Basic Blackjack strategy starts with an assessment of the dealer's upcard. If the dealer has a high card then you should take more chances to reach. if the dealer has a low card showing, you should not take chances to reach 21. In other words if the dealer is showing a low card you will stay earlier then if a high card is showing. The reason for this is that, with a low card to start with, the dealer has a much greater chance of busting.
One thing that is usually not recommended is insurance. This is a side bet that the dealer will make 21 Blackjack. the casino will offer you insurance if the dealer's upcard is an Ace.
Following a basic strategy won't guarantee that you win every hand, or even come out ahead each time you sit down for a game of blackjack. Having a solid blackjack strategy will definitely lower the house edge, but it will not eliminate it.
Dealer's Upcard | ||||||||||
Your Cards | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
17 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
14 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
13 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
12 | H | H | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H |
10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H |
9 | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Dealer's Upcard | ||||||||||
Your Cards | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
(A,9) | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
(A,8) | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
(A,7) | S | D | D | D | D | S | S | H | H | H |
(A,6) | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
(A,5) | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
(A,4) | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
(A,3) | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
(A,2) | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
Dealer's Upcard | ||||||||||
Your Cards | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
(A,A) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
(10,10) | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
(9,9) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
(8,8) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
(7,7) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N |
(6,6) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
(5,5) | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
(4,4) | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
(3,3) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N |
(2,2) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N |