Blackjack basics

When to hit and when to stand in blackjack

Never stand on 11 or less: hit it, or double where the chart says to. Always stand on hard 17 or more. Stand on hard 13 to 16 against 2 to 6, stand on 12 against 4 to 6, and hit them otherwise. Never stand on soft 17 or less, and always stand on soft 19 and 20.

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

Nothing can bust 11 or less, so there is no reason to stand. Hard 17 or more busts too often to hit. Soft 18 is the one soft hand that depends on the dealer card, and it has a page of its own.

Between 12 and 16 the dealer card decides. A weak dealer card means the dealer may bust, so you stand. A strong dealer card means the dealer will usually make 17 or more, so you hit.

The play against every dealer card

Questions players ask

Should I always stand on 17?

Stand on hard 17. Soft 17 is a hit or a double.

When should I hit 12?

Against a 2, a 3, or 7 to Ace.

Related answers

• What should I do with 8 or less?
• What to do with Ace 7 (soft 18)
• Should I hit or stand on 12 to 16?
• Should I hit 16 against a 10?
• Should I hit 17?
• Hard vs soft hands in blackjack
• Blackjack basic strategy chart