The Blackjack Hand Guide

The most misplayed hands in blackjack, one page each - the correct play, the why, and how the answer shifts with the table rules and the count.

Hard Totals

No ace, or an ace forced to count as 1. The bread-and-butter decisions.

Hard 16 vs 10 Surrender * Hard 16 vs 9 Surrender Hard 16 vs Ace Surrender Hard 16 vs 7 Hit Hard 15 vs 10 Surrender * Hard 14 vs 10 Hit Hard 13 vs 2 Stand * Hard 12 vs 2 Hit * Hard 12 vs 3 Hit * Hard 12 vs 4 Stand * Hard 11 vs Ace Hit * Hard 10 vs 10 Hit * Hard 9 vs 3 Double Down

Soft Hands

An ace counting as 11 - hands that can't bust on one card and play far more aggressively than most people realize.

Soft 18 (A,7) vs 9 Hit Soft 18 (A,7) vs 2 Stand Soft 17 (A,6) vs 2 Hit Soft 13 (A,2) vs 5 Double Down Soft 19 (A,8) vs 6 Stand

Pairs

To split or not to split. Includes the exceptions everyone gets wrong.

A Pair of 8s vs 10 Split A Pair of 8s vs Ace Split A Pair of Aces vs 10 Split A Pair of 9s vs 7 Stand A Pair of 9s vs 9 Split A Pair of 10s vs 6 Stand * A Pair of 4s vs 5 Split A Pair of 5s vs 10 Hit A Pair of 2s vs 3 Split A Pair of 6s vs 2 Split

* has a card-counting deviation - see the deviation charts. Baseline plays assume 6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, late surrender offered.

Knowing the chart and playing it under pressure are different skills.

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