21Blackjack Cheat Sheet

Not an app. A card for your Wallet.

The blackjack cheat sheet that lives in your Wallet.

Every basic strategy play, hard, soft and pairs, on one card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. One tap to add it. No app, no signup, no email. Free!

Add card toApple Wallet Add card toGoogle Wallet

Saves to your Wallet like a boarding pass. Nothing to install.

Made for iPhone with iOS 27+ and Android 9+. On an older iPhone, update iOS to see the full chart.

  • One tap to add
  • Always on your phone
  • About 0.5% house edge, played right
The Blackjack Cheat Sheet card in Apple Wallet on a felt-green background: hard totals, soft totals and pairs basic strategy chart with a color key

Best on iOS 27+ and Android 9+

The full chart

Blackjack basic strategy chart: the whole cheat sheet

Find your hand on the left and the dealer's up card across the top. This blackjack strategy chart is the same card that goes in your Wallet, for 4 to 8 decks with the dealer hitting soft 17, double after split and late surrender.

HHit SStand DDouble DsDouble, else stand PSplit RSurrender, else hit

Hard totals

No ace, or an ace that has to count as 1
YouDealer →2345678910A
8 or lessHHHHHHHHHH
9HDDDDHHHHH
10DDDDDDDDHH
11DDDDDDDDDD
12HHSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHRR
16SSSSSHHRRR
17SSSSSSSSSR
18 or moreSSSSSSSSSS

Soft totals

An ace counting as 11
YouDealer →2345678910A
A,2HHHDDHHHHH
A,3HHHDDHHHHH
A,4HHDDDHHHHH
A,5HHDDDHHHHH
A,6HDDDDHHHHH
A,7DsDsDsDsDsSSHHH
A,8SSSSDsSSSSS
A,9SSSSSSSSSS

Pairs

Your first two cards match
YouDealer →2345678910A
2,2PPPPPPHHHH
3,3PPPPPPHHHH
4,4HHHPPHHHHH
5,5DDDDDDDDHH
6,6PPPPPHHHHH
7,7PPPPPPHHHH
8,8PPPPPPPPPP
9,9PPPPPSPPSS
10,10SSSSSSSSSS
A,APPPPPPPPPP

$100 a hand, 4 hours

Learn the chart or lose your shirt

Same table, same cards, same 4 hours. The only difference is how often you make the right play on the hands that matter.

You play it rightHouse edgeExpected loss, 4 hoursChance you walk away up
100%0.5%−$12047%
98%0.8%−$18346%
95%1.2%−$27744%
90%1.8%−$43540%
80%3.1%−$75534%
70% or less4.5%−$1,08127%
You can flip the edge onto the house. Card counters do it every day. Learn how with Blackjack AI Pro.Learn how →

$100 a hand, 60 hands an hour, 240 hands. A mistake means making the second-best play on a tough hand: hard 12–16, soft hands, doubles, splits and surrender. Dealer hits soft 17, double after split, late surrender.

Read this before your next trip

The hands people play wrong

  • 12 vs dealer 2 or 3Hit

    It feels like a bust waiting to happen. The dealer busts less often showing a 2 or 3 than you'd think, so hitting wins more.

  • 16 vs dealer 10Surrender

    Give up half your bet and keep the other half. If surrender isn't offered, hit.

  • Soft 18 (A,7) vs 9, 10 or aceHit

    18 looks finished. Against a strong dealer card it loses more than it wins, and a soft hand can't bust on one card.

  • 11 vs dealer aceDouble

    When the dealer hits soft 17, doubling 11 against an ace comes out ahead.

  • A pair of 8s vs dealer 10Split

    16 is the worst hand in blackjack. Two hands starting with 8 beat one 16.

  • A pair of 10sStand

    20 wins about 80% of the time it's played. Never split it.

  • InsuranceNever

    It's a side bet that the dealer has blackjack, and it loses money unless you're counting cards.

How it works

A blackjack basic strategy card on your phone, not in your pocket

  1. Tap Add to Apple Wallet on your iPhone, or Add to Google Wallet on Android.
  2. It's saved next to your boarding passes and cards. No app to open, works offline.
  3. At the table, show the pit boss your card and ask if you can keep it open. Most are fine with it. The back of the card has every soft and pair rule spelled out.

Questions

Blackjack cheat sheet FAQ

What is a blackjack cheat sheet?

A blackjack cheat sheet is a basic strategy chart: for every hand you can hold against every card the dealer can show, it tells you the play that loses the least over time: hit, stand, double, split or surrender. It's the same chart casinos sell in their gift shops as a strategy card.

Is the blackjack strategy card really free?

Yes. Add it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for free, with no signup and no email. If it helps you, share it with someone you play with.

Can you use a strategy card at a blackjack table?

Yes. Printed basic strategy cards are allowed at most blackjack tables, and many casino gift shops sell them. With the card on your phone, show it to the pit boss and ask if you can keep it open on the table. Most are fine with it.

How much does basic strategy lower the house edge?

Perfect basic strategy cuts the house edge to about 0.5%. Playing by feel usually costs 2% or more.

Which game is this cheat sheet for?

4 to 8 decks, dealer hits soft 17, double after split allowed, late surrender. That's the most common shoe game in US casinos. The plays barely change for 6 or 8 decks.

Should you ever take insurance in blackjack?

No. Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has blackjack. Without counting cards it loses money every time you take it over the long run, and that includes even money on your own blackjack.

What's the difference between basic strategy and card counting?

Basic strategy is the best play using only your cards and the dealer's up card. Card counting tracks the cards already dealt, bets more when the shoe favors you and changes a few plays. Learn basic strategy first; Blackjack AI Pro trains the counting.

Does the cheat sheet work on Android?

Yes. It works in Google Wallet on Android 9 or newer, and in Apple Wallet on iPhone. The full chart card is made for iOS 27 or newer; on an older iPhone, update iOS to see it.