Blackjack Theorem
Strategy
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Blackjack Theorem › Blackjack strategy

When to hit in blackjack

Always hit hard 8 or less; double or hit hard 9 to 11; hit hard 12 against 2-3, 7-A; hit hard 13 to 16 against 7-A; stand on hard 17 or more.

Engine-computed basic strategy for 6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, the most common shoe game. Doubling and splitting come first when they are allowed; the rest of this page covers them.

Hard hands

Tap a cell to see that hand on its own page, with how the play changes under other rules.

Hard2345678910A
8HHHHHHHHHH
9HDhDhDhDhHHHHH
10DhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhHH
11DhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhH
12HHSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHHH
16SSSSSHHHHH
17SSSSSSSSSS

Soft hands (an Ace counted as 11)

Soft2345678910A
13HHHHDhHHHHH
14HHHDhDhHHHHH
15HHHDhDhHHHHH
16HHDhDhDhHHHHH
17HDhDhDhDhHHHHH
18SDsDsDsDsSSHHH
19SSSSSSSSSS
20SSSSSSSSSS

Pairs

Charts for your table's rules

Deck count, H17 and surrender change a few of these plays. Every chart is computed for those exact rules.

All strategy charts →  ·  All hand decisions →  ·  Card counting →

Test these plays against your own table, or drill them until they are automatic.
Open the free blackjack simulator → Hand calculator Training lab

FAQ

When should you hit in blackjack?

Always hit hard 8 or less; double or hit hard 9 to 11; hit hard 12 against 2-3, 7-A; hit hard 13 to 16 against 7-A; stand on hard 17 or more. These plays are for 6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split.

Should you hit on 12 in blackjack?

Hard 12: Stand vs 4-6; otherwise hit.

Do you hit a soft 17?

Soft 17 (A,6): Double vs 3-6; otherwise hit. If the table does not let you double, hit.

Do you hit a soft 18?

Soft 18 (A,7): Stand vs 2, 7-8; hit vs 9-A; otherwise double. If the table does not let you double, stand.

Does blackjack strategy change with the rules?

Yes. The number of decks, whether the dealer hits soft 17, double after split and surrender all move a handful of plays. Pick the chart that matches your table.

Plays come from the Blackjack Theorem engine, validated against canonical basic-strategy cells before publishing. Basic strategy assumes flat betting; see the full 6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split chart for every cell.