Basic strategy

Pair of 9s vs Dealer 10

The mathematically correct play in standard basic strategy, with the reasoning behind it. [code: S]

The play
Stand
stand.
Dealer 10
10
♠
♠
Pair of 9s
9
♥
♥
9
♦
♦
Example hand

Why this play

Marquee spot

Stand. Hard 18 isn't great vs. 10, but two 9s starting fresh is worse. The chart says stand and take what 18 wins for you.

In context

This cell sits inside the full basic-strategy chart. Browse the others for the same total, the same dealer upcard, or open the full interactive chart.

HHitSStandDhDouble / hitDsDouble / standPSplitPhSplit / hitRhSurrender / hitRsSurrender / standRpSurrender / split

Hard totals

You / Dealer2345678910A
4HHHHHHHHHH
5HHHHHHHHHH
6HHHHHHHHHH
7HHHHHHHHHH
8HHHHHHHHHH
9HDhDhDhDhHHHHH
10DhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhHH
11DhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhH
12HHSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHRhH
16SSSSSHHRhRhRh
17SSSSSSSSSS
18SSSSSSSSSS
19SSSSSSSSSS
20SSSSSSSSSS

Soft totals

You / Dealer2345678910A
A,2HHHDhDhHHHHH
A,3HHHDhDhHHHHH
A,4HHDhDhDhHHHHH
A,5HHDhDhDhHHHHH
A,6HDhDhDhDhHHHHH
A,7SDsDsDsDsSSHHH
A,8SSSSSSSSSS
A,9SSSSSSSSSS

Pairs

You / Dealer2345678910A
2,2PhPhPPPPHHHH
3,3PhPhPPPPHHHH
4,4HHHPhPhHHHHH
5,5DhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhHH
6,6PhPPPPHHHHH
7,7PPPPPPHHHH
8,8PPPPPPPPPP
9,9PPPPPSPPSS
T,TSSSSSSSSSS
A,APPPPPPPPPP

Reading isn't enough. Drill it.

The trainer deals real shoes and flags every deviation from the chart, including this one. Stand becomes automatic after a hundred reps.

Open the trainerFull strategy chart

Adjacent spots

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