Blackjack StrategyBasic 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 |