Blackjack Basic Strategy Card Instructions

Set of Six Cards

Wallet-size blackjack strategy cards tailored specifically for each set of rules. Available individually, or in a set of all six.

The full 6-card set includes:

  • Each card features perfect basic strategy from BlackjackInfo.com
  • Small credit-card sized charts for easy use at the casino table.
  • Solid plastic for durability, small enough to fit in your wallet.

Also available here are the Advanced Strategy Cards, which include card counting index numbers.


Instructions:

Step 1: Choose the correct strategy card.

2dh17

Number of Decks:
Determine how many decks are in use at the particular game you are playing. If you are not sure, just ask the dealer.

Our strategy cards come in 1 deck, 2 deck and 4/6/8 deck versions. Use the 4/6/8 deck chart for any number of decks over two. For example, some continuous shuffler games use 5 decks of cards.

Dealer Hits or Stands on Soft 17?
Some casinos offer games where the dealer must stand on all 17s, while others require the dealer to take another card if they have a “soft 17”. The tabletop felt should include wording that says either “Dealer Stands on All 17s” or “Dealer Hits Soft 17”. Use this information to choose the correct strategy card.

What is a soft 17? A “soft” hand is a hand that includes an Ace and cannot bust if you take another card. A hand of (Ace,6) is a soft 17.
A hand of (3,Ace,3) is also a soft 17. However, the hand (3,Ten,Ace,3) is not a soft 17 even though it includes an Ace.

For our example here, we’ll assume you are playing a 2 deck game, and the wording on the table indicates that the dealer hits soft 17.

Step 2: Find the row for your hand on the card.

hard12
Once you’ve chosen the right strategy card, refer to it whenever you encounter a hand for which you are not sure of the best strategy. Each card is split into three major sections. On the front side of the card you’ll find sections for both hard and soft total hands that are not pairs. On the back of the card you’ll find complete advice for playing hands that are pairs.

If your two card hand is a pair of two cards of the same rank, refer to the “Pairs” section on the back of the card. If your two card hand includes an Ace, refer to the front of the card in the section “Soft Totals”. If your two-card hand does not include an Ace, find your hand total under “Hard Totals”. In each case, find the row that corresponds to your hand.

For example, let’s say you are dealt the hand (9,3) and the dealer shows a three up. Since your hand is not a pair, and it does not include an Ace, look for your total (9+3 = 12) in the Hard Totals section, as indicated here.

Step 3: Find the dealer’s upcard column.

Dealer Upcard of 3
Now find the dealer’s upcard to identify which column you should use. In our example, the dealer has a three showing. Dealer upcards of Ace are shown as “A” on the cards. Dealer upcards of Ten, Jack, Queen and King are all treated as a value of ten, indicated on our charts as a ‘T’.

Our example is for the dealer having a three as the upcard.

Step 4: Locate the strategy at the intersection.

(9,3) vs 3
Now that you have located the appropriate row (your hand) and column (the dealer’s upcard), the appropriate strategy appears at the intersection.

For our example hand of (9,3) vs a dealer 3, that’s here:

There are many different possible values indicated on the strategy chart, so we’ll look at each possible notation:
Strategy Key

  • Hit: Hit your hand (ask for another card).
  • Stand: Stand and keep your current hand.
  • Double: Double Down (double your original bet and receive one more card).
    Note the two varieties D and DS, indicating what to do if doubling is not allowed.
  • Surrender: Surrender and fold your hand to receive half your bet back.
  • Split: Split your two initial cards of the same rank to make two separate hands.
    Note that some splits are appropriate only if Double After Splitting (DAS) is allowed.
    (Recent printings of the cards have separate tables for DAS and No DAS, making this even simpler.)

Buy a set of the Basic Strategy Cards now.


Ready to take your game to the next level? Check out our Advanced Blackjack Strategy Cards, that include optimal Hi-Lo card counting index numbers right on the card.


About the Author

Creator of Blackjackinfo.com, very few can rival Ken's experience and knowledge of blackjack. His blackjack resume includes winning numerous tournament winnings, making several TV appearances and authoring multiple books on blackjack tournament strategy. Discover more about Ken's background and how he got started here

For a list of all contributors to Blackjackinfo.com click here

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scott
scott
6 years ago

I received my cards. I just want to be sure.

2 deck, DHS17

9 vs dealer 2 has a D and 1

this is double unless count is +1 then hit?

scott
scott
6 years ago
Reply to  Ken Smith

thank you

so keeping with the same rules as above, 9 vs 4 indicated to D (double) but has -3 which is translated to only hit at -3.

Scott

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

Quick (and probably stupid) question:

Using your example, let’s say the correct play is to hit. When I get my new total, should I go back to the card and look up the next correct play? I.E., does this strategy refer to only the first two cards you are delt or to all new totals that come as a result of your “correct play?”

Kelly
Kelly
7 years ago

I noticed an error when I was playing with the various combinations: I know that in a single-deck DAS H17 game with dealer peek it is correct to split 9s vs. an Ace (unlike other rule combinations where you should stand). However it shows that splitting is the right play even when changed to no-peek (which it’s obviously incorrect to split such a marginal hand with ENHC and a dealer’s Ace). (I don’t know if there are any games IRL with the single-deck DAS H17 ENHC rule combination, but since someone once pointed out an error with an even rarer rule combination with early surrender and splitting 8s vs. a Ten I thought I’d point out this one.)

Kelly
Kelly
7 years ago
Reply to  Ken Smith

I mis-phrased my original comment – it was the strategy engine, not the game.

Kelly
Kelly
7 years ago
Reply to  Kelly

Just to clarify – I hadn’t played your actual trainer game recently so I don’t know of any bugs there (and mis-phrased probably shouldn’t have that hyphen).

Lisa L
Lisa L
7 years ago

when were the newest versions of the card corrected and printed?

Lisa L
Lisa L
7 years ago

has this error been corrected yet?

Mark G
Mark G
8 years ago

Has this been corrected? Or will all future orders still have this issue?

Chelsea Diggs
Chelsea Diggs
9 years ago

I just got my basic strategy card but in the key for doubling both are listed as D with no distinguishing factor between double else hit or double else stand and only soft a soft 8 hand with a dealer 2-6 has a DS all other are D. I am wondering if I am being dumb or the card is misprinted?

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