# Basic strategy in blackjack, defined

> What basic blackjack strategy is, how to read a strategy chart, why the chart changes with the table's rules, and what it does not promise. Checked 13 November 2026.

Source: https://seatcheck.uk/basic-strategy/
Updated: 2026-11-13

Basic strategy is a chart of decisions for blackjack: for each hand you hold and each card the dealer shows, it names one action. A chart is built for one set of table rules, so the same chart does not fit every table. It guides play; it does not promise a result. Checked 13 November 2026.

## How to read a chart

A chart is a grid. Your hand runs down the side and the dealer's visible card runs across the top.

**Reading a strategy chart · layout only · no chart values are quoted**

| Part of the chart | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Rows | Your hand: hard totals, soft totals, pairs |
| Columns | The dealer's visible card |
| Cell | One action: hit, stand, double down or split |
| Notes below the chart | The table rules the chart assumes |

We do not reproduce a chart here, because we have not recorded a source with a date for one rule set. Our method asks for one.

**Seat note:** read the notes under a chart first; they say which table it was built for.

## Why the rules change the chart

The same hand can call for a different action when a rule changes. The dealer's [soft 17 rule](https://seatcheck.uk/soft-17/) is one such input; the number of decks and the payout are others.

Before you use a chart, compare its assumed rules with the ones in the table's panel. See [reading a table's rules](https://seatcheck.uk/read-live-blackjack-table-rules/).

An example of a decision: a chart might tell you to double down on a given hand against a given dealer card. We name no actual hand here, because the answer depends on the chart's rule set and a cited source.

## What it is not

It is not a system for winning. It does not remove the [house edge](https://seatcheck.uk/house-edge/), and it does not predict the next card.

It is also not a betting system. How you size bets is a separate matter; see [the Martingale system](https://seatcheck.uk/martingale-system/).

Whether following a chart reduces the edge is a claim we check separately in [does basic strategy cut the house edge](https://seatcheck.uk/does-basic-strategy-cut-the-house-edge/). The RTP link is covered in [RTP in blackjack](https://seatcheck.uk/rtp-in-blackjack/).

## FAQ

**What is basic strategy?**

A set of decisions, one for each combination of your hand and the dealer's visible card, worked out for a given set of table rules.

**How do I read the chart?**

Find your hand in the rows, the dealer's visible card in the columns, and read the action where they meet, such as hit, stand, double down or split.

**Is one chart right for every table?**

No. The chart depends on the table's rules, such as the dealer's soft 17 rule and the number of decks. Use a chart built for the rules you can see.

**Does it guarantee a result?**

No. It does not remove the house edge or predict any session. Whether it reduces the edge is checked on a separate page.