To Hit or Stand in Blackjack – That Is the Question!

When playing online Blackjack, the key decision-making, and precisely what keeps the game fun, is deciding whether to hit or stand.

That is, will you take another card and potentially risk going over 21 (which causes you to lose the hand) or will you stand with the cards you have already been dealt? Make the statistically correct choice all the time and the house will have a tiny 0.5% edge.

Conversely, make the wrong move, and the house edge increases. Often, it is the difference between winning and losing in the long run.  In this blog post, we’ll discuss when it’s best to hit or stand in blackjack, with the hope that you can maximize your chances of success.

The basics of blackjack

Blackjack ranks among the most-popular casino games in the world. It’s a card game where the goal is to get closer to 21 than the dealer does without going over 21. If your cards add up to 22 or higher, you go bust and automatically lose the hand.

Same goes for the dealer, but his advantage is in acting after each player. If dealer and player both go over 21, the house wins.

The game starts with each player being dealt two cards. Often, they are both dealt face-up to players. Sometimes, particularly in single-deck games, both cards are dealt face-down. The dealer gives themself one up card and one down card. The down card is known as the hole card.

Players then take turns making decisions based on the total valuations of their cards and the dealer card that is showing. The player can either choose to hit or stand. If they hit, they will be dealt another card, and if they stand, they stay with the two cards they were initially dealt. Or, later in the hand, hit cards and the initial two. Players can take as many hit cards as they want up until 21.

Players win by either getting 21 on their initial two cards (this is known as a blackjack) or getting a higher total than the dealer without going over 21. Players lose if their total is lower than that of the dealer or if they go over 21. In case of a tie, the player’s bet is returned. No money is won or lost.

It’s important to note that in blackjack, all face cards (Kings, Queens and Jacks) are valued at 10. Aces are valued at either 1 or 11. Players decide on the value, based on the Ace and the other card, or cards, they have been dealt.

When to hit

When playing blackjack, knowing when to hit is important – and, remember, you can take as many hit cards as you want before going over 21. If your hand’s total, with the Ace counted as 1, is 7 or lower, you should always hit (and, in some instances, double down) because there is no risk of going over and you have a good chance of improving your hand.

If your total is 13 – 16, then you should only hit if the dealer’s card is 7 or higher. When your hand has a hard total of 17 or higher, you should stand. If you have been dealt an Ace and have a soft hand – say, a soft 18 with an Ace and a 7 – consult the basic strategy chart to see what you should do in each situation.

Deciding whether to hit should be dictated by a basic strategy chart, which provides the optimal way to play blackjack.

When to stand

Knowing when to stand is just as critical as knowing when to hit. Standing, in blackjack parlance, is when you stay pat and take no additional cards.

If you have a hand that totals 17 or higher, you should stand. If your total is between 12 and 16, consider the dealer’s up card and consult the basic strategy chart to confirm what to do. If you have 12 against the dealer’s 4 – 6, you should stand. If you have 13 – 16 against the dealer’s 2 – 6, you should stand.

Soft hands that total 19 or 20 are hands with which you should almost always stand. The one exception: Ace, 8 against the dealer’s 6. If the casino allows doubling down with those cards, then go for it!

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The easy moves to make

• Always hit on hard hands of 11 or below, though sometimes you will double down, as per the basic strategy chard.
• Always stand on hard 17 or above.
• With 12 – 16, always hit if the dealer shows 7 or higher.
• If the dealer has 2 or 3, hit with a 12; stand against 4 – 6; hit against 7 – Ace.
• Always stand with 13 – 16 if the dealer has 2 – 6.
• If the dealer has an Ace, hit with Ace – 2 through 7
• With two Aces against a dealer’s Ace, split them and hope for a face card.

Hit Or Stand FAQS:

Should I hit on 16?

Only if the dealer is showing 7 – Ace. Against 2 – 6, stand.

What is the difference between hard and soft hands?

Hard hands are when the cards you are dealt can only equal the total of the two cards. For example, 10, 8 is a hard 18. Soft hands are when you have an Ace, which can count as 1 or 11, and another card. Ace, 7, for example, is known as a soft 18. It can be, either, 8 or 18. You would never hit with a hard 18. But with a soft 18, there are times you would stand, times you would hit, times you would double. See the basic strategy chart for details.

Should I hit on soft 17?

You should always hit on soft 17. If the dealer is showing 3 – 6, you should double down. This is doubling your bet and receiving just one card. While you can get lucky by snagging a 3 or 4, to give you 20 or 21, the general hope is that the dealer will bust with one of those vulnerable starting cards.

When should I always stand?

You should always stand with hard 17 – 20. With Ace, 8, you should stand against every dealer up card – unless, if you are allowed to double, with a soft 19, do so against a dealer 6. Always stand with Ace, 9.

What is a soft hand vs hard hand in blackjack

There are two kinds of hands you can get in blackjack: A soft hand or a hard hand.

The soft hand has an Ace, which can count as 1 or 11, and provides a lot more flexibility than what you get with a hard hand. For example, when dealt Ace, 3, it can count as 14 or 4. You’ll always hit or double with these two cards (please see the basic strategy chart for exactly what to do against various dealer up-cards).

In the case of being dealt a hard hand – say, 10, 4, which can only equal 14 – you should play the hand cautiously. Since a card of 8 – 10 will cause you to bust, you should stand against a dealer 2 – 6. Up against 7 – Ace, you need to take your chances and hit.

Good luck and remember to consult the basic strategy chart. It is every blackjack player’s friend!