out their hands. The no-hole-card rule therefore requires some changes to basic blackjack strategy:
- Hit a hard 11 when the dealer’s first card is a 10.
- Hit a pair of Aces when the dealer’s first card is an Ace.
- Hit a pair of 8s instead of splitting when the dealer’s first card is an Ace or 10.
It should be noted that the actions above are optimal when the game does not offer surrender.
Number of Decks Used in Blackjack
Another important blackjack rule that may affect strategic play is the number of decks used in the game. The fewer decks used in blackjack, the greater the effect that removing a card has on the composition of the remaining shoe. This rule is particularly important when doubling down is concerned. Players who double down can gain a greater advantage in a single-deck blackjack game than in an eight-deck variation.
In many cases, players are advised to double down when holding a hard 9, 10, or 11 formed by two lower-value cards. Removing two low-value cards from a single deck leaves a greater proportion of high-value cards among those that remain. However, removing low-value cards from an eight-deck game has a much smaller effect on the game, making doubling down a more favorable strategy in games that use fewer decks. As the number of decks increases, fewer hand totals may call for doubling down. In single-deck blackjack, strategy may recommend doubling down on a wider range of hands.