Blackjack Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Configure Rules (Optional): Click “Rule Variations” to set the specific blackjack rules for your casino (number of decks, whether the dealer hits soft 17, surrender options, etc.)
2. Select Dealer Card: Choose the dealer’s visible (upcard)
3. Add Your Cards: Click on each card in your hand
4. Get Recommendation: The calculator instantly shows the optimal move and your odds of winning

Understanding Your Results

The calculator provides several pieces of information:

• Recommended Move: The statistically best action (Hit, Stand, Double Down, Split, or Surrender)
• Other Options: Alternative moves you can make and how they compare
• Dealer Probabilities: The likelihood the dealer will bust, push, or win based on their upcard
• Your Odds: Your percentage chance of winning with the recommended strategy

About Basic Strategy

Basic strategy is a mathematically proven set of decisions that minimizes the house edge. It’s not card counting (which is illegal in casinos), it’s simply playing each hand the way probability suggests is most likely to win.

Key principles:

• Always Split Aces and Eights -Never split 5s, 6s, or 10s
• Double Down Strategically – Usually on 11 against most dealer cards, and on 9-10 in specific situations
• Soft Hands Matter – Hands with an Ace are more flexible and have different strategy
• Dealer Busts Often – When the dealer shows 2-6, they bust more frequently, so you should be more conservative

Customizable Rules

Different casinos have different blackjack rules. This calculator accounts for:

• Number of Decks: 1 to 8 deck shoes (affects odds)
• Dealer Hits on Soft 17: Some casinos require dealers to hit on soft 17, others stand
• Double After Split: Whether you can double down after splitting
• Resplitting: Whether you can split more than once
• Surrender: Available in some casinos to forfeit your hand for half your bet

Why Strategy Matters

Using basic strategy reduces the house edge to approximately 0.5%, compared to casual players who might face a house edge of 2-4%. Over time, better decisions lead to better results.

Remember: This calculator provides optimal strategy recommendations, but blackjack always involves an element of chance. Gamble responsibly and never bet more than you can afford to lose.

To learn more about basic stategy, visit our page here where we discuss more in depth how it works and its limitations.