Basic strategy

Soft 20 vs Dealer 5

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

The play
Stand
stand.
Dealer 5
5
♠
♠
Soft 20
A
♥
♥
9
♣
♣
Example hand

Why this play

The basic-strategy chart says stand. Dealer 5 busts ~42% of the time. Don't risk busting yourself when the dealer's hand is fighting uphill. Let them be the one to break.

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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