Blackjack Strategy Chart.
Basic strategy sheets are the most helpful tools for memorizing these rules. The cheat sheets simply take the rules and lay them out in a color-coded grid to make them easy to read. Strategy cards will tell you when to hit and stand in blackjack, as well as surrender, double down, and split. Every player should have one by their side when playing 21.
Given the number of decks in play can affect your odds of winning. The cheat sheets will reflect these differences, too. Dealer rules, i.e., standing on soft 17, can also affect basic strategy. Most casinos use 6-8 decks in their blackjack games, so our charts cover 4-8 decks and various dealer rules so you can apply basic strategy to most blackjack games.
Blackjack Strategy Cards
4-8 Deck Blackjack, Dealer Hits on Soft 17:
How to read strategy charts:
Blackjack strategy charts usually follow an XY graph format. To find which move to make, follow the x-axis, or ‘player’s cards’ until you find your hand value. Then look on the x-axis, or ‘dealer card’ to find their upcard value. Follow the two lines until you reach the cell where they meet. This will tell you the move you should make based on the cards in play.
Blackjack Betting Strategies
Many players try to combine basic strategy with betting systems. These strategies aren’t specific to blackjack and use different theories to basic strategy, like progressive betting. Each has its pros and cons and suits different bankrolls and playing styles. Here are the most popular betting strategies in blackjack:
Martingale System
This strategy is hugely popular in roulette. With Martingale. The objective is that you profit from your initial wager, whether that’s after the first hand or 20 hands. Here’s how the betting strategy works:
- Make a small first wager, say $10.
- If you win, you’ve succeeded Martingale by guaranteeing your first bet. You can leave, or restart the Martingale strategy.
- Let’s say you continue, but lose the next hand. Martingale strategy states you must double your wager on the next hand to try and recoup your losses.
- You double your wager ($20) but lose your hand again. Under the Martingale system, you must double your bet again ($40).
- With Martingale, you double your bet. After every losing hand, no matter how many hands you play. When you win a hand, you restart with your original wager.