Check the table first
- Blackjack pays 3:2, not 6:5.
- Dealer stands on soft 17 (S17).
- Double on any two cards, and after splitting.
- Fewer decks are better.
- Surrender allowed is a small bonus.
Hard totals
- 8 or less: hit.
- 9: double against 3 to 6, otherwise hit.
- 10: double against 2 to 9, otherwise hit.
- 11: double against 2 to 10; against an ace, double only where the dealer hits soft 17.
- 12: stand against 4 to 6, otherwise hit.
- 13 to 16: stand against 2 to 6, otherwise hit.
- 17 or more: stand.
Soft totals and pairs
- Soft 13 to 16 (A-2 to A-5): double against 4 to 6 (A-2 and A-3 against 5 and 6 only), otherwise hit.
- Soft 17 (A-6): double against 3 to 6, otherwise hit.
- Soft 18 (A-7): double against 3 to 6, stand against 2, 7 and 8, hit against 9, 10 and ace.
- Soft 19 or more: stand.
- Always split aces and 8s; never split 10s or 5s.
- Split 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s and 9s against weak dealer cards, as shown on a full chart.
Print a full chart or keep it open beside the game; using one online is allowed. Our blackjack maths guide explains where the numbers come from.
Live or RNG
RNG tables shuffle every hand, so card counting cannot work. Live tables use shoes of six or eight decks and reshuffle well before the end, and casinos may restrict players they suspect of counting. Live tables are slower, which keeps hourly losses lower at the same stake.