Blackjack
← Every handHard total · six decks · S17 · DAS · no surrender

Hard 12 vs dealer 2

What should I do with hard 12 against a dealer 2 in blackjack?

10 of spades2 of heartsDealer2shows2 of clubs
The move
Hit.

Against a 2, the dealer busts less often than against 4, 5 or 6. Twelve is weak enough that taking one more card is worth the bust risk.

Why basic strategy says hit

Against a 2, the dealer busts less often than against 4, 5 or 6. Twelve is weak enough that taking one more card is worth the bust risk.

Engine explanation: Hit with hard 12 against 2. Take another card under the selected rules. This is a long-run basic-strategy decision, not a prediction of the next card.

Hard 12 against every upcard

H hit · S stand · D double · P split. Select a cell for its page.

Nearby hard totals against a 2

HandMove
Hard 5HitWhy →
Hard 6HitWhy →
Hard 7HitWhy →
Hard 8HitWhy →
Hard 9HitWhy →
Hard 10DoubleWhy →
Hard 11DoubleWhy →
Hard 12HitWhy →
Hard 13StandWhy →
Hard 14StandWhy →
Hard 15StandWhy →
Hard 16StandWhy →
Hard 17StandWhy →
Hard 18StandWhy →
Hard 19StandWhy →
Hard 20StandWhy →

Related questions

Should I hit 12 against a dealer 2?
Yes, hit. This is one of the most counter-intuitive rows in basic strategy. The dealer busts only about 35% of the time from a 2, not enough to justify standing on a weak 12, and only the four ten-value ranks (about 31% of cards) bust you. Under six-deck S17 rules hit 12 against a 2 and a 3, stand against 4, 5 and 6, and hit against 7 or higher. Whatever you draw, re-evaluate the new total against the chart.
Training rules: six decks · dealer stands on soft 17 · no surrender

This is a separate educational profile. Rules can differ between app tables and other games.

  • Six decks. Dealer stands on all 17s, including soft 17.
  • US hole card and peek: decisions assume the dealer has checked and does not have blackjack.
  • Double any first two cards, including after splitting. Doubling ends the hand after one extra card.
  • Split equal card values into at most four hands. Split aces receive one card each; no resplitting aces.
  • No surrender. A natural blackjack pays 3:2; 21 after splitting is not a natural.
  • Total-dependent strategy. No card counting or expected-value estimates.

Profile six-deck-s17-das · rules 1.0.0 · strategy 1.0.0. The trainer asks for one decision per hand; it does not simulate wagers or settlement.