Blackjack Theorem
Hands

Hard 12 vs Dealer 6: Hit or Stand?

Best play (6-deck, S17, DAS): Stand

You hold a hard 12 (no ace counted as 11) and the dealer shows a 6. Below is the correct basic-strategy decision computed by the Blackjack Theorem engine, and how it shifts with the table rules.

Where this sits in the chartSee the full chart →
Hard567
11DhDhDh
12SSH
13SSH

Dealer upcard across the top. The outlined cell is the hand on this page.

…until the count drops to -2

Stand is correct with a neutral shoe. If you count cards, the play flips to hit at a true count of -2 or lower.

HitTC -2 and below
StandTC -1 and up
Expected value per unit bet, neutral shoe
Stand-15.42%
Hit-16.95%
Double-33.90%
Difference1.53 pts

The two plays are only 1.53 points apart with a neutral shoe, which is why a modest shift in the count is enough to reverse them.

Computed by the engine for a full six-deck shoe. The true-count column comes from the same count-dependent table that powers the strategy charts.

By the rules

Table rulesCorrect play
6-Deck · S17 · DASS Stand
6-Deck · H17 · DASS Stand
6-Deck · S17 · DAS · SurrenderS Stand
2-Deck · S17 · DASS Stand
8-Deck · H17 · DASS Stand
See the full chart and long-run results for your table.
Open the free blackjack simulator →Drill this hand →

FAQ

Should you hit or stand on hard 12 against a 6?

The mathematically correct play is: stand. This is for 6-deck, dealer stands on soft 17, DAS. It can change with other rules (see the table).

Does the dealer hitting soft 17 change hard 12 vs 6?

It can. The table above shows the play under both S17 and H17 so you can match your exact table.

Does the count change the correct play on hard 12 vs 6?

Yes. With a neutral shoe the play is stand, and it flips to hit at a true count of -2 or lower. The two plays sit 1.53 points apart at a full six-deck shoe, which is why a modest change in the count is enough to reverse them.