Blackjack table

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 12 against a dealer 8. Improving this weak total has higher expected value than standing or doubling.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s 8. Hitting carries a high bust risk and lowers expected value.

Basic strategy is to stand on hard 15 against a dealer 6. The dealer's weak upcard makes standing preferable to risking a bust.

Stand on hard 18 against the dealer’s king. Hitting or doubling has lower expected value because of the high risk of busting.

Double hard 11 against the dealer’s 4 to maximize expected profit. A single draw cannot bust this hand, and the dealer’s upcard is weak.

Hit hard 8 against the dealer's 10. Drawing cannot bust this hand, and hitting has higher expected value than standing or doubling.

Hit hard 16 against the dealer’s ten with surrender unavailable. This hand contains no 4 or 5 to favor the common composition-dependent standing exception.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer's ten. Hitting has a high bust risk and lower expected value than standing.

Basic strategy calls for hitting soft 13 against a dealer 7. Hitting cannot bust this hand, and doubling is less profitable.

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

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 15 against a dealer 7. Standing has a lower expected return, and doubling would increase exposure on a weak hand.

Stand on hard 14 against the dealer’s 6. Basic strategy favors avoiding a bust and letting the dealer play out a weak upcard.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 12 against a dealer 3. Hitting has a better expected return than standing or doubling.

Hit hard 7 against the dealer’s 9: there is no risk of busting on this draw, and doubling is unfavorable with such a low total.

Stand on hard 17 against the dealer's 9. Hitting carries too much bust risk and has a lower expected return.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 14 against a dealer ten when surrender is unavailable. Hitting has a higher expected value than standing or doubling.

Basic strategy calls for hitting hard 13 against a dealer ace. Standing is too weak, and doubling risks an extra bet in an unfavorable matchup.

Hit hard 12 against the dealer's 9. Improving the hand has higher expected value than standing, while doubling would risk extra chips in an unfavorable position.

Hit hard 12 against the dealer’s ten-value upcard. Basic strategy favors improving this weak total over standing or doubling.

Stand on hard 19 against the dealer’s ten-value upcard. Hitting risks busting a strong hand and has lower expected value.

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

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

Hard 5 cannot bust on the next card and needs improvement against the dealer’s ace. Hitting is preferable to standing or doubling.

Hit hard 15 against the dealer's ace. With surrender unavailable, hitting has a higher expected value than standing.

Hit hard 5 against the dealer's 3. There is no risk of busting on this draw, and the total is too low to stand or double profitably.

Stand on hard 14 against the dealer’s 3, as basic strategy recommends. Hitting risks busting when the dealer has a weak upcard.

Hit hard 7 against the dealer's 4. There is no risk of busting on this draw, and the hand is too weak to double profitably.

Stand on hard 16 against the dealer's 4. The dealer's weak upcard makes standing higher-value than risking a bust by hitting.