Understanding blackjack starts with two simple building blocks: knowing how card values work and recognizing what your hand total means. Once you master these, reading the table and making the correct strategy decision becomes easy.

This guide breaks down card values, hand types, and provides clear, beginner-friendly blackjack hand examples that show exactly when to hit, stand, split, double, or surrender.

Card Values in Blackjack

Blackjack uses standard card values:

Number Cards (2–10)

Worth their face value.
Examples:

• 4 = 4

• 9 = 9

• 10 = 10

Face Cards (J, Q, K)

All worth 10.
Examples:

• K + 7 = 17

• Q + 3 = 13

Aces (A)

Worth 1 or 11, whichever benefits your hand.
Examples:

• A + 6 = soft 17 (count Ace as 11)

• A + 9 = soft 20

• A + 6 + 10 → hard 17 (Ace switches to 1 to avoid busting)

Aces are the most flexible and important cards in blackjack.

Hard Hands vs Soft Hands

Hard Hand

A hand without an Ace, or a hand where the Ace must count as 1.
Examples:

• 10 + 7 = 17

• 8 + 5 + 9 = 22 (bust)

• A + 6 + 10 = hard 17

Hard hands are riskier to hit because they are easier to bust.

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Soft Hand

A hand containing an Ace counted as 11.
Examples:

• A + 6 = soft 17

• A + 7 = soft 18

• A + 2 + 4 = soft 17

Soft hands are safer to hit because the Ace can “turn into” a 1.

Why Hand Examples Matter

Most blackjack players struggle because they don’t recognize recurring hand patterns.
After you view enough examples, decisions start to feel automatic — and you stop guessing.

Below are clear, practical hand examples sorted by category.

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Hard Hand Examples (Hit or Stand?)

Hard 8 or below

You should always hit. You cannot bust.

Example:

• Hand: 3 + 5 = 8

• Dealer shows: anything

• Correct move: Hit

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Hard 12 vs Dealer 2 or 3

Beginner trap hand. Players often stand — but shouldn’t.

Example:

• Hand: 10 + 2 = 12

• Dealer: 3

• Correct move: Hit
  Dealer 3 is stronger than most people think.

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Hard 12–16 vs Dealer 7–A

Dealer strong → you must fight back.

Example:

• Hand: 9 + 6 = 15

• Dealer: 10

• Correct move: Hit
  Standing loses more over time.

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Hard 17 or higher

Always stand.

Example:

• Hand: K + 7 = 17

• Dealer: anything

• Correct move: Stand

Soft Hand Examples (Aces Involved)

Soft 13–17 (A+2 to A+6)

These are weak soft totals.
You should hit — and often double in the right situations.

Example:

• Hand: A + 4 = soft 15

• Dealer: 4

• Correct move: Double (or Hit if doubling isn’t allowed)

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Soft 18 (A+7)

One of the most misunderstood hands.

Examples:

A7 vs 2,7,8 → Stand
A7 vs 3–6 → Double
A7 vs 9,10,A → Hit

Most players stand too often with soft 18.

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Soft 19–21

Almost always strong.

Example:

• Hand: A + 8 = 19

• Correct move: Stand

Pair Hand Examples (Split, Hit, or Stand?)

Always Split: Aces and 8s

Example:

• Hand: A,A

• Dealer: anything

• Move: Split

Example:

• Hand: 8,8 = 16

• Dealer: 10

• Move: Split
  Two 8s make a bad 16 — splitting improves outcome.

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Never Split: 5s or 10s

Example:

• Hand: 5,5 = 10

• Correct move: Double
  Splitting ruins a strong doubling hand.

Example:

• Hand: 10,10 = 20

• Correct move: Stand
  20 is already excellent.

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Pair of 9s (9,9)

This one varies:

• Split against: 2–6, 8–9

• Stand against: 7, 10, A

Example:

• Hand: 9,9

• Dealer: 7

• Move: Stand

Double Down Hand Examples

Doubling increases your bet, but you only get one card.

Double 10 or 11 vs dealer 2–9

Example:

• Hand: 5 + 6 = 11

• Dealer: 6

• Move: Double

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Double Soft 16–18 (A+5 through A+7) vs dealer 3–6

Example:

• Hand: A + 6 = soft 17

• Dealer: 4

• Move: Double

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Surrender Hand Examples

If surrender is allowed:

Surrender these hands:

• 16 vs 9, 10, A

• 15 vs 10

Example:

• Hand: 10 + 6 = 16

• Dealer: 10

• Move: Surrender (if allowed)

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Fast Hit / Stand Examples (Beginner-Friendly)

Hit

• 12 vs 2

• 12 vs 3

• 15 vs 10

• 16 vs 10

• 13 vs 7

• A7 vs 9

Stand

• 13 vs 6

• 14 vs 5

• 15 vs 6

• 16 vs 6

• 17+ always

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Quick Blackjack Card Value Table

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Conclusion

Understanding blackjack card values and recognizing common hand types is the foundation of playing well. Once you learn how hard totals, soft totals, and pairs behave, decision-making becomes easier and more consistent. With these hand examples, you’ll be able to spot patterns quickly, avoid beginner mistakes, and start playing blackjack with confidence.