10 Strategic Principles

These tips cover the most important decisions you’ll face at the blackjack table. Following them reduces the house edge significantly.

1. Learn Basic Strategy

Basic strategy is a chart that tells you the mathematically best move for every hand against every dealer up-card. It’s the foundation of good blackjack play.

Without basic strategy, the house edge is roughly 5%. With it, the edge drops to approximately 0.5% — ten times less.

You don’t need to memorize the entire chart immediately. Start with the key rules below.

2. Always Stand on Hard 17 or Higher

If your hand totals 17, 18, 19, or 20 (without a flexible Ace), stand. The odds of improving by hitting are far worse than the odds of busting.

3. Always Hit on Hard 11 or Below

You cannot bust with a total of 11 or below, so there’s never a reason to stand. Hit (or double down when appropriate).

4. Double Down on 10 or 11 Against Weak Dealer Cards

When your total is 10 or 11 and the dealer shows a low card (2-9 for 10, 2-10 for 11), double down:

  • You have a strong chance of getting a 10-value card
  • Doubling maximizes your profit on favorable hands
  • Specifically: Double 11 against everything except Ace; double 10 against 2 through 9

5. Always Split Aces and 8s

Two rules that never change:

  • Split Aces — each Ace gives you a great chance of getting 21
  • Split 8s — a total of 16 is the worst hand in blackjack; two hands starting with 8 are much better

6. Never Split 10s or 5s

  • Don’t split 10s — a total of 20 is an excellent hand. Don’t break it up
  • Don’t split 5s — a total of 10 is great for doubling down. Splitting gives you two weak hands starting with 5

7. Hit Soft 17 (Ace + 6)

A soft 17 is deceptive — it feels like a decent hand, but it’s actually weak:

  • You can’t bust by hitting (the Ace can become a 1)
  • Your chances of improving are better than your current position
  • Hit, or double down against dealer 3-6

8. Surrender 16 Against a 9, 10, or Ace

If the game offers surrender:

  • Surrender 16 vs. dealer 9, 10, or Ace
  • Surrender 15 vs. dealer 10

Giving up half your bet is better than playing with a 70%+ chance of losing.

9. Don’t Take Insurance

Insurance is a sucker bet in almost all circumstances:

  • It pays 2:1, but the odds of the dealer having blackjack are less than 1 in 3
  • Over time, insurance costs you money
  • The only exception is if you’re counting cards and the deck is rich in 10s (advanced technique)

10. Don’t Chase Losses

Blackjack has variance. You will have losing streaks. The worst thing you can do is increase bets dramatically to try to “get even”:

  • Play consistent bet sizes
  • Don’t let emotions change your strategy
  • Basic strategy doesn’t change based on whether you’re winning or losing