You must remember that blackjack is a mathematical game. It operates on a specific set of mathematical principles that cannot be violated. Even the basic rules of the game dictate specific actions by the dealer. The dealer must always hit on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more. The entire game of blackjack is based around the two words “Hit me”. All of the strategy and logic in the game comes down to whether or not you want to get another card added on top of your first two cards. Remember, the goal of blackjack is to either make the dealer bust, hit 21 yourself, or have a higher number than the dealer ends up with.
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. Knowing when to hit or stand in the game can reduce the house edge by half, which makes it one of the best casino odds games. This is also true for knowing when to split or double down in the game.
The goal in blackjack is to get a hand as close to 21 as possible without going over. Hence it is also referred to as blackjack 21 or just 21.
The most frequent decision that players need to make when playing online blackjack is whether to hit or stand. To ‘stand’ simply means that you are satisfied with the cards that you have been dealt, and do not want any additional draw cards. Whereas, hitting means that you want to draw another card, or more, in order to try and improve your hand.
At anonline casino, players can action this by clicking either the ‘hit’ or ‘stand’ button on their screens. Meanwhile, players at a brick-and-mortar casino can use different hand signals to let the dealer know if they want to hit or stand. Once the signaling is done, that means your hand is complete for that round. Players can hit on any hand that totals 21 or less. In an event that your hand exceeds 21, then you have “busted” and that way you automatically lose your bet.
Other options include the ‘split’ which is simply splitting two cards of the same value into two hands, and ‘double down’ which is doubling down the amount of your bet, an extra card plus stand.
If your hand has a total of 8, it only makes sense that you hit on any card that the dealer holds. This is because the chances of you making a good hand are high, with so many 9 and 10-value cards in the deck. It is also wise to hit if the dealer has a relatively higher-value card on their hand such as a 7, 8 or 9 because they are likely to make 21, and the main aim of the game is to beat the dealer’s hand.
While it’s not advised, some players choose to hit when they have a hand total of 12 or 13 and the dealer has a lower card. That hand is very unlikely to win but it just might, depending on what card you will draw next.
Quick Tips:
· Hit if you have an 11 and the dealer has an Ace.
· Hit if you have a 10 and the dealer’s face-up card is also 10 or an Ace.
· Hit if you have a 9 and the dealer shows a 2 or 7 through Ace.
· Always hit on 5, 6, 7 and 8.
If your hand totals 17, 19 or 20 then you should stand, no matter what. This is because you are at a pretty good chance to ‘bust’ if your next card will make your hand go over 21. Some totals such as 10-10 or 9-9 can be split into two new good hands.
What’s also important is that you know the difference between ‘soft’ and ’hard’ hands in blackjack. Hands that contain an Ace, which counts as 1 or 11, are called soft hands, while hands made up of the other cards are called hard hands. Your decision to stand will also be based on which group your hand total falls into.
For instance, you should stand if the dealer’s face-up card is a 6 or below and you have a hard 16 (say consisting of a 7 and 9). Hit if the dealer shows a 2, or double down on cards 3 to 6 if you have an Ace, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
You can make a strong hand with soft cards if you draw a high-value card.
Quick Tips:
· Always stand if you have 17-21.
· Stand if you have 13-16 and the dealer shows a 2 through 6.
· Stand if you have a 12 and the dealer has a 4, 5 or 6.
The blackjack strategy chart is there to help you know what to do in every situation when playing the game. The table works in a simple format showing both the dealer and player’s possible hands. You can use the table to scan for the dealer’s card and through the corresponding column to your combination to see what to do. The strategy chart is based on a probability theory, which does not guarantee you a win, but at least points you towards a better direction to improve your odds.
You can also make use of other blackjack strategies to win, and calculators to help you check probabilities. However, remember that certain strategies to play blackjack such as card counting are frowned upon and can have you banned at a casino. This technique also does not work online as cards are shuffled on every round using an automated shoe.
Blackjack rules are very simple to follow. However, there might be slight differences depending on the variation you choose to play.
It is also important to note that some blackjack variations such as Atlantic City and European blackjack may have different side bets or progressive jackpots which can alter with the hit and stand betting system. If so, you will have an option to ‘surrender’, should you want to give up your hand early. This special option returns 50 percent of your bet.
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about blackjack.
You should not hit in blackjack if your hand totals 17 or above because you will be at a risk to exceed 21, meaning you will ‘bust’ and your winnings will be forfeited.
Stand if the dealer shows a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
No, stand if the dealer has a 4, 5 or 6.
No, stand if the dealer shows a 2 through 6.
No, stand if the dealer’s face-up card is a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
A good strategy is to double down if the dealer is showing a lower card than a 10.
Knowing when to hit or stand is key if you want to playblackjack successfully. The strategy chart makes it even easier to decide for every hand in this fast-paced table game, and although it doesn’t guarantee you a win, it does help improve your chances of winning. Sometimes, the choice is pretty obvious and you just need to follow your instinct. So, why not learn how to hit or stand in blackjack at our live casino online? You can try this simple strategy on our demo games or play for real money to win big today!
Hit or Stand gameplay is based on Atlantic City and Las Vegas multiple deck casinos rules. Blackjack rules vary from casino to casino, which makes learning blackjack strategy more complicated. However, many correct moves are fundamental enough that they do not differ from casino to casino, and most large scale casinos have very similar rules - usually matching those in Vegas or A.C.. The strategy tables for Vegas and A.C. are displayed below. To find strategy tables for a particular casino, you can visit BlackJack Info, a site that can generate customized tables.
Basic Blackjack Rules:
For more information about Blackjack rules,strategy, and etiquette you can visit Hit or Stand's recommended book list.
Below you will find the strategy tables for both Atlantic City and Las Vegas. These table are what the Hit or Stand games is based on. Hit or Stand accepts a correct move from either Vegas or A.C.(they differ only slightly). It needs to be noted that using the below tables will not cause you to make money - the odds are still against you. The only way to put the odds of Blackjack in you favor is to count cards which is a large topic of its own.
Las Vegas Multiple Deck
| Atlantic City Multiple Deck
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People often ask how it is known that the strategy tables such as the ones above are correct. They are created and validated in two ways: The first method involves applying probability theory which uses extremely complicated mathematics. The second technique involves using computers to simulate thousands of blackjack deals that are played using different strategies to see which combination of moves give the best end results (the moves that cause one to lose money the slowest).