Blackjack Basic Strategy: When to Hit, Stand and Double

The goal of blackjack

Blackjack is not about getting as close to 21 as possible — it is about beating the dealer. You win when your hand is higher than the dealer's without going over 21, or when the dealer busts. Number cards count at face value, face cards count as 10, and an ace counts as 1 or 11, whichever helps you more.

Because you act first, you can bust before the dealer even turns over a card. That single rule is where the house gets its edge, and basic strategy is the set of decisions that shrinks that edge as far as possible.

How the dealer plays

At Lucky Loco the dealer must keep drawing until reaching 17 or more, and then must stand. The dealer has no choices. This makes the dealer's up-card the most important piece of information on the table: a 2 through 6 means the dealer is likely to draw into a bust, while a 7 through ace means the dealer will often finish with a strong total.

Hard totals (no ace counted as 11)

8 or less: always hit — you cannot bust. 9: double against a dealer 3–6, otherwise hit. 10: double unless the dealer shows a 10 or ace. 11: double against anything except an ace.

12: stand against a dealer 4–6, otherwise hit. 13 to 16: stand against a dealer 2–6, hit against 7 or higher. 17 or more: always stand.

The hardest hand for new players is 16 against a dealer 10. It feels wrong to hit, but standing loses more often over the long run, because the dealer will make 17 or better most of the time.

Soft totals (an ace counted as 11)

A soft hand cannot bust on the next card, so you can be more aggressive. Soft 13–17 (A-2 through A-6): hit, or double against a weak dealer up-card of 4–6. Soft 18 (A-7): stand against 2, 7 or 8; double against 3–6; hit against 9, 10 or ace. Soft 19 or more: stand.

Why doubling down matters

Doubling lets you double your bet and take exactly one more card. You only want to do it when you are the favourite — typically on 10 or 11 against a weak dealer card. Players who never double give up a large part of the value that basic strategy offers.

Practising with free coins

The best way to learn basic strategy is repetition. Play a few hundred hands on our free blackjack table with play coins, keep this guide open, and check each decision. Remember that strategy reduces the house edge — it never removes it, and no system turns blackjack into guaranteed profit.