Basic Strategy is the mathematically optimal play for every hand in Blackjack. Following it perfectly reduces the house edge to under 0.5%. Here's what to do in every situation.
Hard Totals — Your Hand vs Dealer Up Card
Hard 8 or less: Always HIT. Hard 9: Double vs dealer 3-6, otherwise Hit. Hard 10-11: Double vs dealer 2-9 (10 for 10, 11 for 2-10), otherwise Hit. Hard 12-16: Stand vs dealer 2-6, Hit vs dealer 7-Ace. Hard 17+: Always STAND.
Soft Totals (Ace counted as 11)
Soft 13-14 (A+2, A+3): Double vs dealer 5-6, otherwise Hit. Soft 15-16: Double vs dealer 4-6, otherwise Hit. Soft 17 (A+6): Double vs dealer 3-6, otherwise Hit. Soft 18 (A+7): Double vs 3-6, Stand vs 2/7/8, Hit vs 9-Ace. Soft 19+: Always STAND.
Pairs — Always Split These
Always split: Aces (gives two strong starting hands) and 8s (turns worst hand 16 into two 8s). Never split: 10s (20 is too strong) and 5s (double down instead on the 10). Split 2s, 3s, 7s vs dealer 2-7. Split 4s vs dealer 5-6 only. Split 6s vs dealer 2-6. Split 9s vs dealer 2-6 and 8-9, stand vs 7/10/Ace.
When to Surrender (if offered)
Surrender hard 16 vs dealer 9, 10, Ace. Surrender hard 15 vs dealer 10. This recovers 50% of your bet on hands where you'd likely lose more than half of the time.
The Golden Rule
Never take Insurance. The Insurance bet has a ~5.8% house edge — far worse than the base game. Ignore it every time it's offered, regardless of what hand you hold.
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