Blackjack basic strategy: the rules worth memorising

Maren Holt 1 min read
Blackjack basic strategy: the rules worth memorising

Blackjack is one of the few casino games where your decisions change the maths. Played correctly, the house edge falls to roughly 0.5%.

The decisions that matter most

  • Always split aces and eights. Never split tens or fives.
  • Stand on hard 17 or higher, always.
  • Double on 11 against any dealer card except an ace.
  • Never take insurance. It is a side bet with a large house edge.
How rules change the edge
Rule Effect on house edge
Dealer stands on soft 17 Better for you
Blackjack pays 6:5 Much worse - avoid
Double after split allowed Better for you
Eight decks instead of one Slightly worse

Blackjack questions

Does card counting work online?

Not against RNG blackjack, which reshuffles every hand. Live dealer tables shuffle often enough to make it impractical too.

Is basic strategy allowed?

Yes. It is simply playing correctly, and casinos price the game expecting it.

You cannot beat blackjack with strategy alone, but you can stop paying three times more than you need to.

— Maren Holt
Game rules
RTP Blackjack