What this dossier covers
- The complete hard-total, soft-total and pair-splitting grids for a six-deck, dealer-stands-on-soft-17 game
- Why you always split aces and eights, and never split tens or fives — the EV reasoning per cell
- How the edge moves when the rule set changes (6:5 naturals, H17, no-DAS, no surrender)
- A five-line summary you can commit to memory before the full chart
Download the dossier
Free, no sign-up. 2026 edition · Week 22. Every figure inside carries its rule premise.
About this reference
This dossier condenses material developed at length in First Principles, the encyclopedia's derivation section, into a printable reference you can keep. As with everything on BetCanon, the figures are mathematically derived and each is presented with the rule set it assumes — because a table-game number without its premise is not a fact, only a rumour.
Basic strategy, house-edge tables and probability figures reduce the average cost of play; they do not remove it. Every casino table bet retains a positive house edge against the player, and any single session can swing far from its expectation — see variance and standard deviation for why.
Frequently asked
Is this dossier a betting system or a promise of profit?
No. Basic strategy minimises the house edge; it does not remove it. Every blackjack bet retains a positive house edge against the player. This is a mathematical reference, not gambling advice.
Which rule set does the chart assume?
Six decks, dealer stands on soft 17 (S17), double after split allowed (DAS), late surrender available, naturals pay 3:2. The dossier states how each cell shifts under other rule sets.
Can I use a printed chart at the table?
Most US casinos permit a printed basic-strategy card at the table provided it does not slow the game. Rules vary by jurisdiction and property; the card confers no advantage beyond correct basic play.