Basic Strategy

Question 1

Hard 17

Answer 1

Stand
(Consider surrender against A, if H17)

Question 2

Hard 16

Answer 2

Stand if upcard 6 or lower
Hit if upcard 7 or higher, except
If true count is greater than 0, stand against dealer 10 (i18.2)**
And stand against a 9 when true count is +5 and greater (i18.13)
(Consider surrender against 9, 10, A)

Question 3

Hard 15

Answer 3

Stand if upcard 6 or lower
Hit if upcard 7 and higher, except
If true count greater than +4, stand against dealer 10 (i18.3)*
(Consider surrendering against 10, and A if H17)

Question 4

Hard 14

Answer 4

Stand if upcard 6 or lower
Hit if upcard 7 and higher

Question 5

Hard 13

Answer 5

Stand if upcard 6 or lower
Hit if upcard 7 and higher
Except hit against 2 when true count is negative (i18.14)
And hit against a 3 when true count is -2 or lower (i18.18)

Question 6

Hard 12

Answer 6

Stand on 4, 5 and 6
Otherwise Hit
But stand against a 3 when true count is +2 or greater (i18.7)
And stand against a 2 when true count is +4 or greater (i18.8)
And hit against a 4 when true count is negative (i18.15)
And hit against a 5 when true count is -1 or lower (i18.16)
And hit against a 6 when true count is -3 or lower (i18.17)

Question 7

Hard 11

Answer 7

Double, always
(Unless S17 game, then HIT against A)
Unless true count is negative, then HIT against A (i18.9)

Question 8

Hard 10

Answer 8

Double unless -
Upcard is 10 or A, then hit -
But double against a 10 when true count is +4 or greater (i18.6)
And double against A when true count is +3 or greater (i18.11)

Question 9

Hard 9

Answer 9

Double if upcard is 3, 4, 5, or 6
Otherwise Hit
But when true count is +1 and greater, double against 2 (i18.10)
And double against 7 when true count is +4 and greater (i18.12)

Question 10

Hard 8 (or lower)

Answer 10

Hit

Question 11

A, 9 (soft 20)

Answer 11

Stand

Question 12

A, 8 (soft 19)

Answer 12

Double against 6 upcard (for H17 game, not S17)
Otherwise stand

Question 13

A, 7 (soft 18)

Answer 13

Hit against 9, 10, and A
Stand against 7 and 8
Double against 2 through 6 (unless S17, then stand against 2)

Question 14

A, 6 (soft 17)

Answer 14

Double against 3, 4, 5, and 6
Hit against 2 and 7 or better

Question 15

A, 5 (soft 16)

Answer 15

Double against 4, 5, and 6
Otherwise hit

Question 16

A, 4 (soft 15)

Answer 16

Double against 4, 5, 6
Otherwise hit

Question 17

A, 3 (soft 14)

Answer 17

Double against 5 and 6
Otherwise hit

Question 18

A, 2 (soft 13)

Answer 18

Double against 5, 6
Otherwise hit

Question 19

A, A split?

Answer 19

Always

Question 20

T, T split?

Answer 20

Never, except
Split against dealer 5 when true count greater than +5 (i18.4)
Split against dealer 6 when true count greater than +4 (i18.5)

Question 21

9, 9 split?

Answer 21

Yes, except
Against 7, 10, A

Question 22

8, 8 split?

Answer 22

Always
(Consider surrender against A, if H17)

Question 23

7, 7 split?

Answer 23

Yes, against 2-7
Hit against 8+

Question 24

6, 6 split?

Answer 24

Yes, against 2-6
Hit against 7+
(Only split against 2 if DAS allowed)

Question 25

5, 5 split?

Answer 25

Never! Treat as hard 10:

Hit against 10, A (unless deviations apply)
Double against 2-9

Question 26

4, 4 split?

Answer 26

Only against 5 or 6, and DAS allowed
Otherwise hit

Question 27

3, 3 split?

Answer 27

Yes, against 4, 5, 6 and 7
Against 2 and 3 when DAS allowed
Hit against 8+

Question 28

2, 2 split?

Answer 28

Yes, against 4, 5, 6 and 7
Against 2 and 3 when DAS allowed
Hit against 8+

Question 29

H17 vs S17

Answer 29

S17 means dealer stands on A, 6

H17 means dealer hits a soft 17
(slightly increases odds for the house)

Question 30

Hard 18 and better

Answer 30

Stand, Always

Question 31

Insurance?

Answer 31

Only when true count is +3 or more (i18.1)***