Strategy Guide
December 15, 2024
Complete Blackjack Strategy Guide
Strategy Guide
January 22, 2025
By: Sarah Chen, Senior Casino Analyst | Updated: January 22, 2025 | Read time: 8 minutes
Learn proven strategies to reduce the house edge to less than 1%
🎯 Quick Win Tip
Using basic strategy reduces the house edge to just 0.28%. For every $100 bet, you'll only lose 28 cents on average.
Basic Strategy Rules
Hard Hands
- 17-21: Always stand
- 13-16: Stand vs 2-6, hit vs 7-A
- 12: Stand vs 4-6, hit otherwise
- 11: Always double down
- 10: Double vs 2-9, hit vs 10-A
- 9: Double vs 3-6, hit otherwise
- 8 or less: Always hit
Soft Hands
- A,9: Always stand
- A,8: Stand (double vs 6)
- A,7: Complex - see chart
- A,6: Double vs 3-6
- A,4-A,5: Double vs 4-6
- A,2-A,3: Double vs 5-6
Pair Splitting
Always Split
- • Aces (A,A)
- • Eights (8,8)
Never Split
- • Tens (10,J,Q,K)
- • Fives (5,5)
- • Fours (4,4)
Sometimes Split
- • 2,2 & 3,3 vs 2-7
- • 6,6 vs 2-6
- • 7,7 vs 2-7
- • 9,9 vs 2-9 (not 7)
Card Counting Basics
Card counting gives you a mathematical edge by tracking the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck.
Hi-Lo Counting System
Low Cards (2-6): +1
Neutral (7-9): 0
High Cards (10-A): -1
Keep a running count. Positive counts favor the player, negative counts favor the house.
Bankroll Management
Conservative Play
- • Bankroll: 100x minimum bet
- • Session limit: 20% of bankroll
- • Stop loss: 50% of session
- • Win goal: 25% of session
Aggressive Play
- • Bankroll: 200x minimum bet
- • Session limit: 10% of bankroll
- • Stop loss: 30% of session
- • Win goal: 50% of session
Common Mistakes
- ❌ Taking insurance: Never take insurance, even with blackjack
- ❌ Following hunches: Always stick to basic strategy
- ❌ Betting progressions: Avoid Martingale and similar systems
- ❌ Playing 6:5 blackjack: Only play 3:2 blackjack games
- ❌ Ignoring rules: Different rules affect house edge significantly
Best Blackjack Casinos
Disclaimer: Gambling involves risk. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. This guide is for educational purposes only.