Blackjack basic strategy for New Zealand casinos: a 6-8 deck chart

Blackjack is the only popular casino game where a disciplined player can reduce the house edge below 1% without breaking the rules. The key is a basic strategy — a mathematically optimal decision for each combination of your cards and the dealer's up cards. The strategy does not win every hand, but after thousands of hands it returns the highest possible return that fair play allows under the given rules.

This chart is set to the most common variant in New Zealand live blackjacks (Evolution, Pragmatic Play Live, Playtech Live): 6-8 decks, S17 (dealer stands on soft 17), DAS enabled (double after split), no surrender, blackjack pays 3:2. At a different setting (for example, at H17, when the croupier pulls to soft 17), a few of the chart squares move slightly — but for most New Zealand tables, the above configuration is standard.

Blackjack rules in New Zealand casinos

New Zealand licensed online casinos offer blackjack in two modes: RNG (software game against computer) and live (croupier via video stream from Evolution, Pragmatic Play Live or Playtech Live). The rules vary in detail between operators, but the majority standard is as follows:

Parameter	The most common settings of New Zealand casinos
Number of packages	6 or 8 (typically 8 on Evolution)
Croupier game on soft 17	S17 — dealer stands on soft 17
Double down	At any sum of 2 cards
Double after split (DAS)	Enabled
Split	Up to 3 splits (4 hands), Ace pairs only 1 extra card
Surrender	It is not allowed
Blackjack payout	3:2 (standard); watch out for the 6:5 tables — they're worse
Insurance	Available, payout 2:1 at BJ croupier
Peek at 10/A	Yes — the dealer checks the BJ before the game

Important: Before entering the game, check in the "Table Rules" section that the standard configuration applies. Tables like Infinite Blackjack or European Blackjack differ in details (for example, there is no peek, or you cannot split multiple times). The casino edge increases with worse rules even if you play the same basic strategy.

How to read a basic strategy chart

A chart is a matrix. In the rows is your total (or a pair of cards in splits), in the columns is visible the dealer's card (2 to A). In the cell you will find the recommended action according to this legend:

H Hit — Draw a card S Stand — Stand D Double — Double the bet, draw one card Ds Double if possible, otherwise Stand P Split — Split a pair Rh Surrender (if possible), otherwise Hit

Card Values: J, Q, K and 10 count as 10. You count Ace (A) as 11 (soft) unless it takes you over 21 — then it becomes 1. Here's how you do it: look at your hand, look at the dealer's card, click in the correct cell and take the action.

Chart: Hard totals (without ace or with ace as 1)

Your total	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	AND
8 and under	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	H
12	H	H	WITH	WITH	WITH	H	H	H	H	H
13	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	H	H	H	H	H
14	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	H	H	H	H	H
15	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	H	H	H	H	H
16	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	H	H	H	H	H
17+	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH

The logic of the table: when the sum is 12-16 (so-called stiff hand), the decision is made according to the dealer's card. If the dealer shows a weak card (2-6), he has a higher chance of busting — that's why you stand and let him pull. If the dealer shows a strong card (7-A), you have to draw to have any chance at all. A sum of 11 almost always doubles (you have a good chance of winning with one card). 17+ is always a stand — drawing means almost certain loss.

Chart: Soft hands (ace counts as 11)

Your hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	AND
A,2 (soft 13)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,3 (soft 14)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4 (soft 15)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A.5 (soft 16)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6 (soft 17)	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7 (soft 18)	WITH	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	WITH	WITH	H	H	H
A,8 (soft 19)	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH
A.9 (soft 20)	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH

With soft hands, the risk of going bust with one card is zero (the ace is recalculated), so the game is more aggressive. Soft 18 (A,7) against 9, 10 or A is paradoxically H — a weak 18 is not enough against the dealer's strong hand and you need improvement. Soft 19 and 20 are a stand against everything — don't wait for 21.

Chart: Splits of pairs

Your couple	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	AND
A, A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
10,10	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH	WITH
9.9	P	P	P	P	P	WITH	P	P	WITH	WITH
8.8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
7.7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
6.6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
5.5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
4.4	H	H	H	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
3.3	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
2.2	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H

The most important rules of splits: always split A,A and 8.8 (regardless of the dealer). 10,10 never split — 20 is an excellent hand. 5.5 acts like a hard 10, so you double. At 9.9, you have to decide according to the dealer: against 2-6, 8 and 9 you split, against 7, 10 or A you stand (18 is enough).

Practical tips: how to use the strategy

1. Learn in demo mode. Most New Zealand casinos have RNG blackjack in free demo. Play 200-300 hands with the charter open and review your decisions.
2. Start hard totals. They cover 70% of all hands and their logic is clear: stiff hands against weak dealer (2-6)= stand, against strong (7-A)= hit.
3. Don't change your strategy based on "feel". The dealer does not have a "hot streak". Each hand is independent. Stick to the charter even after three losses in a row.
4. Don't take insurance. Mathematically, this is almost always a losing bet — the expected loss is 6 to 7%. Insurance only makes sense for real counting, which doesn't work in New Zealand online blackjack .
5. Stick to the bet size. A flat bet (the same bet every hand) is the basis. Progressive systems like Martingale do not work with the table limit and bankroll of the average player.
6. Work with a bankroll. With a minimum bet of NZ$1, you need at least a NZ$ bankroll to survive a longer losing streak without panic withdrawing.

I recommend going through first:

• Blackjack rules and strategies New Zealand
• New Zealand's best live casinos
• Game catalog — blackjack and table games

Side bets — warning against tempting extras

Most live blackjack tables offer side bets: Perfect Pairs, 21+3, Hot 3, Bust It, Lucky Lucky. At first glance, these are interesting combinations with high payouts. Mathematically, these are the worst bets on the table — the house edge ranges from 2.5% (21+3 on 8 packs) to 7% (Perfect Pairs on 6 packs) or even more. For comparison, the basic strategy in the main game has a casino edge of ~0.5%.

Summary: If someone recommends a "certain strategy" over Perfect Pairs or progressive multipliers, ignore it. Mathematically, there is no way to turn side bets into profits. Stick to the main game and basic strategy.

❓ Frequently asked questions about blackjack strategy

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