Lesson 5 of 10 · 5 min
Lesson 5: hit or stand with hard hands
Key takeaway: With 12–16: stand against 2–6 (except 12 against 2 or 3) and hit against 7 or higher. With 17 or more, always stand.
Hands from 12 to 16 are the awkward ones: you can bust if you hit, but they’re too low to win if you stand. The answer depends on the dealer’s upcard.
Against 2 to 6: stand
A dealer with a low card has to draw, and busts often: about 40% of the time with a 4, 5 or 6. Don’t take the risk: stand and let the dealer bust.
Against 7 or higher: hit
With a 7, 8, 9, 10 or ace showing, the dealer finishes on 17 or more most of the time. Your 12–16 loses if you stand, so you hit even though you might bust. It’s the hardest rule to accept, and the most important. The classic example is 16 vs 10.
The 12 exception
Hit 12 against a 2 or 3. With 12 only a ten busts you, and a dealer showing 2 or 3 busts less often than with 4–6. It’s the cell people miss most.
Hard hands at a glance
| Your total | vs 2–3 | vs 4–6 | vs 7–A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 or less | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 12 | Hit | Stand | Hit |
| 13–16 | Stand | Stand | Hit* |
| 17+ | Stand | Stand | Stand |
* With surrender: surrender 16 against 9, 10 or ace and 15 against 10 (lesson 9). Totals of 9 to 11 are doubled (lesson 6).