Zero to 21

Single-Deck Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart — Dealer Hits Soft 17

Computed for this exact rule set — not a one-size-fits-all chart. Play every hand below and you're giving the house as little as the rules allow.

• Single Deck deck
• Dealer Hits Soft 17
• No Double After Split
• No surrender
• Blackjack pays 3:2

Drill this exact chart free →

Pairs

Soft totals

Hard totals

How to read this chart

• H — Hit
• S — Stand
• D — Double (else hit)
• Ds — Double (else stand)
• P — Split
• R — Surrender (else hit)
• Rs — Surrender (else stand)

Columns are the dealer's up-card (A = Ace). Find your hand in the left column, cross-reference the dealer's card, and make that play. Pairs first, then soft totals (a hand with an Ace counting as 11), then hard totals.

Frequently asked questions

What do H, S, D, Ds, P, R mean on a blackjack chart?

H = hit, S = stand, D = double (hit if doubling isn't allowed), Ds = double (otherwise stand), P = split, R = surrender (otherwise hit). The color coding on this page matches those actions.

Should I hit 16 against a dealer 10 in this game?

Under these rules (single-deck, H17), basic strategy says hit — 16 v 10 loses either way, so the chart picks the play that loses least over time.

What do I do with a pair of 8s against a 10?

The chart says split. Sixteen is the worst total in blackjack; two hands starting from 8 outperform one hopeless 16 in the long run.

How do I play soft 18 (A,7) against a 9?

Hit. Soft 18 feels strong but loses money standing against 9, 10, or Ace — the dealer simply makes 19+ too often.

Is this chart exact for these rules?

Yes — it's generated by the same rules-aware engine that grades every decision in the Zero to 21 trainer, computed for exactly this rule set rather than copied from a generic chart.

Reading a chart is one thing — playing it under pressure is the skill. The free Zero to 21 trainer deals from a real simulated shoe and grades every decision you make against this exact chart, with an explanation of why each play is right.

Practice this chart at a live table — free