New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Online blackjack is one of the most popular casino games for good reason. It's fast, easy to learn, and offers a low house edge when played correctly. But while luck plays a role, skill makes the biggest difference over time.
One of the best tools to improve your odds is the basic strategy chart. It tells you the best move to make based on your cards and the dealer's upcard. In this post, we'll explain what a basic strategy chart is, how to read it, and how to use it while playing online blackjack.
What Is a Basic Strategy Chart?
A simple guide for every possible situation
A basic strategy chart is a visual table that shows you the statistically best move to make in blackjack. It's based on mathematical calculations of millions of hands and is designed to reduce the house edge to as low as possible—sometimes under 1%.
The chart considers two things:
- Your hand total (or whether it's a soft hand, hard hand, or pair)
- The dealer's face-up card
It then tells you whether to hit, stand, double, or split based on those two factors.
Why Use a Basic Strategy Chart?
Better decisions, better results
Even though blackjack has simple rules, it's easy to make emotional or random choices. Players often hit when they shouldn't or stand when they have no advantage. Over time, these mistakes add up and cost money.
By following a basic strategy chart, you're using logic, not guesswork. You'll make fewer costly mistakes and keep more of your bankroll.
Using a strategy chart doesn't guarantee wins every time, but it improves your chances over the long run. That's why even professional blackjack players rely on it.
Types of Blackjack Hands on the Chart
1. Hard Hands
A hard hand is any hand that doesn't have an ace counted as 11. For example, 10 + 6 = 16 is a hard 16. These hands are riskier because you don't have the flexibility to lower your total.
2. Soft Hands
A soft hand includes an ace counted as 11. For example, Ace + 6 = soft 17. Soft hands give you more options because you can change the ace to a 1 if needed.
3. Pairs
If your first two cards are the same (like two 8s), you can choose to split them into two separate hands. The chart will tell you when it's best to do this.
How to Read a Basic Strategy Chart
Dealer's card at the top, your hand on the side
Most charts are laid out in a grid. The dealer's face-up card runs across the top (from 2 through Ace). Your hand total is listed down the left side. Inside the grid, each cell tells you the best move to make, an approach to clarity and guidance similar to how Hudson Reporter features break down complex local issues into easy-to-follow formats.
Here's what you'll typically see:
- H = Hit
- S = Stand
- D = Double (if allowed, otherwise hit)
- P = Split
- Ds = Double if allowed, otherwise stand
For example, if you have 12 and the dealer has a 4, the chart may tell you to stand. But if the dealer shows a 7, it may tell you to hit instead. These decisions are based on the probabilities of both your outcome and the dealer's possible hand.
Using the Chart While Playing Online Blackjack
1. Keep the chart open during your session
Most online blackjack games don't have time pressure. You can take a few seconds to consult the chart before making a move. Print it out, keep it on a second screen, or use a mobile-friendly version if you're playing on your phone.
It's completely legal to use a basic strategy chart while playing online. In fact, many online casinos expect beginners to use them.
2. Start with one variation of the game
Blackjack has many versions—European, American, single-deck, multi-deck. Each one has slight differences in rules that may change the optimal strategy. Pick one version of the game and use the chart that's designed for it.
Once you're comfortable, you can learn other charts for other versions.
3. Practice in free mode
Most online casinos offer demo or free-play versions of their games. Use these to practice using the chart without risking money. Over time, the best moves will become second nature.
Limitations of Basic Strategy Charts
Not perfect, but powerful
A basic strategy chart gives you the best move based on math, but it doesn't guarantee a win every hand. Blackjack is still a game of probability, and short-term results can vary.
Also, the chart doesn't account for things like card counting, table rules, or advanced strategies. But for 95% of players, basic strategy is more than enough to improve their odds.
Final Thoughts: Use the Chart, Play Smart
Online blackjack is one of the few casino games where skill can truly reduce the house edge. And the simplest way to gain that edge is by using a basic strategy chart.
It's easy to understand, legal to use, and proven to help players make better decisions. By learning how to read and apply it, you'll not only play smarter—you'll also lose less and win more over time.
So before you hit or stand on your next hand, pause and check the chart. It might just be the smartest move you'll make at the table.
