Blackjack table

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer’s 6. Hitting or doubling risks busting a strong enough hand against a weak dealer upcard.

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer’s 4. Basic strategy favors keeping this strong total rather than risking a bust against a weak dealer upcard.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s king. Hitting or doubling risks busting a strong hand and has lower expected value.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 14 against a dealer 7. Standing is less favorable, and doubling risks an additional bet on a weak total.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer's 7. This strong total has higher expected value than hitting, which carries a very high risk of busting.

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

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer’s ten-value upcard. Hitting carries too much bust risk and has lower expected value.

Basic strategy calls for doubling hard 9 against a dealer 3. This maximizes expected profit against the dealer’s weak upcard.

Hit hard 6 against the dealer's 4. There is no risk of busting on this draw, and the total is too low to stand or double profitably.

Basic strategy calls for standing on hard 16 against a dealer 4. The dealer's weak upcard makes standing preferable to risking a bust by hitting.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 15 against a dealer 8. Hitting has a higher expected return than standing or doubling despite the risk of busting.

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

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 13 against a dealer ace. Standing has a lower expected return, and doubling risks an extra bet on a weak total.

Stand on hard 20 against the dealer's 6. Keeping this strong hand has higher expected value than splitting, doubling, or hitting.

Basic strategy calls for hitting soft 18 against a dealer 9. The ace prevents busting on the next card, and hitting has better expected value than standing or doubling.

Hit hard 13 against the dealer’s 9. Standing is more likely to lose; hitting offers the higher expected return.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer’s 9. Hitting has a high bust risk and lower expected value than standing.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s 9. This strong total has better expected value than hitting or doubling, both of which carry a high risk of busting.

Hit hard 12 against a dealer 7. Improving this weak total has higher expected value than standing or doubling.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 15 against a dealer 7. Standing has a lower expected return despite the risk of busting on a hit.

Basic strategy calls for standing on hard 13 against a dealer 6. The dealer's high bust risk makes standing better than hitting or doubling.

Basic strategy calls for standing on hard 13 against a dealer 3. Hitting risks busting, while standing benefits from the dealer's weak upcard.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer's king. Hitting or doubling risks busting a strong hand and has lower expected value.

Stand on hard 20 against the dealer's 10. Keeping this strong total has higher expected value than hitting, doubling, or splitting.

Hit hard 16 against the dealer’s 8. With surrender unavailable, hitting has a higher expected return than standing or doubling.

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