7 Blackjack Hands: How to Get These Right?

Blackjack strategies are heavily context-dependent, which means that the right play relies on all variables in the gameplay. Every player’s hand comes with a different optimal strategy that relies on the dealer’s up cards and, in some situations, a running count. 

When playing a blackjack game, the odds of winning can be enumerated, and the gamer’s ideal moves have been codified as optimal blackjack strategy. Here are the various blackjack hands to help you play like a pro.

Standing on Soft 18 versus the Dealer’s 10: 

“Never have I hit a good hand of 18.” That is the mantra of many gamers who think 18 is a perfect hand that shouldn’t be tampered with. Nevertheless, these are facts. If you hold a soft 18 while the deal has a ten and stand, you will lose more cash than you win. Once you hit, you lose more than you will win. However, you won’t lose as much as when you stand. Therefore, hitting soft 18 against the dealer’s ten upcards is the right play (even if the soft 18 hand comprises three cards like Ace-2-Ace-4).

Not Dividing 8s Against a Dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace: 

An automatic loss is a 16 against the dealer’s ace, 10, or 9. Why should you compound your losses by betting and splitting? The right move is to split your 8s. That’s because two hands with a count of 8 on either hand are better than beginning with a one-hand of 16. You’re giving yourself two decent starting hands as you break up a horrible 16. But you will lose money on both the split-8 hands. Don’t panic since your cumulative losses will be less than what one hand of 16 will lose in the long run. 

Don’t Double 11 Against a Dealer’s 10: 

Why would you need to double down against the robust dealer’s 10? Many average gamers get seasick when doubling down on 11, knowing the deal has 10 in the hole of a pat 20. The dealer’s opportunities of making the pat 20 are less than your probability of making a 20 or even 21. 

That means if you bet ten bucks and hit 11, you will win 56% of the time. However, if you double down, you will win 54% of the time but for 20bucks. So, here is what you can do! Win 10 bucks 56% of the time, or 20 bucks 54 %. Make a choice. However, you can’t double down on an 11 against the dealer with a 10. 

Doubling on Small Soft Hands: 

When the dealer displays small cards, many average players mess up their small soft hands. For instance, how can you play Ace-3 against the dealer’s three or Ace-5 against the dealer’s 4? 18 small soft hands need to be doubled, and the simplest way to remember them is to follow the below rules. 

• Don’t soft double against the deuce
• Soft Double Against a 6 or 5
• If the dealer has a four or a three upcard, you need to play by the rule of 9

The rule of 9 entails adding the dealer’s upcard to your kicker. Suppose they total more than 9. Double down. However, if it is less, you should hit it. 

Play a soft Hand That Contains three or More Cards: 

A sound blackjack strategies card indicates to double soft 18 against the 4; you should stand if you are dealt Ace-3 or four and cannot double down. When the soft hand contains more than three cards, the rule won’t let you double down. Then what should you do? Follow these simple blackjack rules to play with soft hands containing more than three cards every time.

If you hold soft below 17, you should hit (don’t stand with a soft 17 or less, irrespective of the dealer’s display). 

If you have 18, 19, 20, or 21, don’t hit, but stand, but hit a soft 18 against a dealer ace, 10, or 9. 

Also Read: Blackjack Hand Signals: Important Signs You Need to Know

Play 16 Against a Dealer’s 10:

Can you win when you always get the bloody 16s when the dealer displays those blasted picture cards? It’s normal since a 16 against the ten happens frequently. How well to play this blackjack hand relies on the casino blackjack rules and the composition of the hand. If your preferred casino provides surrender, your best gameplay is surrendering your 16 against a 10. Once you surrender, you will lose 50% of your bet. If you play out this hand, you will lose more than 50% of your bet in the long run. 

Therefore, the surrounding will save you a lot of money, which is why it’s the best play. However, the casino doesn’t provide a surrender option; slightly hitting will be your best play. If you hold a multi-card 16 such as 7, 5, 4, your best play should be standing against the dealer 10. You’ve removed many small cards that would have helped you in case of a draw. 

Stand on 12 Against the Dealer’s 3

Any time you hit a 12 against a dealer 3, you stand and allow the dealer to take a bust card. This type of play confounds average gamers, who know they shouldn’t risk bursting their hand when the dealer holds a weak-up card. However, you should not stand with 12 against a dealer’s 3 for two reasons. If you hit a 12 one time, you can bust if you draw the 10. The chances of this happening are 4 out of 13. This means that 9 out of 13 times, you’ll survive the draw and avoid busting. 

Actually, 9,8,7,6, or 5 will offer you a pat hand of 17-21. Therefore, more cards will assist you than make you lose. Besides, the dealer’s probabilities of busting aren’t high. With a 3 upcard, the dealer will break like 37%. While you can’t get rich on 12 against a dealer 3, hitting is a wise move, irrespective of how you play. This is because you will save money in the long run. 

Before playing for real money online, make sure you have mastered the basic blackjack strategies. Once you learn and understand how to play these seven hands correctly. So, study them carefully to increase your chances of winning.

Also Read: Blackjack Tips & Tricks for Winning