Basic strategy

A pre-computed lookup table telling you the mathematically-best action (hit/stand/double/split) for every combination of your hand and the dealer’s up-card in blackjack.

Basic strategy is not intuition or feel — it’s a solved problem. Every action for every hand has been computed by exhaustive simulation. Following basic strategy exactly reduces the house edge on blackjack from ~2% (random play) to ~0.5% (perfect basic strategy).

How to use it:

1. Look up basic-strategy tables for your specific rule set (single-deck vs multi-deck; H17 vs S17; DAS allowed etc). One table per rule variant.
2. Print it and keep it next to you. Or use one of the many free apps.
3. Follow it exactly, every hand. Deviations cost you.
4. It applies to all forms of blackjack — RNG or live-dealer.

Basic strategy is the floor. Card counting is the ceiling — playing based on the composition of the remaining deck to gain a small edge over the house. Impossible on RNG blackjack (deck reshuffles every hand); marginally possible on live-dealer with continuous shuffle machines.