Blackjack table

Hit hard 5 against the dealer’s 7. There is no risk of busting on this draw, and doubling would commit extra chips to a weak hand with only one card allowed.

Hit soft 16 against the dealer’s 7. Standing is weak, and taking another card cannot bust this hand.

Stand on soft 18 against the dealer’s 7. Standing has a higher expected return than hitting in this matchup.

Hit hard 10 against the dealer's ace. Basic strategy favors drawing without doubling against this strong upcard.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 7 against a dealer 6. There is no risk of busting on this draw, and the total is too low to double profitably.

With hard 11, hitting cannot bust and offers a strong chance to improve against the dealer’s 6. Doubling is unavailable with three cards.

Doubling hard 11 against a dealer 8 maximizes expected value under these rules, taking advantage of a favorable chance to make a strong total.

Hit hard 16 against the dealer’s 9. With surrender unavailable, hitting has a higher expected return than standing or doubling.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s 4. This strong total benefits from the dealer’s bust risk, while hitting or doubling would risk busting unnecessarily.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 15 against a dealer 7. Standing loses more often, and doubling would increase exposure on an unfavorable hand.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 12 against a dealer ten-value upcard. Standing is less favorable, and doubling would increase exposure with a weak hand.

With hard 15 against a dealer ten-value card and no surrender available, hitting has the highest expected value.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s 7. This strong total has higher expected value than risking a bust by hitting or doubling.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 12 against a dealer 2. Hitting has a higher expected return than standing or doubling.

Stand on hard 20 against the dealer’s 7. Keeping this strong total has higher expected value than hitting, doubling, or splitting.

Stand on hard 20 against the dealer’s queen. Keeping this strong hand has higher expected value than hitting, doubling, or splitting.

With hard 16 against a dealer ten-value upcard and no surrender available, basic strategy calls for hitting. It has a slightly better expected return than standing.

Double hard 11 against the dealer’s 4. This maximizes expected profit with a strong drawing total against a weak dealer upcard.

Hit hard 10 against the dealer’s ten. Basic strategy favors taking a card without doubling against this strong upcard.

Stand on hard 20 against the dealer’s ten. Hitting would risk busting a very strong hand and has much lower expected value.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer's 8. Hitting or doubling has lower expected value because of the high risk of busting.

With double after split allowed, basic strategy favors splitting 4s against a dealer 5. This creates opportunities to double favorable draws against a weak dealer upcard.

Resplit the 4s against the dealer's 5. With doubling after splits allowed, splitting has higher expected value than playing the hard 8.

Hit hard 7 against the dealer's 5: drawing cannot bust, and the total is too low to stand or double profitably.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer’s 5. Hitting risks busting, while the dealer’s weak upcard favors letting them play out their hand.

Basic strategy calls for standing on hard 12 against a dealer 5. The dealer's weak upcard makes standing preferable to risking a bust by hitting.

Double hard 9 against the dealer’s 5. Basic strategy favors increasing the wager against this weak upcard, and doubling after splitting is allowed.