Blackjack Basics: Rules, Strategy Charts, and House Edge

Blackjack is a quick, clever card game. The aim is: “get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over”. On this page you’ll find explained how to play, the details of the table rules which affect the house edge, a chart of basic strategy, the definition of house edge, how to select a good table, and why “fast money” systems do not exist. All in simple language, with data referenced to reliable sources.

What Is Blackjack? Rules and Goal

In brief: Blackjack is a game in which you and the dealer are dealt cards. The cards are worth certain amounts. You add up your cards. You're supposed to total 21, or near that, but not over. Your total is compared with the dealer's, and if yours is higher, you win.

Card Values and Setup

Number cards (2–10) are worth their number.
Face cards (J, Q, K) are worth 10.
Ace is 1 or 11. You choose the best total that does not bust.
Games use 1–8 decks. Many games use 6 or 8 decks in a shoe.

How a Hand Plays Out

You place your bet.
You get two cards. The dealer gets two cards (often one face up).
You choose: Hit (take a card), Stand (stop), Double (double your bet and take one card), Split (if you have a pair, you make two hands), or Surrender (give up half your bet, if allowed).
When you stop, the dealer plays. The dealer must follow fixed rules (for example, hit until 17 or more).
If you win, most wins pay 1:1. A natural “blackjack” (Ace + 10-value in first two cards) is special and often pays more.

Standard Payouts

Blackjack pays 3:2 in classic games (better for you).
Some tables pay 6:5 on blackjack (worse for you; avoid when you can).
All other wins pay 1:1. A tie is a push (you get your bet back).

For those looking to learn the rules of Blackjack, Wizard of Odds has a great introduction to the rules here:

Table Rules That Change Your Odds

Blackjack is not one game. Small rule changes can raise or lower the house edge (the casino’s average take) by a lot. Know these before you sit down.

Core Rule Variations and Why They Matter

3:2 vs 6:5 on blackjack: 6:5 is about +1.39% worse for you than 3:2. Source: Wizard of Odds: 6:5 impact.
Dealer hits or stands on soft 17 (H17 vs S17): H17 is about +0.2% worse for you. Source: Rule effects.
Number of decks: More decks usually raise the house edge a bit (fewer decks are better). See deck count effects.
Doubling rules: Best is “double on any two” and “double after split (DAS).” Limits like “9–11 only” are worse.
Splits and resplits: Allowing resplit (and resplit Aces) helps you.
Late surrender (LS): This option helps you a little by letting you save half on very bad spots.
Peek / no-hole-card (ENHC): In some places (often Europe), the dealer does not check for blackjack first. If the dealer later has blackjack, you can lose doubles and splits too. That raises house edge.

House Edge Snapshots (Approximate)

6 decks, S17, DAS, no surrender: about 0.4% house edge.
6 decks, H17, DAS, no surrender: about 0.6% house edge.
6 decks, H17, DAS, late surrender: about 0.5% house edge.
Any game with 6:5 blackjack: add about +1.39% to the base edge.

These values depend on the full rule set. Always check the sign on the table felt, the placard, or the game info screen. For method notes and exact math, see Wizard of Odds and UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research.

Basic Strategy: How to Play Every Hand

What Basic Strategy Is (and Isn’t)

Basic strategy is the best play for every hand if you know the dealer’s up card and the table rules. It cuts the house edge to the lowest level. It does not promise wins. It is not card counting. It is a tool to lose less and to let luck and math work in a fair way over time.

How to Read the Chart

Hard hand: no Ace counted as 11 (or no Ace at all). Example: 10–6.
Soft hand: an Ace counted as 11. Example: A–7 (soft 18).
Pairs: two cards of the same rank (e.g., 8–8).
Codes: H = Hit, S = Stand, D = Double (if not allowed, Hit), P = Split, R = Surrender (if not allowed, follow next-best play).

Important: Use a chart that matches your rule set. The two charts below fit two common sets.

Strategy Chart A (6 decks, H17, DAS, no surrender)

This chart is common for many online and live games. If your rules are different, your plays may change.

Hard Totals vs Dealer Up Card

8 or less	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13–16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
17+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Soft Totals (Hands with an Ace counted as 11)

A,2 or A,3 (soft 13/14)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4 or A,5 (soft 15/16)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6 (soft 17)	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7 (soft 18)	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
A,8 or A,9 (soft 19/20)	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Pairs

2,2	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3,3	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
5,5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
6,6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

Note: “P” means Split; if the casino does not allow double after split (DAS), 4,4 vs 5–6 becomes Hit. For full tables and proofs, see Wizard of Odds charts.

Strategy Chart B (6 decks, S17, DAS, late surrender)

This chart fits games where the dealer stands on soft 17 and late surrender is allowed. Most plays match Chart A. The key changes are below.

Main Play Differences vs Chart A

Hard 11 vs Ace: Hit (do not double).
Soft 18 (A,7) vs 2: Stand (do not double).
Soft 19 (A,8) vs 6: Stand (do not double).

Late Surrender Rules (Use only if allowed)

Surrender hard 16 (not 8,8) vs dealer 9, 10, or Ace.
Surrender hard 15 vs dealer 10.
If surrender is not allowed, follow the Hit/Stand from Chart A.

You can print these rules and keep them near your screen at home (many online sites allow strategy charts open in another window). For more rule-by-rule charts, see all basic strategy charts.

10 Common Mistakes the Chart Prevents

Standing on 12 vs 2 or 3 (you should Hit here).
Misplaying soft 18 (A,7): double or hit in the right spots, do not always Stand.
Not doubling 11 vs 10 (H17 games let you double; S17 often does not vs Ace).
Splitting 10s (do not; 20 is already great).
Splitting 5s (treat them as 10; double where allowed).
Taking Insurance (bad unless you count cards).
Using the wrong chart for H17/S17 or surrender rules.
Playing 6:5 blackjack because it looks “cheap.” It is not.
Chasing losses with big bets (variance will punish you).
Ignoring table info signs and game help screens.

House Edge Explained, with Simple Math

What Is House Edge?

House edge is the long-term average share the casino keeps from each bet. If a game has a 0.5% house edge, the casino keeps about $0.50 per $100 bet in the long run. Your short-term results will swing up and down, but over many hands, the math pulls to that edge.

Why 3:2 Is So Much Better Than 6:5

A blackjack happens in about 1 hand out of 21 (around 4.7%). With 3:2, you win 1.5 units on those hands. With 6:5, you win only 1.2 units. The loss is 0.3 units on about 4.7% of hands. That is around 1.4% worse for you overall. This one change can turn a good game into a bad one.

Insurance: Usually a Bad Bet

Insurance pays 2:1 if the dealer has a 10 under an Ace. But the odds are not in your favor in normal play. The house edge on insurance is about 7% or more in common 6-deck games. Only skilled card counters should ever take it. See Insurance math.

Variance and Bankroll

10 under an Ace. But the odds are not in your favor in normal play. The house edge on insurance is about 7% or more in common

Bankroll and Table Selection

Pick a unit that is 1–2% of your session bankroll. Example: with $500, bet $5–$10 per hand.
3:2 games beat 6:5 games, even if the 3:2 table has a higher minimum.
Avoid side bets unless you have proof they are fair (most have high house edge).
Read the table sign: 3:2 or 6:5, H17 or S17, decks, DAS, and surrender. Online, open the “info” or “help” link in the game.

See also fair play and rule checks from regulators: Nevada Gaming Control Board, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, and UK Gambling Commission.

Where to Play: Choosing a Fair Blackjack Game

Quick Checklist

License and clear owner info. Check regulators like UKGC or Malta Gaming Authority.
Transparent rules: 3:2 vs 6:5, H17/S17, DAS, surrender, number of decks.
Game provider with public audits. Look for test labs such as eCOGRA, GLI, or iTech Labs.
Fast and safe payments. Use sites with public terms and strong KYC/AML.
Good responsible gambling tools: deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion.

Helpful Resource

Nevada Gaming Control Board,

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, and

Advanced Next Steps

Card counting is a skill that tracks the mix of high and low cards. It can shift the edge a little in your favor in some live games. But it needs practice, calm play, strict betting control, and the right rules. Many casinos watch for it and can refuse service. It is usually not illegal, but check your local laws and casino rules. For a classic read, see Edward Thorp’s Beat the Dealer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of blackjack?

Beat the dealer by having a hand closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over.

What is the best blackjack payout?

3:2 on a natural blackjack is best. 6:5 is much worse for you.

Should I take insurance?

Usually no. It has a high house edge unless you count cards.

What is basic strategy?

Beat the dealer by having a hand closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over.

Do charts change with rules?

3:2 on a natural blackjack is best. 6:5 is much worse for you.

Is card counting illegal?

Typically not. It is a high house advantage game unless you know how to card count.

What is the house edge in blackjack?

It removes any emotional decisions and mistakes that a player can make. Mathematics doesn’t lie. Optimal strategy has been figured out for blackjack and if you only rely on the math, then you’ll be guaranteed to improve your betting and playing decisions, hence you’ll win more money.

How many decks are best?

Yes. H17 vs S17 and surrender rules change some plays. Use the right chart.

Should I split 10s?

Usually not, though they can certainly ban you or throw you out. Each country is different.

Are side bets worth it?

With good rules and basic strategy, about 0.3%–0.6%. It depends on the table.

Why does the dealer hit or stand on soft 17?

If all other things are equal, fewer decks is better.

Sources and Further Reading

Wizard of Odds: Blackjack (rules, math, charts)
UNLV Center for Gaming Research (academic and historical data)
American Gaming Association (industry data, responsible play)
Beat the Dealer by Edward O. Thorp (classic book)
3:2 vs 6:5 effect
Insurance math
Nevada Gaming Control Board (rules, regulation)
UK Gambling Commission (player protections)
eCOGRA, GLI, iTech Labs (testing and audits)

Responsible Gambling and Legal Notice

Normally no. They have a higher house edge.

Rules and legality differ by country and state. Check local laws and licensed sites.

Quick Tips from Real Play

Before you sit, scan the table sign: look for 3:2, S17, DAS, and surrender.
If the felt says 6:5, walk away. It saves you money over time.
Ask the dealer if you are not sure about a rule. Dealers can explain H17/S17 or surrender.
Online, open the game info page and read every line of rules before you bet.

Last updated: 2025-12-22. Data based on public sources and standard multi-deck rules. Always verify your table’s exact rules.