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What Is Basic Strategy?

Basic Strategy

Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal way to play every blackjack hand based on your cards and the dealer's upcard. It reduces the house edge to under 0.5%.

Without basic strategy, the house edge is 2-3%. With perfect basic strategy, it drops to 0.5% or less.

Your Hand	Dealer Shows	Action
16	7 or higher	Hit
11	2-10	Double Down
A,8	Any	Stand
8,8	Any	Split
10,10	Any	Stand

Hard vs Soft Hands

A hard hand has no Ace (or the Ace counts as 1). A soft hand has an Ace counting as 11. Soft hands give you more flexibility since you cannot bust on one hit.