Blackjack table

Hard 17 versus a dealer Queen is a clear stand; hitting or doubling risks busting a made hand.

Pair of 4s totals 8 against a dealer 7; basic strategy is to hit rather than split or double, since standing is far too weak.

Hard 14 against a dealer 7 is a hit in basic strategy; standing loses too often when the dealer makes a hand.

Hard 9 versus a dealer 9 is a hit in basic strategy; doubling is only correct against weak upcards 3 through 6.

Hard 16 versus a dealer 9 is a hit under basic strategy; standing loses too often when the dealer makes a hand.

Hard 15 against a dealer 5 is a stand in basic strategy; the dealer is weak and hitting or doubling risks busting a made hand.

Hard 12 versus dealer 4 is a basic-strategy stand; the dealer is more likely to bust than improve my stiff total.

Hard 7 against a dealer Queen is a clear hit; standing or doubling would be far too weak.

Hard 9 against a dealer Queen is a clear hit; standing would almost certainly lose and double or split is not legal.

Hard 18 against a dealer Queen is a stand; hitting risks busting a made hand.

Hard 6 versus a dealer 6 is too weak to double or stand, so basic strategy is to hit and try to improve the total.

Hard 14 versus dealer 6 is a basic-strategy stand; the dealer is likely to bust, so hitting risks busting a winning hand.

Hard 11 against a dealer 2 is a clear basic-strategy double: the extra bet is favored and one more card is the right play.

Hard 13 versus a dealer King is a clear hit under basic strategy; standing loses too often when the dealer makes a hand, and doubling is too risky.

Hard 16 against a dealer King is a basic-strategy hit; standing loses to any dealer total of 17 or more, so drawing is the better expected-value play.

Soft 14 versus a dealer 10 should be hit; the ace keeps the hand from busting, and doubling is not favorable here.

Soft 18 versus a dealer 10 should be hit: standing loses too often to 19–20, and one more card cannot bust a soft total.

Pair of 3s against a dealer 5 is a standard basic-strategy split; the dealer is weak and two hands starting from 3 have better expected value than hitting or standing on hard 6.

Hard 5 cannot bust and should be hit rather than doubled, since more than one card is needed to build a playable total against a dealer 5.

Hard 8 against a dealer 5 is a hit; standing would leave too weak a total.

Hard 13 against a dealer 5 is a stand in basic strategy; the dealer is weak and hitting risks busting a made hand.

Hard 8 against a dealer 5 is a hit in basic strategy; doubling is not recommended because the total is too low to commit extra chips.

Soft 19 is a strong total against a dealer 5, and hitting risks busting a hand that already wins most of the time. Standing is the clear basic-strategy play.

Hard 12 versus a dealer 9 is a hit under basic strategy; standing loses too often and doubling is negative EV.

Hard 18 against a dealer 2 is a clear stand; hitting or doubling risks a strong made hand.

Hard 16 against a dealer 10 is a clear hit under basic strategy; standing loses too often and doubling only increases exposure on a weak total.

Hard 20 against a dealer ten is a clear stand; hitting risks busting a strong made hand.

Hard 17 versus a dealer King is a clear stand; hitting or doubling risks busting a made hand.

Hard 9 versus a dealer 9 is a hit in basic strategy; doubling is only favored against weak upcards 3 through 6.

Hard 13 against a dealer 9 is a hit under basic strategy; standing loses too often when the dealer makes a hand.

Hard 17 versus a dealer 9 should stand; hitting busts on most cards and has negative expected value.

Hard 20 against an ace is a strong made hand; standing is the clear basic-strategy play rather than risking a bust by hitting or doubling.

Hard 20 against a dealer 8 is a strong made hand, so standing is clearly best. Hitting or doubling risks busting a near-certain winner, and splitting tens is a long-term loss.

Hard 20 versus a dealer 8 is a strong made hand, so standing is clearly best. Hitting or doubling risks busting a near-certain winner, and splitting tens is a large negative-EV deviation.