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Blackjack Chart: Comprehensive Guide to Blackjack Strategy
๐๏ธ Key Takeaways
- Get two full blackjack charts, one for each version of the soft 17 rule.
- Read any cell in seconds by finding your hand type first, then matching it to the dealer's upcard.
- See exactly which six plays change between the two charts, outlined so you can spot them at a glance.
- Understand hard hands, soft hands and pairs, and why the same total can call for different moves.
- Learn the plays that surprise most players, from hitting 16 versus a 7 to standing on a pair of nines versus a 7.
- Check how the soft 17 rule and doubling after a split move the house edge before you choose a table.
A blackjack chart turns every decision at the table into a lookup. Your hand runs down the side, the dealer's upcard runs across the top, and the cell where they meet tells you what to do.
The right chart depends on the table rules, so this guide gives you two. Below, we explain how to read them and how each hand type works.
๐ฏ What the Charts Are Based On
Both charts show basic strategy for a 4-deck game that allows late surrender and doubling after a split. Every play comes from the mathematically best move for that rule set, worked out over every possible hand.
The only difference between the two is the dealer's soft 17 rule. That single rule changes six plays, so check the table felt or the game's help screen before you pick a chart.
๐ Chart 1: Dealer Stands on Soft 17
This is the chart for tables marked "dealer stands on all 17s", which is the friendlier rule for players.
๐ Chart 2: Dealer Hits Soft 17
Use this chart when the felt says "dealer hits soft 17", often shortened to H17. The outlined cells are the plays that differ from the first chart.
When the dealer hits soft 17, these six plays change:
- Hard 11 against an ace: double instead of hit.
- Hard 15 against an ace: surrender if allowed, otherwise hit.
- Hard 17 against an ace: surrender if allowed, otherwise stand.
- A-7 facing a 2: double if allowed, otherwise stand.
- A-8 facing a 6: double if allowed, otherwise stand.
- 8-8 against an ace: surrender if allowed, otherwise split.
๐ How to Read the Charts
Each chart has three sections, and the first job is picking the right one. Check them in this order, because the same cards can fit more than one.
- Pairs: if both of your opening cards have the same rank, start with the pairs section.
- Soft totals: if one of your cards is an ace still worth 11, use the soft section.
- Hard totals: for every other hand, use the hard section.
- Find the column: move across your row to the dealer's upcard, and the code where they cross is your move.
Some codes carry a second instruction for tables that do not allow a move. Ds means double if you can and stand if you cannot, and Rh means surrender if you can and hit if you cannot.
After your first move, keep reading the chart for your new total. Once you have three or more cards, doubling, splitting and surrender are no longer options, so play D cells as a hit and Ds or Rs cells as a stand.
โ Hard Hands Explained
Hard hands are those with no ace at all, or with an ace forced to count as 1. So 9-7 makes hard 16, as does A-5-10.
Hard hands are where most of the tough decisions sit, because a high card can bust you. These are the plays worth learning first:
- Hit hard 16 against a 7: it feels risky, but standing on 16 loses more often against a dealer 7.
- Double 10 against a 9: a 10 is worth doubling whenever the upcard is 2 to 9.
- Stand on hard 17: the chance of busting with one more card is too high, whatever the dealer shows.
- Never double hard 7 or less: no single card can take you to a strong total.
Hard 12 is the hand players most often misplay. The chart hits it against a 2 and a 3, and stands only against a 4, 5 or 6.
๐ Soft Hands Explained
A soft hand holds an ace being counted as 11, such as A-6, which is soft 17. Drawing again cannot bust it, because the ace drops back to 1 if needed.
That safety is why soft hands double so often when the upcard is 3 to 6. It also means some plays feel wrong but are correct.
- Hit soft 17 against an ace: 17 rarely wins against an ace, and one more card costs you nothing.
- Soft 18 (A-7) depends on the upcard: double against 3 to 6, stand against 2, 7 and 8, and hit facing a 9, 10 or ace.
- Never double soft 20: A-9 already beats most dealer totals, so it stands against everything.
To see how aces and soft totals are counted, our blackjack card values guide explains it step by step.
๐ฏ Pairs Explained
When your opening cards match, the pairs section tells you whether to split them into two hands. Splitting means adding a second bet the size of the first, so the chart only splits when two hands are worth more than one.
- Aces and eights: split them against every upcard, except 8-8 against an ace on an H17 table with surrender.
- 9-9 against a 7: stand, because 18 already beats the dealer's most likely total of 17.
- 10-10: never split a 20.
- 5-5: play it as a hard 10, which means doubling against 2 to 9.
Ph cells only split if the table lets you double after splitting. Without that rule, those small pairs are worth more as a single hand, so you hit instead.
โ๏ธ Rules That Change the Numbers
The table rules shift both the chart and the house edge. These two matter most for the charts above.
- Dealer stands on soft 17: lowers the house edge by about 0.22% compared with a dealer who hits it.
- No doubling after a split: costs the player about 0.14%, and turns the Ph cells into hits.
A natural, an ace paired with a 10, jack, queen or king in your opening two cards, turns up about 4.8% of the time. It needs no decision from the chart, because it is paid straight away unless the dealer has one too.
The full order of play at the table is set out in our blackjack rules guide. Our blackjack cheat sheet has the same plays for a dealer who stands on soft 17, laid out as colour-coded tables.
๐ VistaGamble's Honest Assessment
A chart is the fastest way to play blackjack well, but only if it matches your table. Here is the balance of its strengths and limits.
โ The Positives
- Every decision covered: each hand and upcard has one clear answer, so there is no guesswork.
- Two rule sets in one place: the S17 and H17 charts cover the rule casinos change most often.
- Easy to compare: the outlined cells show exactly what changes when the dealer hits soft 17.
โ The Negatives
- Built for one deck count: both charts assume 4 decks, so a handful of close plays can differ in other games.
- Some plays feel wrong: taking a card on 16 versus a 7, or on A-6 versus an ace, takes discipline.
- No edge for the player: perfect play lowers the house edge but never removes it.
๐ Conclusion
A blackjack chart is only as good as the match between its rules and your table. Check whether the dealer stands or hits on soft 17, pick the right chart, and read pairs first, then soft totals, then hard totals.
The plays that feel strangest are often the ones that save you most over time. Keep the chart open while you learn, and the right move will soon become second nature.
Frequently Asked Questionsโ
What is a blackjack chart?
It is a grid that tells you how to play every possible hand once you see the dealer's card. Separate sections cover hard hands, soft hands and pairs.
Which blackjack chart should I use?
Use the dealer stands on soft 17 chart if the table says the dealer stands on all 17s. Use the dealer hits soft 17 chart if the felt or help screen says H17.
Should you hit 16 when the dealer shows a 7?
Yes, hit hard 16 against a 7. Standing on 16 loses more often, because the dealer will usually finish on 17 or more.
Should you stand on 9-9 against a 7?
Yes, stand on a pair of nines against a 7. Your 18 already beats the 17 the dealer most often ends up with.
How much does the soft 17 rule change the house edge?
A dealer who stands on soft 17 lowers the house edge by about 0.22%. Not being allowed to double after a split costs players about 0.14%.
How often are you dealt a natural blackjack?
A natural is dealt about 4.8% of the time. It needs no decision, because it is paid at once unless the dealer also has blackjack.