How to Employ Basic Strategy in Blackjack

A Complete Catalogue of Perfect Blackjack Strategy Charts for the 10 Highest RTP 21 Games at Bitcoin Casinos

Perfect Blackjack Strategy for BTC Casinos' High RTP Games

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games the world over. Its popularity is largely due to the fact that it’s universally known to be among the easiest casino games to beat. Doing so requires handing over control of your decisions to a basic, predefined stratagem.

In this section, we’ll define the precise strategies for a variety of blackjack games found at today’s most reputable, Canadian facing crypto casinos. We’ve carefully chosen which games to detail exact strategies for, based on those that offer the highest theoretical RTP, as detailed here:

If you aren’t sure what RTP is or why it matters, please give this page a quick read first:

Perfect Blackjack Strategy Charts for High RTP Games

The following table details the highest-RTP games available at preferred crypto casinos (i.e. reputable, licensed, regulated and available in Canada), including which operator(s) support them. Please press on the game you want to view basic strategy for to jump right to it, or scroll down to view them each in turn. Click any of the casino names to read a full review of that operator.

Blackjack Game (Software) RTP % At These Casinos
Blackjack Bonus
(1×2 Gaming)
99.82% TrueFlip
Red Queen Blackjack
(1×2 Gaming)
99.82% TrueFlip
Single Deck Blackjack
(Play’n GO)
99.74% Pinnacle
Vegas Single Deck
(Microgaming)
99.69% BAO Casino
Pinnacle
American Blackjack
(Habanero)
99.65% Pinnacle
TrueFlip
Atlantic City Blackjack
(Microgaming)
99.65% BAO Casino
Pinnacle
Vegas Strip Blackjack
(Microgaming)
99.65% BAO Casino
Pontoon
(Betsoft)
99.62% Wild Tornado
Single Deck Blackjack
(Betsoft)
99.62% Wild Tornado
Vegas Downtown Blackjack
(Microgaming)
99.62% BAO Casino
Blackjack Lucky 7s
(Evoplay)
99.60% OneHash

Basic Strategy Charts (and How to Read Them)

Below are the specific strategy charts for each game. Note that there are three charts per title. The first details how to respond in any situation (player’s two cards versus dealer’s up-card) when holding a Hard Hand Total. The second relates to Soft Hand Totals, and the third to Pairs.

  • Hard Total: Any hand that does not contain an Ace, or that contains an Ace that can only be valued as 1 (e.g. 5+7+A = 13), is a hard total.
  • Soft Total: Any hand that contains an Ace that can be valued at 1 or 11 (e.g. A+4 = 5 or 15), is a soft total.
  • Pair: Any two-card hand in which both cards are of equal face and rank (e.g. 7+7, Q+Q, A+A) is called a pair.
To use these strategy charts

Look for your current hand total on the left column, then follow the advice in the right column that corresponds to the dealer’s up-card.

For example, in Blackjack Bonus, with a hard total of 9, the player is advised to “Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit“. This means you should ‘Double Down when the dealer is showing a 3, 4, 5 or 6, and Hit against any other dealer up-card’.

If you find yourself in any situation in which you are unable to follow the advice given, refer to the next best possible action. For example, in Blackjack Bonus, you are advised to split 7-7 against the dealers 2 thru 7. However, the game rules only allow you to split once per hand. If you’ve already split 7-7, and are dealt another 7-7, you cannot split it. Instead, you should refer to the strategy chart for a Hard Total of 14; this being the next best possible action.

Now that you know how to read these tables, let’s get right to it. We’ll start with the absolute highest RTP 21 game, Blackjack Bonus, coming at 99.82%.

Blackjack Bonus Strategy – RTP 99.82% (1×2 Gaming)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-8Hit
9Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double against 2-10; otherwise Hit
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13-14Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
15-16Double against 4-6, otherwise Hit
17Double against 3-6, otherwise Hit
18Hit against 9-10; Double against 3-6; otherwise Stand
19-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Split against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split against 2-6; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
8-8Split against 2-9; otherwise Hit
9-9Split against 2-6 and 8-9, otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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Red Queen Blackjack Strategy- RTP 99.82%(1×2 Gaming)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-8Hit
9Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double against 2-10; otherwise Hit
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13-14Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
15-16Double against 4-6, otherwise Hit
17Double against 3-6, otherwise Hit
18Hit against 9-10; Double against 3-6; otherwise Stand
19-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Split against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split against 2-6; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
8-8Split against 2-9; otherwise Hit
9-9Split against 2-6 and 8-9, otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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Single Deck Blackjack Strategy – RTP 99.74% (Play’n GO)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-8Hit
9Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double against 2-10; otherwise Hit
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13-14Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
15-16Double against 4-6, otherwise Hit
17Double against 3-6, otherwise Hit
18Hit against 9-10; Double against 3-6; otherwise Stand
19-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Split against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Hit
6-6Split against 2-6; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
8-8Split
9-9Split against 2-6 and 8-9, otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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Vegas Single Deck Strategy – RTP 99.69% (Microgaming)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-7Hit
8Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
9Double against 2-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13-16Double against 4-6; otherwise Hit
14-16Double against 4-6; otherwise Hit
17Double against 2-6; otherwise Hit
18Double against 3-6; Hit against 9-10; otherwise Stand
19Double against 6; otherwise Stand
20-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 3-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 4-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split against 2-6; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-7; Stand against 10; otherwise Hit
8-8Split
9-9Split against 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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American Blackjack Strategy – RTP 99.65% (Habanero)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-8Hit
9Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
10-11Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13-14Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
15-16Double against 4-6; otherwise Hit
17Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
18Hit against 9-A; Double against 3-6; otherwise Stand
19-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-AHit against Ace; otherwise Split
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Split against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split against 2-6; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
8-8Split against 2-8; otherwise Hit
9-9Split against 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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Atlantic City Blackjack Strategy – RTP 99.65% (Microgaming)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-8Hit
9Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double against 2-10; Hit against Ace
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
14Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
15Stand against 2-6; Surrender against 10; otherwise Hit
16Stand against 2-6; Surrender against 9-A; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13 or 14Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
15 or 16Double against 4-6, otherwise Hit
17Double against 3-6, otherwise Hit
18Hit against 9-A. Double against 3-6; otherwise Stand
19 to 21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Split against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split if against -6; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
8-8Split
9-9Split against 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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Vegas Strip Blackjack Strategy – RTP 99.65% (Microgaming

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-8Hit
9Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double against 2-10; otherwise Hit
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13-14Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
15-16Double against 4-6; otherwise Hit
17Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
18Double against 3-6; Hit against 9-A; otherwise Stand
19-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split against 2-6; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
8-8Split
9-9Split against 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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Pontoon Strategy – RTP 99.62% (Betsoft)

Pontoon is not your typical blackjack game. The dealer does not show a card. The object is to beat the dealer, as usual, but achieving a “5-card trick” (5-card hand of 21 or below) is another important goal, as it instantly wins a 2-to-1 payout. Therefore the strategy for Pontoon cannot follow standardized charts. Instead, it offers basic advise for every situation, based on the number of cards currently making up the player’s hard, soft, or paired hand.

Hard Handw/ 2 Cardsw/ 3 Cardsw/ 4 Cards
5-7HitHit
8HitHitDouble
9HitDoubleDouble
10DoubleDoubleDouble
11DoubleDoubleDouble
12HitHitDouble
13HitHitDouble
14HitHitDouble
15StandStandDouble
16StandStandDouble
17StandStandHit
18-21StandStandStand
Soft Handw/ 2 Cardsw/ 3 Cardsw/ 4 Cards
13Hit
14HitHitDouble
15HitHitDouble
16HitHitDouble
17HitHitDouble
18HitHitDouble
19StandDoubleDouble
20StandDoubleDouble
21StandDoubleDouble
PairsCorrect Action
A-ASplit
8-8Split
All OthersSee Hard Total Chart above

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Single Deck 21 Strategy – RTP 99.62% (Betsoft)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-7Hit
8Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
9Double against 2-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13-16Double against 4-6; otherwise Hit
17Double against 2-6; otherwise Hit
18Double against 3-6; Hit against 9-A; otherwise Stand
19Double against 6; otherwise Stand
20-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-8; otherwise Hit
4-4Double against 4-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-8; Hit against 9; otherwise Stand
8-8Split
9-9Split against 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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Vegas Downtown Blackjack Strategy – RTP 99.62% (Microgaming)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-8Hit
9Double against 2-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
14-16Double against 4-6; otherwise Hit
17Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
18Double against 2-6; Stand against 7-8; otherwise Hit
19Double against 6; otherwise Stand
20-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-8; otherwise Stand
8-8Split
9-9Split against 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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Blackjack Lucky 7s Strategy – RTP 99.60% (Evoplay)

Hard TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
5-8Hit
9Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
10Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
11Double
12Stand against 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16Stand against 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21Stand
Soft TotalCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
13-14Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
15-16Double against 4-6; otherwise Hit
17Double against 3-6; otherwise Hit
18Double against 2-6; Hit against 9-A; otherwise Stand
19-21Stand
PairCorrect Action Against on Dealer’s Up-Card
A-ASplit
2-2Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
3-3Split against 2-7; otherwise Hit
4-4Double against 5-6; otherwise Hit
5-5Double against 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6Split against 2-6; otherwise Hit
7-7Split against 2-7; Hit against 9; otherwise Stand
8-8Split
9-9Split against 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand
10-10Stand

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George
George Thomson is a Bitcoin enthusiast and all around crypto currency nerd... When he's not busy researching crypto, he likes hiking the national parks of British Columbia . He lives in an eco-friendly home with his wife Jana and their two daughters, Sandra and Rose. His favorite word is "sustainability".
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