Hard totals

Should I hit or stand on 12 to 16?

Stand on hard 13 to 16 when the dealer shows 2 to 6, and hit them when the dealer shows 7 to Ace. Hard 12 is the one exception: stand only against a 4, 5 or 6, and hit against everything else.

These answers are for a 6 deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17, blackjack pays 3 to 2, and you can double on any two cards, including after a split.

Why

Hard 12 to 16 are the hands that can bust with one card but rarely win standing. What decides the play is the dealer card in front of you.

Against 2 to 6 the dealer is drawing from a weak start, so you let the dealer take the risk. Against 7 to Ace the dealer usually makes 17 or more, so you take a card. A 12 only busts on a 10 value card, which is why it gets hit against a 2 and a 3 as well.

The play against every dealer card

Questions players ask

Should I stand on 12 to 16?

Stand on 13 to 16 against a 2 to 6. Stand on 12 against a 4 to 6. Hit them all against a 7 to Ace.

Why hit 12 against a 2?

A 12 busts only on a 10 value card, and a dealer 2 does not bust often enough to justify standing.

Related answers

• When to hit and when to stand in blackjack
• Should I hit 12 against a 2 or a 3?
• Should I hit 16 against a 10?
• Blackjack dealer rules
• Blackjack basic strategy chart