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Table Math

Basic strategy chart

The chart, with the reasons

For 4 to 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double on any two cards, double after split, late surrender. Columns are the dealer's up card. Other rules (one deck, dealer hits soft 17, no surrender) change a few cells.

Hard totals
Your handYou2345678910A
5-8HHHHHHHHHH
9HDDDDHHHHH
10DDDDDDDDHH
11DDDDDDDDDH
12HHSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHRH
16SSSSSHHRRR
17+SSSSSSSSSS
Soft hands
Your handYou2345678910A
A,2HHHDDHHHHH
A,3HHHDDHHHHH
A,4HHDDDHHHHH
A,5HHDDDHHHHH
A,6HDDDDHHHHH
A,7SDDDDSSHHH
A,8SSSSSSSSSS
A,9SSSSSSSSSS
Pairs
Your handYou2345678910A
A,APPPPPPPPPP
10,10SSSSSSSSSS
9,9PPPPPSPPSS
8,8PPPPPPPPPP
7,7PPPPPPHHHH
6,6PPPPPHHHHH
5,5DDDDDDDDHH
4,4HHHPPHHHHH
3,3PPPPPPHHHH
2,2PPPPPPHHHH

H hit S stand D double (if not allowed: hit; soft 18 stands) P split R surrender (if not offered: hit)

Stiff hands

12 to 16 bust on one card often. Against a 2 to 6 the dealer busts often too, so stand (12 hits against 2 and 3). Against 7 or more, hit.

Doubles

Double when you are ahead and one card is likely to keep you there: 10 and 11 against most cards, soft hands against a weak dealer.

Splits

Always aces and 8s. Never 10s or 5s. Small pairs split against a weak dealer.

Drill it Printable pocket card The card is part of the Table Math Pass ($1.95/month), free during preview.

Reference: Wizard of Odds, 4-deck to 8-deck basic strategy (S17, DAS, late surrender). Basic strategy lowers the house edge; it does not remove it.