No matter what variation of blackjack you play, you are given two decisions to make: to hit or to stand. Learning when should you hit or stay in blackjack is one of the first things you should know when you play the game.
To hit means that you would like to take an additional card from the deck. If you have a better chance of reaching a value closer or equal to 21, you can decide to hit for another card. You can indicate this by tapping the cards or your finger on the blackjack table.
To stand means, you leave your current hand value as it is and do not want to get extra cards because you think there is a high probability of winning or a bust if you ask for an additional card. Keep in mind when you stand your hand, you cannot change your decision and are not allowed to act further.
Now that you know the mechanics of these two basic moves in blackjack, it is time for you to see when you should hit or stay when playing the casino game.
When to Hit in Blackjack
The only reason to hit when playing blackjack is to improve your hand value because, in this casino game, the goal is to reach the total or the closest value to 21 without exceeding the total made by the croupier. The average worth of winning hands in blackjack from both the player and the dealer is always over 18. Therefore, your goal when hitting should be to reach 19 points. Insurance in blackjack is a type of side wager that protects your deposits when the croupier shows a blackjack.
The following are the different situations when you should hit when playing blackjack.
- If you have a hand value with 8 points in total, you should decide to hit against any card the croupier holds. With numerous and 9 and 10 cards in a standard blackjack deck, you have a higher chance of acquiring a high-value hand.
- When you have a soft 16, you should hit for another card if the dealer shows low cards from 2 to 6 because it can help you attain a more substantial total when you draw a high-value card.
Remember that your goal is to beat the croupier's total, so think carefully before hastily deciding to hit one card after the other. Check this article on dealing in blackjack if you want to know more about it.
When to Stand in Blackjack
Decide on standing your hand value when you deem it high enough to secure you a win or when hitting a card can lead you to a bust. When you have a total of 17, 19, and 20, you should always stand, regardless of the croupier's hand value.
Another consideration when deciding to stand is knowing the difference between hard and soft hands in blackjack. Soft hands contain an ace, while hard hands do not have an ace and consist of other cards. For instance, if you have a hard 16, you should stand if the croupier has lower card values from 2 to 6.
However, watch out for totals that you can split. For instance, if you get card values such as 8-8, 9-9, and 10-10, you can separate them to form two new hands with different wagers. Splitting these card values increases your chances of avoiding a bust.
Understand the importance of hitting and standing and utilize it correctly for your next blackjack games to improve your chances of winning big.
