Blackjack Basic Strategy: How to Lower the House Edge
By StakeReferralCode.ca Editorial Team · Updated
Basic strategy is the mathematically best way to play each blackjack hand, based only on your cards and the dealer's face-up card. Worked out by computer analysis, it tells you when to hit, stand, double, split or surrender, and lowers the house edge to the smallest level the table rules allow.
It does not remove the edge. The casino keeps an advantage over the long run, and you can lose many hands in a row playing perfectly. The goal is losing less on average, not winning.
Who can play on Stake.com
Stake.com is not available in Ontario or Alberta. Ontario is a prohibited jurisdiction in Stake's terms, and Alberta now has its own regulated market with a separate Stake site. In the rest of Canada, Stake.com accepts players under a Curaçao licence rather than a provincial one, so it's a legal grey area. Check Stake's terms and your province before you deposit.
Why the house has an edge
You act first. If you bust, you lose immediately, even if the dealer busts later. The dealer follows fixed rules, while you get a bonus payout for a natural and the options to double, split and sometimes surrender. Basic strategy uses those options at the right moments.
The rules this chart assumes
Basic strategy changes slightly with the table rules. The charts below assume a common multi-deck game:
- 4 to 8 decks
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Double on any first two cards
- Double after splitting allowed
- Late surrender offered (if not, ignore the surrender lines)
- Blackjack pays 3:2
Different rules change only a few borderline spots.
Hard totals (no ace, or an ace counted as 1)
| Your hand | Dealer 2 | Dealer 3 | Dealer 4–6 | Dealer 7–9 | Dealer 10 | Dealer A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 or less | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 9 | Hit | Double | Double | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 10 | Double | Double | Double | Double | Hit | Hit |
| 11 | Double | Double | Double | Double | Double | Hit |
| 12 | Hit | Hit | Stand | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 13–16 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 17+ | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
Late surrender (if offered): surrender hard 16 against 9, 10 or ace, and hard 15 against a 10. Surrender gives up half your bet and ends the hand.
If doubling isn't allowed, hit instead.
Soft totals (an ace counted as 11)
| Your hand | Dealer 2 | Dealer 3–4 | Dealer 5–6 | Dealer 7–8 | Dealer 9–A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A,2 / A,3 | Hit | Hit | Double | Hit | Hit |
| A,4 / A,5 | Hit | Hit (Double vs 4) | Double | Hit | Hit |
| A,6 | Hit | Double | Double | Hit | Hit |
| A,7 | Stand | Double | Double | Stand | Hit |
| A,8 / A,9 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
Common mistakes: standing on soft 17 (A,6), which can't bust with one more card, and standing on A,7 against a 9, 10 or ace.
Pairs
| Your pair | Split against | Otherwise |
|---|---|---|
| A,A | Always | – |
| 8,8 | Always | – |
| 10,10 | Never | Stand |
| 9,9 | 2–6, 8, 9 | Stand vs 7, 10, A |
| 7,7 | 2–7 | Hit |
| 6,6 | 2–6 | Hit |
| 5,5 | Never | Play as hard 10 |
| 4,4 | 5–6 | Hit |
| 2,2 / 3,3 | 2–7 | Hit |
Two hard rules to memorise first: always split aces and eights; never split tens or fives.
Worked examples
You have 16 (10,6), dealer shows 10. Surrender if available; otherwise hit. Both lose often; the chart picks the option that loses least.
You have A,7 (soft 18), dealer shows 6. Double; the dealer's 6 is weak.
You have 9,9, dealer shows 7. Stand. Your 18 beats the dealer's most likely total of 17.
You have 11, dealer shows 10. Double. Under the rules above, double 11 against everything except an ace.
Insurance: just say no
When the dealer shows an ace, you'll be offered insurance, a side bet that the dealer has blackjack. Basic strategy says never take it, including "even money" on your own blackjack. Over time it costs more than it returns.
Table rules that raise or lower the edge
You can choose a table with better rules.
| Rule | Better for the player | Worse for the player |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack payout | 3:2 | 6:5 |
| Dealer on soft 17 | Stands | Hits |
| Doubling | Any two cards | Restricted totals only |
| Double after split | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Surrender | Offered | Not offered |
| Number of decks | Fewer | More |
The biggest rule to avoid is 6:5 blackjack, which cuts your payout on every natural. Check the table info before you sit down.
What basic strategy can't do
- It won't make the game profitable. The house edge remains, and losing streaks happen even with perfect play.
- Betting systems don't help. Raising bets after losses (Martingale and similar) changes how losses arrive, not the edge.
- Side bets aren't covered. They have their own, separate odds.
How to learn it
Start with hard totals (most hands are hard hands), add pairs next, and learn soft totals last. Keep the chart beside you while you play; it's a reference, not cheating.
Our Stake live casino guide explains how live blackjack tables work, and the Stake Originals guide covers Stake's in-house games.
FAQ
Does basic strategy guarantee I'll win?
No. It lowers the house edge to the smallest level the table rules allow, but the casino keeps an advantage over the long run.
Should I ever take insurance?
Under basic strategy, no. Insurance is a separate bet that costs more than it returns on average for regular players.
Why should I always split eights?
A pair of eights makes 16, the worst hard total. Two hands starting at 8 lose less on average.
Is basic strategy the same at every table?
Mostly, but rules like soft 17, surrender and double after split change a few borderline decisions. Check the table rules first.
Conclusion
Basic strategy turns blackjack from guesswork into a consistent set of decisions: hit, stand, double, split or surrender based on your hand and the dealer's card. Combined with good table rules, especially 3:2 payouts, it keeps the house edge as low as the game allows. It never makes the game a winning one, so treat every session as entertainment with a fixed budget. If you're in an eligible province and want to play blackjack on Stake, you can sign up with code SHIMA via the Claim button on this page.
Related Guides
- Ready to sign up? Start with the Stake referral code SHIMA for Canada.
- Slot RTP and Volatility Explained for Canadians
- Stake Originals Guide: Dice, Crash, Plinko, Mines and Limbo
- Sports Betting Bankroll Management: Simple Rules
- All Stake guides for Canada
Play responsibly
Set a budget before you play and use Stake's deposit limits, loss and wager limits, cooling-off and self-exclusion tools in your account settings. If gambling stops being fun, free confidential help is available through your provincial helpline (for example, BC 1-888-795-6111 or Quebec 1-800-461-0140). See our responsible gambling page for every province's number and more support options.
19+ (18+ in AB, MB, QC). Not available in Ontario or Alberta. Gambling can be addictive – play responsibly.