Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game — if you play it correctly. Learn basic strategy, when to hit, stand, split and double.
The Goal of Blackjack
Blackjack is a comparing card game between you and the dealer — not the other players at the table. Your aim is to build a hand that totals closer to 21 than the dealer without going over (busting). Face cards count as 10, an Ace counts as 1 or 11, and everything else is worth its face value.
Because you always act before the dealer, the risk of busting first is what gives the house its edge. Good strategy is about minimising that risk while pressing your advantage when the dealer is weak.
Learn Basic Strategy
Basic strategy is a mathematically proven set of decisions for every possible combination of your hand and the dealer's upcard. It does not guarantee a win on any single hand, but over time it reduces the house edge to around half a percent — better than almost any other game on the floor.
The dealer's upcard is the single most important piece of information you have. A dealer showing 2 through 6 is in a "bust" position, so you play more conservatively and let them take the risk. A dealer showing 7 through Ace is strong, so you need to be more aggressive in building your own hand.
Hitting and Standing
- Always hit a hand of 8 or less.
- Stand on a hard 17 or higher (a hand with no Ace, or where the Ace must count as 1).
- With 12–16, stand if the dealer shows 2–6, otherwise hit.
- Always hit a soft 17 (Ace + 6) — you cannot bust and can only improve.
Splitting Pairs
When you are dealt two cards of the same rank you can split them into two separate hands. Done correctly, splitting turns one weak hand into two strong opportunities — done poorly, it doubles your losses.
- Always split Aces and 8s — two 8s make a terrible 16, but two hands starting with 8 are far stronger.
- Never split 10-value cards; a 20 is already a winning hand.
- Never split 5s — treat them as a 10 and consider doubling instead.
Doubling Down
Doubling down lets you double your bet in exchange for taking exactly one more card. Use it when the odds are strongly in your favour — typically on a total of 10 or 11 when the dealer shows a weaker upcard.
- Double on 11 against a dealer showing 2 through 10.
- Double on 10 against a dealer showing 2 through 9.
- Double on a soft 16–18 against a dealer 4, 5 or 6.
Avoid the Insurance Trap
When the dealer shows an Ace you will be offered "insurance" — a side bet that the dealer has blackjack. It sounds protective, but the payout does not match the true odds, and over time it simply hands the casino extra money. Skip it, even when you hold a strong hand.