Blackjack table

Basic strategy for a pair of 7s against a dealer 10 with no surrender is to hit the hard 14; splitting and standing both lose more.

Soft 20 against a dealer 5 is a clear stand under basic strategy, since it is a very strong made hand. Doubling or hitting would only risk lowering it.

Basic strategy for hard 15 against a dealer 10 with no surrender available is to hit. Standing loses more often because the dealer is likely to make 17 or better.

Hard 20 against a dealer 10 is a clear stand, since any hit except an ace busts and 20 is a strong total.

Basic strategy says to stand on hard 16 against a dealer 6, because the dealer's bust chance is high and hitting risks busting.

Hard 15 against a dealer 10, with no surrender available, is a hit under basic strategy. Standing loses more often because the dealer will usually make 17 or better.

Basic strategy says to hit a hard 12 against a dealer 10. Standing loses more often, because the dealer is likely to finish with 17 or better.

Basic strategy says to hit a hard 12 against a dealer 10. The dealer's strong upcard makes standing worse than taking the bust risk.

Three-card hard 16 against a dealer 10 is a composition-dependent exception: the small cards already in the hand make standing slightly better than hitting.

Basic strategy: hard 17 always stands, and the dealer's 5 upcard is a weak, bust-prone card.

Hard 19 against a dealer 5 is a clear stand under basic strategy. The dealer's weak upcard means a high bust chance, and hitting or doubling would only risk busting a strong hand.

Basic strategy says to hit a hard 8 against a dealer 10. Standing or doubling on 8 would both be worse.

Hard 18 against a dealer 10 is a standard stand. Hitting risks busting on most cards and rarely improves the hand.

Basic strategy for a pair of 2s against a dealer 9 is to hit, since splitting only pays against 2-7. A hard 4 cannot bust, so taking a card is clearly right.

A hard 8 against a dealer 9 cannot bust on the next card, so hitting is clearly correct.

Basic strategy is to stand on a hard 18 against a dealer 9. Hitting risks busting far more often than it improves the hand.

Basic strategy says to stand on hard 16 against a dealer 2 in a 6-deck S17 game, since the dealer has a real chance to bust and hitting risks busting too often.

Basic strategy says to hit a hard 6 against a dealer 4. Doubling on 6 is weak, and standing on 6 gives up too much equity.

A hard 9 cannot bust on a hit, and doubling is no longer allowed, so hitting is strictly better than standing.

A hard 17 against a dealer 4 is a clear stand under basic strategy. The dealer has a high bust chance, and hitting would risk busting.

Hard 17 against a dealer 3 is a stand under basic strategy, since hitting risks busting and the dealer may bust anyway.

Basic strategy says to hit a hard 12 against a dealer 7, because the dealer is strong and standing on 12 loses more often.

Basic strategy says to always stand on hard 17, since hitting busts too often against a dealer 7.

Hard 20 against a dealer 2 is a strong stand. Splitting tens gives up a near-certain winning hand under basic strategy.

Basic strategy for a hard 14 against a dealer 2 is to stand. The dealer has a real chance of busting, and hitting risks busting our own hand.