Blackjack — Basic Strategy in Plain English
The lowest house-edge table game when played correctly. We cover rules, the value of basic strategy, and the myths beginners fall for.
- Updated
- Reading
- 10 min
- By
- PK Casino Guide editorial
Quick facts
- Origin
- Europe (21)
- Difficulty
- Medium
- House edge
- ~0.5% with correct basic strategy
- RTP
- ~99.5%
Blackjack in one paragraph
Blackjack is a player-vs-dealer card game where the goal is to finish with a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer's — without going over. Played correctly, it has the lowest house edge of any common casino game (around 0.5%). Played by feel, that edge climbs to 2–3% — which is the difference between losing a little and losing a lot.
Core rules and card values
- Number cards (2–10) are worth their face value.
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10.
- An Ace is worth 1 or 11, whichever helps your hand.
- You and the dealer each receive two cards. The dealer's second card is face-down (the hole card).
- You act first. The dealer then plays a fixed strategy — usually “hit on 16, stand on 17.”
- A two-card 21 (Ace + 10-value card) is a natural blackjack and pays 3:2 on most tables.
Your four actions
- Hit — take another card. Repeat until you stand or bust (exceed 21).
- Stand — take no more cards.
- Double down — double your bet, but you only receive one more card. Used when you have a strong starting hand.
- Split — if your first two cards are a pair, split them into two separate hands and play each one (an additional bet equal to your original is placed on the second hand).
Basic strategy — the most important table you'll ever see
Basic strategy is a mathematically computed table that tells you the correct action for every possible combination of (your hand) vs (dealer upcard). It is not opinion. It is not feel. It is the calculated optimal play, and it is the same every time.
A summary of the most common decisions (assuming standard rules — dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed):
| Your hand | Dealer shows 2–6 | Dealer shows 7–A |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 11 or less | Hit (double on 11 if rules allow) | |
| Hard 12–16 | Stand | Hit |
| Hard 17+ | Stand | |
| Soft 13–17 (Ace + 2–6) | Hit (double on 5/6) | Hit |
| Soft 18 (A-7) | Double (or stand vs 2) | Stand vs 7/8, hit vs 9/10/A |
| Pair of Aces or 8s | Always split | |
| Pair of 10s | Never split | |
| Pair of 5s | Never split (treat as hard 10) | |
This is a simplified version. The full basic strategy chart is widely available and free. Print it. Keep it visible. Use it for every hand.
The rule variations that actually change the math
Two tables can both be called “blackjack” and have very different house edges. Things to check:
- Blackjack payout: 3:2 is good, 6:5 is bad, 1:1 is hostile.
- Dealer on soft 17: Standing is better for you than hitting.
- Double after split: Allowed is better.
- Number of decks: Fewer decks = lower edge (for the same ruleset).
- Surrender allowed: Reduces edge slightly.
Myths that cost players money
“A bad player at the table cost me my hand.”
Other players' choices have no mathematical effect on your expected outcome — even though it feels otherwise when you lose to a card “they took.” In the long run, bad players hurt you the same number of times they help you.
“I have to keep playing — I'm due a win.”
Every hand is independent. Your past losses don't make a win more likely.
“Insurance is a smart hedge.”
It isn't. The insurance side bet has a house edge of ~7% for non-card counters. Decline it.
Side bets: skip almost all of them
Perfect Pairs, 21+3, Hot 3, Bust It, Lucky Ladies — every blackjack side bet has a much higher house edge (typically 4–20%) than the main game. They exist to increase casino revenue per hand. Decline by default.