Blackjack Tips Online - Hitting or Standing
First rule is to always consider the dealers card showing not just your own cards when making a decision. In other words don't always take a card if you have a low hand the dealer may have a very weak hand that may lead to the dealer busting. Here are the basics for hitting or standing on a hard hand.
| |
Dealer |
| Player |
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
A
|
| 17-21 |
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
| 13-16 |
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
| 12 |
H
|
H
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
| 4-11 |
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
S=Stand, H=Hit
Soft-hand strategy
A soft hand (an Ace in your cards) affects your decision to take a hit. It is called "soft" because the Ace can be changed from a n 11 to a one if necessary. Taking hits with a soft hand is less risky than a Hard-hand. The following chart outlines what you should do with an Ace in your hand:
| |
Dealer |
| Player |
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
A
|
| A,8-10 |
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
| A,7 |
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
| A,2-6 |
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
S=Stand, H=Hit
Doubling down
To optimize your probabilities of winning you have to take advantage when you have a strong hand. It's the primary means of offsetting the house advantage. Casino rules vary on what type of hands you can double down on but the following chart shows when to take advantage in all situations given a Hard-hand.:
| |
Dealer |
| Player |
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
A
|
| 12 |
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
| 11 |
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
X
|
| 10 |
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
X
|
X
|
| 9 |
X
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
| 8 |
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
D=Double Down, X=Don't Double
Soft-hand doubling strategy
Considerations here are a little different from the hard-hand doubling strategy. For example you don't want to double if you have soft 19 or 20 (which would be A,8 and A,9) even though these hands could be counted as 9 and 10. The following chart optimizes probabilities of winning given the Soft-hand:
| |
Dealer |
| Player |
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
A
|
| A,8-9 |
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
| A,6-7 |
X
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
| A,4-5 |
X
|
X
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
| A,2-3 |
X
|
X
|
X
|
D
|
D
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
D=Double Down, X=Don't Double
|
