Blackjack Basic Strategy: Cut the House Edge Below 1%
Basic strategy is the single biggest edge-reducer in blackjack. It won't make the game beatable, but it cuts the house advantage from several percent to under one — here are the core decisions.
Why basic strategy works
For every combination of your hand and the dealer's up-card there is one mathematically best action. Following it consistently is what keeps the house edge low.
The core decisions
Hard totals
Stand on 17 or higher, hit on 8 or lower, and let the dealer's up-card decide the hands in between.
Soft totals and pairs
Soft hands with an ace and pairs have their own rules — doubling and splitting at the right moments adds real value.
- Always split aces and eights
- Never split tens or fives
- Double on 11 against a weak dealer card
Bets to avoid
Side bets look fun but hand the house a large edge. Stick to the main game.
Practice makes it automatic
Drill the chart until decisions are instant. Speed and consistency matter more than memorising rare exceptions.
Play the maths, not the hunch.
