Blackjack table

Hit a pair of twos against a dealer ten-value upcard. Basic strategy favors improving this total rather than splitting or doubling against a strong dealer card.

Hit hard 8 against the dealer's ten-value upcard. There is no risk of busting on the next card, and hitting has a higher expected value than standing.

Hitting hard 11 cannot bust and improves the hand against the dealer’s ten-value upcard. Doubling is unavailable, so hit is the best legal action.

Hit soft 15 against the dealer’s ace. Taking another card cannot bust this hand and has better expected value than standing or doubling.

Hit soft 17 against the dealer’s ace. Standing is weak, and taking another card cannot bust this hand.

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

Doubling hard 10 against a dealer 6 maximizes expected value, taking advantage of a favorable draw and the dealer's high bust risk.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer’s 3. Hitting or doubling risks busting and has lower expected value than standing.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 15 against a dealer 7. Hitting has a higher expected return than standing or doubling despite the bust risk.

Hit hard 10 against the dealer’s 10. Basic strategy favors improving the hand without doubling against this strong upcard.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s 10. Hitting is much more likely to bust than improve this strong total.

Basic strategy calls for standing on hard 13 against a dealer 2. Hitting or doubling has a lower expected return.

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

Hard 7 against a dealer 4 is a basic-strategy hit. Drawing cannot bust this hand, and the total is too low to justify doubling.

Stand on hard 12 against a dealer 4, as recommended by basic strategy. The dealer's weak upcard makes standing more profitable than risking a bust by hitting.

Hit hard 6 against the dealer's king. There is no risk of busting on the next card, and doubling would commit extra chips to a weak hand.

A hard 8 cannot bust on the next card. Hitting is substantially better than standing against the dealer’s king.

Hit hard 13 against the dealer's king. Standing has a lower expected return against a ten-value upcard.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer’s 9. Hitting or doubling has a lower expected return because of the high risk of busting.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s 2. This strong total has higher expected value than hitting or doubling, which carry a high risk of busting.

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

Soft 19 is strong against the dealer's ten-value upcard. Standing has higher expected value than hitting or doubling.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer’s 4. This is the basic-strategy play; hitting or doubling introduces too much bust risk.

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

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer’s 5. The dealer has a weak upcard, and hitting or doubling would unnecessarily risk busting a strong hand.

Basic strategy calls for hitting soft 18 against a dealer ten-value card. The ace prevents busting on this draw, and hitting has a better expected return than standing or doubling.

Hit hard 16 against the dealer’s ten-value upcard. With surrender unavailable, hitting offers a slightly better expected return than standing for this hand.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer's king. Hitting has a high risk of busting and a lower expected return than standing.

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 2. This is a strong total, and hitting carries an overwhelming risk of busting.