How to Use a Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart (Cheat Sheet)

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Professional poker player Alec Torelli shares strategies to get the edge without busting

Co-authored by Alec Torelli and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: April 10, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Using a Blackjack Cheat Sheet
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• Are cheat sheets allowed during play?
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• Basic Blackjack Rules
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• Basic Strategy
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• Bust Odds
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• Additional Reading
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• Video

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If you’re trying to improve your blackjack game and increase your odds of winning, using a cheat sheet with basic strategies is the perfect way to learn. Cheat sheets calculate the odds and probabilities of different hands, and they provide the best strategies for when to hit and when to stand. Whether you’re a new player just learning the game or an experienced player that needs a reminder, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading to find a helpful cheat sheet along with instructions for how to properly use it, with exclusive tips shared by wikiHow’s professional poker player.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart & Cheat Sheet

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Professional poker player Alec Torelli says blackjack strategy is about making decisions based on your hand vs. the dealer’s hand. To use the cheat sheet, find your hand's total on the chart and see where it intersects with the up-card in the dealer's hand. Hit or stand following the chart for the best odds at winning.

Steps

Section 1 of 6:

How to Use a Blackjack Cheat Sheet

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   Find your hand and the dealer’s hand on the sides of the cheat sheet. Look for the value of your hand on the side of the cheat sheet. Typically, the cheat shows hands for hard totals, soft totals (if you have an Ace), or pairs. Then, look for the dealer’s card at the top of the chart.

   • Example: If you have an 8 and 6 in your hand, you have a hard 14 total.
   • Example: If you have an Ace and a 3 for your hand, you have a soft 14 because the Ace could also be treated as a 1.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Alec Torelli is a professional poker player and coach with over 20 years in the poker industry. He’s also the founder of Conscious Poker, a poker training platform.
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   Do the recommended move where the hands intersect on the chart. Find where your hand and the dealer’s hand intersect on the chart to see if it’s best to hit, stand, double down, or split. Blackjack cheat sheets are based on the probabilities that you or the dealer is more likely to bust, so following the listed move can reduce the house edge and make it more likely that you’ll win a hand.

   • Example: If you have a hard 14 for your hand and the dealer has a 7, the cheat sheet recommends hitting because you’re more likely to get a higher number than the dealer.
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   Reevaluate the cheat sheet after each hit. After hitting on a hand, find your new hand total on the chart to find out the next best play. Keep following the cheat sheet throughout your game for each hand. Cheat sheets don’t always guarantee that you’ll win, but you’ll have the best odds at beating the house if you follow them.

   • Most cheat sheets don’t list hard totals over 17, but it’s best to stand if you reach 18 or higher because you’re more likely to bust if you try hitting again. Plus, most blackjack dealers stop hitting when they reach 16 or 17 in their hand so they may not be able to beat you.
   • Casino gambling and video poker expert Matthew Bourie says, “If you play perfect basic strategy, you can get the house edge down to about a half a percent.”
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Section 2 of 6:

Can you have a cheat sheet at a blackjack table?

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1. 
   Some casinos allow cheat sheets, but others do not. Some casinos hand out their own cheat sheets to new players at a blackjack table, but you may be able to bring your own as well. However, some casinos don’t let you use a physical cheat sheet, so try to memorize the chart as much as you can so you don’t feel stuck during a game.

   • Bourie notes, “If you have questions and you want to play, sit down at an empty table and ask the dealer your questions while you're playing.” If there isn’t an empty table, he notes you may be able to stand behind a less busy table and ask a friendly dealer your question.

Section 3 of 6:

Blackjack Rules Overview

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1. 
   Try to get a higher hand than the dealer without going over 21. When you play blackjack, the dealer gives you 2 face-up cards for your hand, and they deal one face-up and one face-down to themselves. On your turn, you can hit to deal another card to get closer to 21, or you can stand if you want to stop with the cards you have.

   • When you choose to stop, the dealer reveals their card and hits until they reach a specific value, usually 16 or 17.
   • If your hand is higher than the dealer's, you win! If your hand is lower than the dealer's, then the house wins.
   • If you get exactly 21, you get a blackjack and win instantly unless the dealer also has one.
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Section 4 of 6:

Basic Blackjack Strategies to Remember

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   Hard totals A hard total is the value of your hand when you don’t have an Ace. When you have a higher value in your hand, it’s more strategic to stand if the dealer has a low value so you don’t risk busting. When you have a lower hand, you’re typically safe to hit for a chance at beating the dealer. Torelli sums up the decision to stand or hit with this simple rule: “Make your decisions based on your hand vs. the dealer’s hand, not on your feelings or emotions.”

   • Always stand on a 17 or higher, recommends Torelli. Your hand is already “made” and you’re a mathematical favorite to win.
   • Check the dealer’s hand if you have 12-16, suggests Torelli.
   • If the Dealer shows any card from 2-6, Torelli says that means they have a weak hand, so stand pat. The dealers will most often bust, so by doing nothing, you maximize your odds of winning.
     • Specifically, stand on a 13, 14, 15, or 16 if the dealer has 2-6, otherwise hit.
     • Or, stand on a 12 if the dealer has 4-6, otherwise hit.
     • Or, double down on 9 if the dealer has 3-6, otherwise hit.
   • If the Dealer shows any card from 7-Ace, Torelli explains that this means they have a strong hand, so hit. You’re probably behind, so you need to improve.
     • Specifically, double down on 11 if the dealer has 2-10, otherwise hit.
     • Or, double down on 10 if the dealer has 2-9, otherwise hit.
   • Always hit if you have 11 or less, recommends Torelli.
     • As he explains, you literally cannot bust, so take the card. In poker, this is called a “freeroll” because you have a free upside, but no downside.
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   Soft totals “A soft hand just means you have an Ace counted as 11,” explains Torelli. This gives you flexibility, as you can take a card without immediately risking a bust, so you should be more aggressive. You’ll usually hit to draw a new card unless your other card is an 8 or higher.

   • If you have Soft 17 (A-6) or less, Torelli says the rule is to always hit.
     • He explains that since you can’t bust with one card, every possible draw improves or keeps your hand alive. So, there’s no downside to taking another card.
   • If you have Soft 18 (A-7), Torelli notes that things get more nuanced:
     • If you’re against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace, you’re likely behind, so hit.
     • If you’re against a dealer’s 7 or 8, you’re a favorite, so stand.
   • If you have Soft 19 (A-8) or better, stand and let the hand play out, suggests Torelli.
   • There are also some strategies on whether you should double down:
     • Double down on A+7 if the dealer has 3-6 and hit on 9-A, otherwise stand.
     • Double on A+6 if the dealer has 3-6, otherwise hit.
     • Double on A+4 and A+5 if the dealer has 4-6, otherwise hit.
     • Double on A+2 and A+3 if the dealer has 5-6, otherwise hit.
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   Doubling down “Doubling down is where you make your money, but you have to do so correctly,” explains Torelli. This means recognizing when you already have the advantage and pressing it. He says the best time to double is when two things are true: 1. Your hand is strong or about to be strong and 2. The dealer is in a weak position. Basically, the rule is to bet more when the odds lean your way, but to chill when they don’t.

   • Torelli provides these examples:
     • If you have an 11, you’re one good card away from a monster hand, he explains. Most cards in the deck help you, so double and take your shot.
     • If you have a 10, he says it’s a similar process. If the dealer shows anything from 2 to 9, you’re likely ahead. One more card puts you in a great position, so press it.
     • If you have a 9, you should be a bit more selective, he notes. If the dealer shows 3 through 6, that means they’re vulnerable. So, double down.
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   Splitting pairs When you’re dealt a pair of cards with the same value, Torelli explains that you have the option of splitting them and playing 2 separate hands. The catch is that you have to double your bet, which is why you only want to “split” if you’re a mathematical favorite. While this can sometimes increase your chances of winning, there are some moments when it’s better to keep your pair together.

   • Always split Aces and 8s, suggests Torelli.
     • He explains that 8s turn a “terrible 16” into two fresh starts with a lot more potential (for instance, you can catch a face card and improve to an 18).
   • Never split 10s or 5s, Torelli warns.
     • He notes that two 5s play better as a 10, which sets up a strong next move to improve to a 20.
   • If the dealer is weak, split smaller pairs like 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s, and 9s, recommends Torelli. For example:
     • Double down on 5s if the dealer has 2-9, otherwise hit.
     • Split 2s, 3s, and 7s if the dealer has 2-7, otherwise hit.
     • Split 9s if the dealer has 2-9 except for 7, otherwise stand.
     • Split 6s if the dealer has 2-6, otherwise hit.
     • Split 4s only if the dealer has 5 or 6, otherwise hit.
   • If the dealer is strong, it’s best to avoid doubling your bet, Torelli says.
   • Don’t split a 20—Torelli says a 20 is already a winner, so don’t get greedy!
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   Surrender Surrendering during blackjack lets you get out of the hand early if you’re not doing well and get half your bet back. Typically, you’ll only surrender if the dealer is showing a high up-card and you have an unlucky hard total. Most tables allow you to surrender, but double-check with the dealer for the full rules.

   • Surrender with 15 if the dealer has a 10 or Ace.
   • Surrender with 16 if the dealer has 9, 10, or Ace.
   • Surrender with 17 if the dealer has an Ace.
   • Surrender with a pair of 8s if the dealer has an Ace.
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   Insurance Insurance bets are side bets when the dealer has an Ace as their up-card. You may place an insurance bet up to half your initial wager, and if the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance pays out 2:1. However, most professionals recommend not taking the insurance bet because it increases the house edge and you’re more likely to lose.
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Section 5 of 6:

Blackjack Odds of Busting

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   Players are more likely to bust with higher hand totals. When your hand has a total lower than 10, you’re safe from busting if you choose to hit on your turn. As your hand total increases, it’s less likely that you’ll draw a low card that keeps you under 21, so it’s best to stand if you ever get 17 or higher. The hand totals and your odds of busting are:

   • 21: 100%
   • 20: 92%
   • 19: 85%
   • 18: 77%
   • 17: 69%
   • 16: 62%
   • 15: 58%
   • 14: 56%
   • 13: 39%
   • 12: 31%
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   The house has lower odds of busting based on their up-card. Casinos always have a slight edge at blackjack even if you’re playing the game with perfect strategy. Dealers have rules for when to hit or stand, so they don’t bust often, but starting with a 4, 5, or 6 as their first upcard makes it more likely they’ll go over 21. The possible upcards and their probability of busting are:

   • 2: 35%
   • 3: 37%
   • 4: 40%
   • 5: 42%
   • 6: 42%
   • 7: 26%
   • 8: 24%
   • 9: 23%
   • 10: 23%
   • Ace: 17%
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Section 6 of 6:

More Blackjack Resources

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1. Check out our other blackjack pages to improve your odds even more. If you want to master the blackjack tables, we have tons of other articles to help you become the best player. While you’re memorizing the cheat sheet, study up on these other pages too:

   • How to Deal Blackjack
   • How to Win at Blackjack
   • How to Count Cards
   • When to Split Pairs
   • When to Double Down
   • When to Surrender

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