Blackjack Strategy Guide: Master Basic Strategy

Why Blackjack Is the Best Game for Skilled Players

Every casino—online or land-based—puts plenty of games in front of you. Slots dangle the promise of massive jackpots. Roulette offers clean simplicity. But if you want the best mathematical chance of walking away ahead, blackjack is the game that actually rewards what you know. No other table game comes close.

What sets blackjack apart is that your choices genuinely shape the outcome. Each hand presents a decision—hit, stand, double, split—and picking the mathematically optimal play every time can push the house edge down to just 0.3% to 0.5%. To put that in perspective, most slot machines hold a 5-15% advantage over you. The gap is enormous.

This guide lays out the exact strategy you need to reach that minimal house edge. We'll walk through the basic strategy that mathematicians have been refining for decades, explain the reasoning behind plays that seem counterintuitive, and cover the bankroll habits that keep you at the table long enough for the math to do its job. These concepts hold whether you're placing C$5 bets online or playing live dealer blackjack from your couch.

Blackjack Rules Refresher

Strategy only makes sense when the rules are clear, so let's make sure the fundamentals are solid. Blackjack rules can shift slightly from one casino to the next, but the core mechanics stay the same.

Card Values

This part is refreshingly simple:

• Number cards (2-10): Worth their face value
• Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): Worth 10
• Aces: Worth 1 or 11, whichever helps your hand

The Ace's flexibility is central to smart play. A hand containing an Ace valued at 11 is called a "soft hand" (for instance, Ace-6 equals soft 17). Once that Ace has to count as 1 to keep you at or below 21, it becomes a "hard hand."

The Objective

The goal is straightforward: beat the dealer's total without going over 21. You can win by:

• Finishing with a hand value nearer to 21 than the dealer
• Staying under 21 while the dealer busts (exceeds 21)
• Hitting a "natural" blackjack (Ace plus a 10-value card) when the dealer doesn't

A natural blackjack usually pays 3:2 (winning C$15 on a C$10 wager). Some lesser tables pay only 6:5, which is a major disadvantage for players. Always confirm the payout before you sit down.

Dealer Rules

The dealer operates on autopilot, following strict rules with zero discretion:

• Hit on 16 or less: Another card is mandatory
• Stand on 17 or more: No additional cards allowed
• Soft 17 rules differ: Some tables make the dealer hit soft 17; others require a stand

Player Options

You, on the other hand, get to make real choices:

• Hit: Take another card
• Stand: Stay with your current total
• Double Down: Double your bet in exchange for exactly one additional card
• Split: Turn a pair into two separate hands (each requiring a bet equal to the original)
• Surrender: Give up half your bet and fold the hand (not available everywhere)
• Insurance: A side bet offered when the dealer shows an Ace (almost always a losing proposition)

Understanding the House Edge

Unlike most casino games, the house edge in blackjack isn't a fixed number. It moves up or down depending on the table rules and how well you play. That's exactly what makes the game worth studying.

How Rules Affect House Edge

Even small rule tweaks produce measurable shifts in the casino's advantage:

Best Rule Variations to Look For

Whether you're browsing tables online or picking a live dealer lobby, prioritize these conditions:

1. 3:2 blackjack payouts (this is the non-negotiable one; walk away from 6:5 games)
2. Dealer stands on soft 17
3. Fewer decks (single or double deck is ideal)
4. Double on any two cards
5. Double after split allowed
6. Late surrender available
7. Re-split aces allowed

A table with player-friendly rules can offer a house edge under 0.3%. A table stacked against you (6:5 payouts, H17, restricted doubling) can push the edge past 2%—at which point even roulette treats you better.

Basic Strategy Explained

Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal play for every possible blackjack hand. It was first computed in the 1950s by four U.S. Army mathematicians using nothing but desk calculators, and has since been validated by computer simulations running billions of hands.

What Is Basic Strategy?

Put simply, basic strategy tells you the right move for every combination of your hand total and the dealer's visible card. "Right" here means the action that produces the highest expected value (or the smallest expected loss) across millions of repetitions.

Sticking to basic strategy perfectly won't guarantee a winning session—short-term variance is always part of the picture. What it does guarantee is that you're never giving the casino more edge than mathematically necessary.

Why It Works

Basic strategy works because it factors in:

• Every possible hidden card: The dealer's upcard tells you something, but the hole card could be any of 13 values
• Bust probabilities: Both your bust likelihood and the dealer's are precisely calculable at every point
• Expected value of each option: Sometimes taking a hit loses less money over time than standing; doubling captures extra profit when conditions favor you

Consider hitting 16 against a dealer 10. It feels risky because you might bust. But standing is actually worse, because you'd need the dealer to bust—and with a 10 showing, the dealer only busts around 23% of the time. Hitting still isn't comfortable, but it loses you less money in the long run.

Basic Strategy Charts

Below you'll find charts covering the three scenarios you'll encounter: hard hands, soft hands, and pairs. Commit these to memory, and you'll be playing textbook-optimal blackjack.

Hard Hands (No Ace, or Ace counted as 1)

Key: S = Stand, H = Hit, D = Double (hit if not allowed)

Soft Hands (Ace counted as 11)

Key: S = Stand, H = Hit, D = Double (hit if not allowed)

Pairs (Splitting Decisions)

Key: P = Split, S = Stand, H = Hit, D = Double (hit if not allowed)

When to Hit, Stand, Double, Split

The charts show you what to do. Now let's explore why each play is correct, so you understand the logic and can execute confidently in the moment.

Key Hitting Decisions

Hit hard 12 against dealer 2 or 3: This one trips up a lot of players because hitting risks a bust. But a dealer 2 or 3 isn't as vulnerable as it looks—the dealer only busts roughly 35% of the time from those upcards. If you stand on 12, your only path to winning is a dealer bust. Hitting opens up more possibilities.

Hit 16 against dealer 7 or higher: Easily the most stomach-churning hand in the game. Hitting means you'll bust about 62% of the time. But standing leaves you hoping for a dealer bust, and with a strong upcard that only happens around 26% of the time. Hitting is the less painful option.

Hit soft 18 against dealer 9, 10, or Ace: This catches many players off guard. Eighteen feels like a solid hand, but against a dealer 9 or 10, you're actually a slight underdog. Since you can't bust a soft hand by taking another card, hitting gives you a shot at 19, 20, or 21 with zero downside risk.

Key Standing Decisions

Stand on hard 13-16 against dealer 2-6: The dealer is showing a "bust card." When the upcard is 2 through 6, the dealer busts 35-42% of the time. No need to jeopardize your hand when the dealer has a strong chance of self-destructing.

Stand on hard 17 or above: Never take a card on hard 17+. The bust risk far outweighs any potential improvement. Even facing a dealer 10, standing is the right call.

Never split 10s: A 20 is one of the strongest hands you can hold. Breaking it apart to chase two uncertain hands is a mistake driven by greed, not math.

Key Doubling Decisions

Doubling is where you grow your profits. It means committing more money precisely when the math is tilted in your favour.

Double 11 against every dealer card (except Ace in certain rule sets): Holding 11 means any 10-value card delivers 21. This is your strongest opportunity to capitalize on a single draw. Double and press the advantage.

Double 10 against dealer 2-9: The same logic applies, slightly less aggressively. When the dealer shows a 10 or Ace, the matchup is too tight—just hit instead.

Double soft 17 (A-6) against dealer 3-6: The dealer is weak, and your hand has built-in flexibility that makes busting impossible. Doubling squeezes maximum value from a favorable spot.

Key Splitting Decisions

Always split Aces and 8s: A pair of Aces gives you a clunky 12 (or a soft 22, which is still 12). Splitting creates two fresh shots at 21. A pair of 8s adds up to 16—the worst hand in blackjack—but splitting gives you two chances at a much more playable 18.

Never split 5s or 10s: Two 5s make 10, which is a prime doubling hand. Two 10s make 20, a near-guaranteed winner. Don't dismantle good hands.

Split 9s against dealer 2-6, 8, 9 (but not 7, 10, or A): This one's subtle. Against a 7, your 18 already beats the dealer's likely 17. Against a 10 or Ace, you're better off keeping 18 intact rather than splitting into uncertain territory.

Card Counting Overview

Card counting is the most talked-about (and most misunderstood) blackjack technique. It's worth knowing about, even though practical applications are limited for online players.

The Hi-Lo System Basics

The most widely used counting method assigns a simple value to each card:

• 2-6: +1 (small cards favour the dealer)
• 7-9: 0 (neutral)
• 10-A: -1 (big cards favour the player)

As cards come off the shoe, you maintain a "running count." A positive count means the remaining deck is rich in high cards (good for you). Counters increase their bets when the count is high and scale back when it's low.

Why Counting Doesn't Work Online (RNG Games)

Here's the key takeaway: card counting is pointless for standard online blackjack. RNG (Random Number Generator) games effectively reshuffle the entire deck after every single hand. There's no deck penetration to exploit and no memory of previous cards. Each hand is statistically independent.

This isn't rigging on the casino's part. It's simply how computerized card games function—every round deals from a fresh virtual shoe.

Live Dealer Considerations

Live dealer blackjack uses physical cards dealt by real humans on camera, so counting is theoretically possible. In practice, though, it's extremely challenging because:

• Early shuffle points: Casinos cut the shoe well before running out of cards
• Rapid dealing: Multiple players and a fast-moving game compress counting opportunities
• Bet limits: The bet spread you'd need to profit from counting may exceed table caps
• Monitoring: Unusual betting patterns can trigger casino scrutiny

For the typical Canadian player, basic strategy alone is the practical winning approach. Card counting is intellectually interesting but provides marginal returns in the online live dealer environment.

Bankroll Management for Blackjack

Perfect strategy doesn't eliminate variance. Short-term swings can be severe, and proper bankroll management is what keeps you in the game long enough for the mathematics to play out.

Session Sizing

A single blackjack session can take you on a wild ride. Experienced players generally follow these guidelines:

• Session bankroll: 30-50 times your standard bet
• Total bankroll: 200-300 times your standard bet

Playing C$10 hands? Bring C$300-500 for a single session. Your overall blackjack fund (the money you've set aside for the game across multiple sessions) should be C$2,000-3,000 to ride out inevitable cold streaks.

Bet Sizing

If you're playing basic strategy without counting, flat betting is the way to go. That means wagering the same amount on every hand, without variation.

The reasoning: without knowledge of the remaining deck composition, there's no informational edge that justifies changing your bet size. Progressive systems like Martingale or Paroli don't alter the house edge—they only amplify your swings.

Win/Loss Limits

Decide on your boundaries before you play a single hand:

• Loss limit: "If I'm down C$300, I walk away." This is a hard stop—honour it every time.
• Win goal: "If I'm up C$200, I'll step away and reassess." This can be flexible, but banking some profit is always a good feeling.
• Time limit: Extended sessions breed fatigue and sloppy decisions. Keep it to 2-3 hours maximum.

Common Blackjack Mistakes

Knowing basic strategy is one thing; consistently avoiding these traps is another. Here are the errors we see players make most often:

1. Taking Insurance

When the dealer flips an Ace, you'll be offered "insurance"—a side bet that pays 2:1 if a 10-value card is hiding underneath. Decline it every time. The actual probability of the dealer having blackjack is about 30.7%, which means insurance pays out less than it should. Over time, it bleeds your bankroll.

The only scenario where insurance can make sense: you're counting cards and the deck is loaded with 10s. For basic strategy players, the answer is always no.

2. Standing on Soft 17

Ace-6 looks decent at first glance, but 17 is a weak total. You physically cannot bust a soft hand by hitting, and you could upgrade to 18, 19, 20, or 21. Standing here when the dealer shows strength is leaving money behind.

3. Not Doubling When You Should

Doubling means putting more money at stake, and some players avoid it out of caution. But refusing to double in the right spots (like 11 against a dealer 6) costs you profit. If the extra bet makes you anxious, your base bet is probably too high.

4. Splitting 10s

"But the dealer shows a 6!" True, and your 20 is going to beat the dealer's likely bust anyway. Splitting tens is a greed play, not a strategy play. Hold your 20.

5. Playing 6:5 Blackjack

If a table pays 6:5 on blackjack instead of 3:2, find another table. That single change costs you 1.39% in house edge—a steeper penalty than any other rule variation. No amount of perfect play can overcome odds that lopsided.

6. Chasing Losses

After a string of bad hands, the urge to bet bigger and "get even" is powerful. Resist it. Each hand is independent of the last. Raising your stakes after losses only magnifies the damage if the downswing continues.

7. Playing Tired or Distracted

Basic strategy demands focus. Fatigue, alcohol, or multi-tasking lead to misplays that add up fast. One incorrect decision per hour might seem trivial, but compounded across a session it erodes your edge. Play alert or take a break.

Online vs Live Dealer Blackjack

Canadian players have two distinct ways to play blackjack online, each with its own character:

RNG (Computer-Dealt) Blackjack

How it works: Software generates cards using a Random Number Generator. Every hand is independent—no physical deck is involved.

Advantages:

• Quick pace with no waiting for other players
• Low minimum bets (often C$1-2)
• Available around the clock, no queue
• Free play / demo modes for practising strategy

Disadvantages:

• No social element
• Can feel impersonal
• Card counting is impossible
• Fast pace means faster potential losses without discipline

Live Dealer Blackjack

How it works: A real dealer handles physical cards from a shoe, streamed live on camera. You share the table with other real players and interact in real time.

Advantages:

• Genuine casino atmosphere without leaving home
• Chat with the dealer and fellow players
• Real cards offer a sense of trust and authenticity
• Measured pace encourages thoughtful play

Disadvantages:

• Higher minimum bets (typically C$5-25)
• Waiting for other players to act
• Seat availability can be limited during peak times
• Needs a solid internet connection

Which Should You Choose?

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the house edge in blackjack with basic strategy?

When you play perfect basic strategy at a table with good rules (3:2 payouts, dealer stands on soft 17, doubling after split permitted), the house edge typically falls to 0.3% to 0.5%. That puts blackjack among the best-value games in any casino.

Should I always split Aces?

Yes, without exception. A pair of Aces is an awkward 12 (or soft 22, still 12). Splitting them gives you two separate chances to draw a 10-value card and land on 21. Always split.

Why do I double on 11 against a dealer 6?

You're sitting on 11, meaning any 10-value card delivers 21. The dealer's 6 carries a high bust probability. This combination is one of the most profitable doubling opportunities in the game— you're adding money when the odds strongly favour you.

Is card counting illegal in Canada?

No. Using your brain to track cards is perfectly legal. However, casinos are private businesses and can refuse service to anyone they suspect of counting. They can also take countermeasures like shuffling more frequently or restricting your bet spread.

What's the worst hand in blackjack?

Hard 16 against a dealer 10 is the statistical nightmare. You'll lose roughly 77% of the time no matter what you do. Hitting loses slightly less often, which is why basic strategy calls for a hit, but it's still an uncomfortable spot.

Should I take even money on blackjack vs dealer Ace?

"Even money" is essentially insurance applied to your blackjack. It guarantees a 1:1 payout instead of risking a push (if the dealer also has blackjack) or collecting 3:2 (if the dealer doesn't). The math says decline even money—your expected return is higher by taking the risk.

How long does it take to learn basic strategy?

You can memorize the most critical decisions (hard hands, always split Aces/8s, never split 10s/5s) in a few focused hours. Becoming comfortable with soft hands and edge cases usually takes a few weeks of regular play. Free RNG games are perfect for practising without risk.

Is online blackjack rigged?

At reputable, regulated casinos, absolutely not. Games run on certified RNG software audited by independent testing bodies like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, and GLI. The house edge is built into the rules themselves, not through manipulation. Choose well-known operators with proper oversight.

Conclusion

Blackjack occupies a unique position among casino games: it's the one where your knowledge and discipline genuinely move the needle. Master basic strategy, and you trim the house edge to its absolute minimum—below 0.5% with favourable rules. No other mainstream casino game offers odds that competitive.

The roadmap is clear: learn the basic strategy charts, understand the reasoning behind every play, choose tables with strong rules (3:2 payouts are mandatory, 6:5 is a deal-breaker), and manage your bankroll carefully to absorb the variance that comes with any card game.

Card counting isn't practical for most online players, and that's perfectly fine. Basic strategy on its own gives you a fighting chance that slots and roulette simply cannot match. You're making calculated decisions backed by decades of mathematical research, not rolling the dice and hoping for the best.

Ready to test your skills? The casinos featured in our sidebar offer excellent blackjack options with player-friendly rules for Canadians. Start with RNG games to lock in your strategy, then move to live dealer tables for the full experience.