When to Stand

Every hand and dealer upcard combination where the mathematically correct play is to stand.

Hard totals. Stand on these hands:

Your hand	Stand against
12	vs dealer 4
12	vs dealer 5
12	vs dealer 6
13	vs dealer 2
13	vs dealer 3
13	vs dealer 4
13	vs dealer 5
13	vs dealer 6
14	vs dealer 2
14	vs dealer 3
14	vs dealer 4
14	vs dealer 5
14	vs dealer 6
15	vs dealer 2
15	vs dealer 3
15	vs dealer 4
15	vs dealer 5
15	vs dealer 6
16	vs dealer 2
16	vs dealer 3
16	vs dealer 4
16	vs dealer 5
16	vs dealer 6
17	vs dealer 2
17	vs dealer 3
17	vs dealer 4
17	vs dealer 5
17	vs dealer 6
17	vs dealer 7
17	vs dealer 8
17	vs dealer 9
17	vs dealer 10
17	vs dealer A

Soft totals (Ace-high hands). Stand on these:

Your hand	Stand against
Soft 18	vs dealer 2
Soft 18	vs dealer 7
Soft 18	vs dealer 8
Soft 19	vs dealer 2
Soft 19	vs dealer 3
Soft 19	vs dealer 4
Soft 19	vs dealer 5
Soft 19	vs dealer 6
Soft 19	vs dealer 7
Soft 19	vs dealer 8
Soft 19	vs dealer 9
Soft 19	vs dealer 10
Soft 19	vs dealer A
Soft 20	vs dealer 2
Soft 20	vs dealer 3
Soft 20	vs dealer 4
Soft 20	vs dealer 5
Soft 20	vs dealer 6
Soft 20	vs dealer 7
Soft 20	vs dealer 8
Soft 20	vs dealer 9
Soft 20	vs dealer 10
Soft 20	vs dealer A

Pairs. Stand rather than split these:

Your hand	Stand against
9,9	vs dealer 7
9,9	vs dealer 10
9,9	vs dealer A
10,10	vs dealer 2
10,10	vs dealer 3
10,10	vs dealer 4
10,10	vs dealer 5
10,10	vs dealer 6
10,10	vs dealer 7
10,10	vs dealer 8
10,10	vs dealer 9
10,10	vs dealer 10
10,10	vs dealer A

Why standing matters as much as hitting

New players tend to over-hit out of fear of losing, but standing on the right hands is just as important to basic strategy as knowing when to hit. Standing on a stiff hand (12 to 16) against a weak dealer upcard lets the dealer's own bust probability work in your favor instead of risking your own bust first.

Want the play for your exact hand?

Use the free Blackjack Odds Calculator. Pick your cards and the dealer's upcard to get the correct Hit, Stand, Double, or Split instantly.