Learn basic strategy and play perfect blackjack, one hand at a time.
Blackjack is the most beatable game on the casino floor. The goal is simple: build a hand closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. With correct strategy, the house edge drops to about 0.5% — better than almost any other table game.
Number cards are worth their face value, face cards (J, Q, K) are worth 10, and an Ace counts as 1 or 11 — whichever helps more. You're dealt two cards and decide whether to hit (take another card), stand (keep your total), double down (double your bet for one final card), or split (separate a pair into two hands). The dealer then plays a fixed rule: hit until reaching 17, then stand. A natural blackjack — an Ace plus a 10-value card — pays 3:2.
Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal play for every hand. Memorizing it is what takes the house edge down to ~0.5%. Here are the rules that matter most:
| Your Hand | Correct Play |
|---|---|
| Hard 17+ | Always stand |
| Hard 13–16 | Stand vs dealer 2–6, hit vs 7–Ace |
| Hard 12 | Stand vs dealer 4–6, otherwise hit |
| Hard 11 | Double vs dealer 2–10, hit vs Ace |
| Hard 10 | Double vs dealer 2–9, otherwise hit |
| Pair of Aces or 8s | Always split |
| Pair of 10s or 5s | Never split |
| Insurance | Never take it |
Felt Trainer's coach flags the correct basic-strategy move on every hand, so you build the chart into muscle memory as you play.
Unlike roulette or slots, blackjack lets your decisions change the outcome. The dealer must follow rigid rules while you can adapt to every situation — doubling when you're favored, standing when the dealer is likely to bust. That control is why a basic-strategy player faces only a ~0.5% edge, compared to 5.26% in roulette.
Want the complete move-by-move chart? See the full blackjack basic strategy chart for every hand.
With perfect basic strategy on a standard 6-deck game (dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed), the house edge is about 0.5% — among the lowest of any casino game. Playing on instinct instead of basic strategy raises that edge to roughly 2% or more.
Stand on hard 17 or higher. Stand on 12–16 when the dealer shows 2 through 6 (a weak upcard likely to bust). Hit 12–16 when the dealer shows 7 through Ace. Always hit a hand of 11 or lower that can't bust.
Yes. Always split Aces and 8s, and never split 10s or 5s. Splitting Aces gives you two chances at 21, and splitting 8s turns a weak 16 into two stronger starting hands.
No. Insurance pays 2:1 but the true odds are worse than that, giving the house an edge of about 7%. Basic strategy says never take insurance.
A natural blackjack (an Ace plus a 10-value card) pays 3:2. Avoid tables that pay 6:5, which more than doubles the house edge.