Reading the chart
Each row is your hand; each column is the dealer's upcard. Find the cell where they meet — that's the play. The colours group similar actions visually so the right move stands out at a glance.
Why basic strategy works
Basic strategy is computed by simulating millions of hands and picking the action with the highest long-term expected value for each combination. Following it perfectly cuts the casino's edge to roughly 0.5% — the smallest house edge of any common casino game.
Worked example
- You: 16, Dealer: 10 — Stand (or surrender if your casino allows it). Hitting busts about 60% of the time but standing only wins ~24% — surrender, which loses half your bet, beats both.
- You: pair of 8s, Dealer: anything — Always split. Two 16s is a terrible total, but two hands starting at 8 each are far better.
- You: A-7 (soft 18), Dealer: 9 — Hit. Soft 18 looks safe but loses to the dealer's 19 average; you can improve to 19, 20 or 21 with no bust risk.
FAQ
What if my casino has different rules?
This chart assumes 4–8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed, late surrender. Single-deck and dealer-hits-soft-17 games shift a few cells; the difference is small (≤ 0.2% house edge).
Should I deviate from basic strategy if I "feel" something?
No. Basic strategy is the long-run optimum given no extra information. Card counters deviate using the count, which gives them real information. Without that, intuition just costs money.