Blackjack Actions Explained: Hit, Stand, Double, Split, Surrender — With a Basic Strategy Chart

On your turn you choose one of a few actions. Here is what each one does, when you're allowed to use it — and a chart that tells you which one is best for every hand.

The actions

Split aces are special: each ace gets just one more card, and a 21 made that way counts as 21, not blackjack.

Rules of thumb

• Always split aces and eights. Never split tens or fives.
• Double 11 against a dealer 2 to 10, and double 10 against 2 to 9.
• Stand on hard 17 or more. Always hit hard 8 or less.
• Hard 13 to 16: stand against a dealer 2 to 6, hit against 7 or higher. Hard 12: stand only against 4, 5 and 6.
• Soft 18 (A,7): double against 3 to 6, stand against 2, 7 and 8, hit against 9, 10 and ace.
• Surrender (if offered): hard 16 against 9, 10 or ace, and hard 15 against 10.
• Insurance: don't — unless you count cards and the true count is +3 or higher.

The full basic strategy chart

Find your hand on the left and the dealer's up card along the top.

Basic strategy doesn't guarantee a win — the house still keeps a small edge. It is simply the play that loses least over time. Card counters go one step further and change a few of these plays when the count is high or low; see Basic Strategy Deviations. CountPilot shows the right play for the hand being played, right on top of the live table.

Check that counting aids are allowed where you play — many casinos' terms prohibit them.

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