INSURANCE
If you are dealt 21 from the start (Ace & 10), you got a blackjack. Blackjack usually means you win 1.5 the amount of your bet. Depends on the casino. Dealer will hit until his/her cards total 17 or higher. When playing blackjack with a hard hand, we would recommend the following: When you are dealt a total of 5-8, always hit. When you are dealt 9, hit if the dealer shows a 2 or a 7 through ace. If you have 10, hit if the dealer shows an ace or a 10. If your hand is 11, hit only if the dealer shows an ace.
If the dealer's upcard is an ACE, he has a 4/13 (31%) chance of getting a Blackjack. You might be allowed to place an extra insurance bet. This is half your stake, and if the dealer does get Blackjack, it pays 2:1 which will effectively return your whole stake on the hand. However, as the dealer's chance of Blackjack is slightly less than 1/3, over time the casino makes a profit of about 2.5% on insurance bets. Therefore insurance is not generally recommended.
WHAT IS CARD COUNTING?
If you're playing with a single deck and you see the dealer's upcard is an ace, you know your own chance of receiving an ace is reduced. That's simple!However, you will usually be playing a game where up to 8 decks are mixed together. A blank plastic card is inserted near the bottom of the deck. The shuffled cards are then stacked in a 'shoe' from which they are drawn one at a time as required and then discarded. When the blank appears, all the the cards are brought back together, shuffled and then dealing starts from the top again.
Keeping track of what has been played from multiple decks requires a great deal more skill, but it can be worth it. If a lot of low cards have come out (A-9) this means that a higher than usual proportion of 10-value cards are left. This offers a slight advantage to the player, so it's time to raise your bets. By contrast, if a lot of 10 cards have come out, it's better to keep bets low or even stop playing.
Experts have developed several methods of card counting to help you beat the dealer - but be discrete. The dealers don't like it!
If you would like to boost your card counting performance you can always find an abundance of resources online that will increase your odds of success.
Never bet more than you can afford to lose.Good luck!
Hardcore Blackjack players are ridiculously serious about the game. For some, playing by the rules and losing a hand is better than breaking the rules and winning. That’s because Blackjack is all about odds, and by breaking the hit or stand rules, you could seriously disrupt the balance of the Blackjack table.
When To Hit And When To Stay In Blackjack
The goal of Blackjack
Before understanding when to hit or stand in Blackjack, you need to understand the game. The goal of Blackjack is simple—beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. Both you and the dealer are dealt two cards each. However, while yours are face-up, only one of the dealer’s cards is visible. The dealer has to hit on 16 or less, and stand on 17 (standing on a soft-17 varies from casino to casino).
When to hit in Blackjack
When To Hit And When To Stay In Blackjack
If your two cards are valued at anything less than 8, you should definitely hit. It doesn’t matter what the dealer is showing because it’s impossible for you to bust. If you’re holding between 12 and 17, things get a little trickier. If you’re new to the game, we recommend following one simple rule to know when to hit or stand in Blackjack. If the dealer is showing a 7, 8, 9, or 10, and your two cards are less than 16, you should hit at the Blackjack tables.
When to stand at the Blackjack tables
When you choose to stand, you’re choosing to not take any cards. The best way to understand when to stand in Blackjack is to imagine that the dealer has worse cards than you, even though you can only see one of them. For example, if you’re showing a 13, and the dealer is showing anywhere from 2 through 6, just imagine that there’s a 10 under there. That means the dealer likely has 12 through 16. If that’s the case, the dealer needs to hit at the Blackjack tables. If he does, he risks hitting a high card that’ll take him over 21. If the dealer is showing a 7 or anything better, you probably don’t want to stand in Blackjack, unless you’re holding 17 or anything better. In a nutshell, if the dealer is showing a low card, you should stand, regardless of what you have. Unless you’ve got a 12 and the dealer is showing a 2 or a 3. Hitting or standing in Blackjack against a 2 or 3 is up for debate, so go with your gut.
Split
Playing Blackjack is about more than knowing when to hit or stand. Sometimes, you have the option to split. That means you can turn your pair into two separate hands. As a general rule, always split Aces and eights. For other pairs, go with your gut, or ask someone at the table what they would do.
Double Down
If you’ve got a 10 or 11, it’s no longer about hitting or standing. It’s all about the double down (and we’re not talking about KFC’s monster sandwich). That means you get to double your bet, but you only get one card.
Expert hitting or standing in Blackjack
The Blackjack strategy guide we just provided is great for beginners and high rollers. But if you’re looking to take your Blackjack hit or stand rules to the next level, consider coupling them with a card counting strategy. We’ve covered a few of them in our blog, so check ‘em out.
When To Hit And Stay In Blackjack
Andy Cunoi
Andy is a common guy with an uncommon passion for blackjack. Currently he lives in San Francisco, California. Andy enjoys writing about gambling. Loves a simple life and his writing reflects that. He also enjoys music festivals a lot.