Hit and Stand

Detailed Explanation

Hit and stand are the foundational decisions in blackjack. To hit is to request an additional card from the dealer, aiming to improve the hand total closer to 21. To stand is to play the current total and end the drawing phase, passing action to the dealer. Hitting is signalled by tapping the table; standing by waving a flat hand over the cards.

The mathematically optimal decision between hit and stand in every scenario is defined by basic strategy — a decision matrix derived from computer simulation of millions of blackjack hands. The key variables are the player's hand total (hard or soft) and the dealer's upcard. For example: always hit hard 11 or below; stand on hard 17 or above; with a hard 12–16, the decision depends on whether the dealer's upcard is 2–6 (weak) or 7–Ace (strong).

Soft hands (those containing an Ace counted as 11) are handled differently: soft totals of 13–17 are usually hit or doubled down, because the Ace can revert to a value of 1 if the draw busts the hand. Never standing on a soft total below 18 is a fundamental principle of correct blackjack play. Deviating from basic strategy on hit/stand decisions is the single largest source of unnecessary house edge in recreational blackjack.