Blackjack table

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer’s jack. Hitting or doubling has a lower expected return because of the high risk of busting.

With hard 15 against the dealer’s ten-value upcard and no surrender available, hitting has a higher expected return than standing or doubling.

With hard 15 against a dealer ten and no surrender available, hitting has a higher expected value than standing. Doubling would increase exposure on an unfavorable hand.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s 10. Hitting carries a high risk of busting and has lower expected value.

Stand on hard 14 against the dealer’s 6. Basic strategy favors avoiding a bust and letting the dealer play out a weak upcard.

Hit hard 12 against the dealer’s 8. Improving the hand has higher expected value than standing, while doubling risks extra chips from a weak position.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s 8. This strong total has higher expected value standing than risking a bust by hitting.

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer’s 5. Hitting or doubling risks busting a strong hand, while the dealer’s weak upcard favors standing.

Split 6s against the dealer’s 2. With double after split allowed, splitting has higher expected value than playing the hard 12.

Hit hard 8 against the dealer’s 2. Drawing cannot bust this hand, and doubling is less profitable than retaining the option to draw again.

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer’s 2. Hitting risks busting a strong total and has lower expected value.

Double hard 11 against the dealer’s 2 to maximize expected profit. Doubling after a split is allowed, and this is the basic-strategy play.

Hit hard 14 against the dealer’s ten-value upcard. With surrender unavailable, hitting has a higher expected return than standing or doubling.

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer's 8. Hitting or doubling risks busting and has lower expected value than standing.

Hit hard 8 against the dealer’s 5. In a multi-deck game, improving this low total without doubling has the highest expected value.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer’s 5. Hitting risks busting a made hand, while the dealer’s weak upcard favors letting them draw.

Basic strategy calls for standing on hard 13 against a dealer 4. The dealer's weak upcard makes standing preferable to risking a bust by hitting.

Hit hard 16 against the dealer's ace. With surrender unavailable, hitting has a higher expected return than standing or doubling.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer’s ace. Hitting has a high bust risk and lower expected value than standing.

Hit hard 14 against the dealer’s ten-value upcard. Basic strategy favors hitting over standing or doubling despite the risk of busting.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer's 4. This strong total has a high chance of winning, while taking another card risks busting for little upside.

Soft 20 is a strong hand against the dealer’s 9. Standing has higher expected value than hitting or doubling.

With hard 16 against the dealer's ten-value upcard and no surrender available, hitting has a slightly better expected return than standing.

Stand on hard 20 against the dealer’s ten-value upcard. Hitting would bust on every card except an ace and sharply reduce expected value.

Hit hard 12 against the dealer’s 9. Improving this weak total has higher expected value than standing, while doubling risks too much on an unfavorable hand.

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer’s 9. Hitting carries a high bust risk and has lower expected value than standing.