Blackjack: the chart, the rules, the places worth playing

Blackjack gives a disciplined player the best odds in the casino, about 0.5% house edge with basic strategy. This page holds the full chart (4–8 decks, dealer stands soft 17), the interactive trainer that makes it stick, and the Canadian tables worth sitting at.

Open the strategy trainer →

The basic strategy chart

H = hit · S = stand · D = double (hit if not allowed) · P = split. Dealer upcard across the top.

Hard totals

You	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13–16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
17+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Soft totals

You	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
A,2–A,3	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4–A,5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
A,8+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Pairs

You	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
2,2 / 3,3	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
5,5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
6,6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

The rules that move the edge

Not all blackjack is equal, and the differences are printed on the table. Blackjack paying 3:2 versus 6:5 is worth 1.4%, so never play 6:5. Dealer standing on soft 17 (the chart above) is 0.2% better for you than hitting. Fewer decks help slightly; double-after-split and late surrender each shave a few hundredths. Stack the good rules and 0.5% is achievable; stack the bad ones and you are giving away 2%.

Live vs RNG blackjack

The maths is identical; the experience is not. RNG tables deal instantly and suit strategy practice. Live tables (real dealers on stream) add the social layer and remove any lingering RNG suspicion, at a slower pace that also slows your losses per hour. One caution for bonus players: live tables usually weight 10% or nothing toward wagering.

Where to play blackjack in Canada

Betano 120+ live tables · iGO licensed · 30 min payout

Play

ToonieBet 460+ live tables · iGO licensed · 9 hrs payout

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bet365 Casino 215+ live tables · iGO licensed · 8 hrs payout

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PokerStars Casino 180+ live tables · iGO licensed · 30 hrs payout

Play

Frequently asked

What is the house edge in blackjack?

About 0.5% with basic strategy under standard rules, the lowest of any mainstream casino game. Played by guesswork, it rises to 2-3%. Rule variations move it: 6:5 blackjack payouts add 1.4% to the house, dealer hitting soft 17 adds 0.2%.

Should I take insurance?

No. Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has a ten under their ace, and it pays 2:1 against odds of roughly 2.2:1. Basic strategy declines it every time, including on your own blackjack.

Is online blackjack rigged?

Not at licensed casinos: RNG games are lab-certified and live tables use real cards on camera. What is real is the edge: certified fairness means the stated odds are honest, not that they favour you.

Where can I play blackjack online in Canada?

Every iGO-registered casino carries RNG and live blackjack. Betano has the deepest live floor in our tracking; bet365 runs exclusive branded tables.