Blackjack Strategy: Become a Blackjack Pro Today

You should always hit on hard 11 or less. Hitting can only improve your hand and it’s impossible to go bust. If your hand totals 10 or 11 points, you have a great chance of hitting blackjack. Any Ace will do when you hold a 10; while any 10, Jack, Queen, or King helps you reach 21 when your hand totals 11.

Every basic blackjack card will instruct you to hit on soft 17 or less. This highlights the power of holding an Ace, as it can be valued at either 1 or 11. Blackjack pros class soft 17 as a bad hand that is more likely to improve with a hit. It’s certainly an aggressive play, but the stats prove that it’s the correct play.

According to basic strategy, blackjack players should always stand on hard 12 when the dealer’s up card is 4-6. Standing is also encouraged on hard 13-16 when the dealer’s up card is 2 through 6. These may seem like defensive plays, but any 10 or face card would force the dealer to hit, and quite likely bust.

Hard 17 is quite common when you play blackjack. A basic strategy card will advise you to stand on hard 17 or more. Hitting with such a hand would result in you busting more times than not. You should always stand on soft 18 unless the dealer’s up card is a 9, 10, or an Ace. Standing is the optimal play for soft 19. In this scenario, the dealer can only beat you by hitting blackjack or having a total of 20.

Certain scenarios make doubling down with a second bet equal to your first the correct play. It’s important to remember that you will only receive one more card, and you cannot hit and then double down in blackjack. Every basic strategy card will advise you to double an 11 unless the dealer is holding an Ace. If the dealer holds an Ace, there is a greater chance of them winning or a push being declared.

Always double hard 9 when the dealer’s up card is between 2 and 6. Soft 16, 17, or 18 should also be doubled when the dealer’s up card is 2-6. It’s highly likely that the dealer will have to hit twice, which will often result in them busting. Hard 10 or 11 should also be doubled when the dealer’s card is low.

You should always split Aces and 8s when you play blackjack. A basic strategy chart will always recommend splitting these hands because your chances of hitting blackjack (21) significantly increase. A pair of Aces equals 12, while a pair of 8s equals 16. These are bad totals for you, so make sure you split.

There are a few other scenarios where splitting is the correct move. You should only ever split pairs of 2s and 3s if the dealer’s up card is between 4 and 7. Basic blackjack strategy also states that splitting 6s and 7s is only the correct call when the dealer’s up card is worth 6 or less. There has been lots of debate over splitting pairs of 5s and 10s, but you should avoid doing so. These hands place you in a strong position.

As surrendering results in you folding your hand to recoup half of your original bet, it’s crucial that you reference a blackjack strategy table. This is a move you should only consider when you find yourself in an unfavorable position. For example, when you are highly likely to lose by either standing or hitting.

Blackjack strategy encourages you to surrender in two specific scenarios. The first scenario is when you hold a hard 16 (unless you are holding a pair of 8s – then splitting is the correct call) against the dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace. The other scenario is when you hold hard 15 against the dealer’s 10. These hands place the dealer in prime position to beat you. It’s better to cut your losses to lose less money in the long term.

Regardless of which variation of blackjack you play, you should never take insurance. Blackjack professionals have proven that it’s more profitable for you to lose your stake in the long term than protect it against the blackjack dealer hitting 21. It may sound tempting, but never take insurance.

Insurance is a side bet that becomes available when the dealer’s up card is an Ace. To take insurance, you will be making another bet worth half your wager. You will then be hoping that the dealer hits blackjack to break even – as insurance pays 2:1. You will be offered even money when you have hit blackjack and the dealer’s up card is an Ace. You will push 30.74% of the time, but you cannot lose.