When to Hit or Stand in Blackjack – Your Ultimate Guide

Knowing when to hit or stand in blackjack is a key part of blackjack strategy and also blackjack etiquette. Of course, the aim of the game is to get as close to 21 or blackjack as is possible without going bust. Having 16 in your hand is not a sign to gamble and twist for another card; you need to take into account the rules of the casino you are playing at, as many dealers need to stick or stay on what is known as a hard 17. We’ll cover this and more in this complete guide to hitting or standing when playing blackjack.

Know When to Hit or Stand at the Blackjack Table

Strategy forms a big part of the game of blackjack. To give you an edge, we have put together 5 easy strategies to follow at any live dealer blackjack table. To give yourself the best chance of winning, you need to know when to hit or stand. Use these strategies as a rule of thumb to build your skills on.

1. Should You Split Aces and 8s in Blackjack?

A pair of Aces should always be split. This turns a soft hand (2 or 12) into two strong chances at 21, and better still, blackjack (Ace and a picture card). Also, a pair of 8s is considered the worst blackjack hand. By splitting them, you trade a soft 16 for two hands starting with 8, which have much better statistical odds. Remember, most dealers will need to stick on 17. The Play: If you have a pair of Aces or 8’s, Split. The Reason Why: You are turning the probability of weak hands losing into two hands with greater winning possibilities. The dealer/house is now in the position where the risk is on them.

2. Stand on ‘Hard’ 12–16 Against a Low Dealer Card

If the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, they are in a “bust” posture. Do you hit or stand on 16?. The dealer is forced to draw a minimum of two cards, giving a higher possibility of a bust and a win to the player. The Play: Stand if you have a total between 12 and 16. The Reason Why: Even though your hand is weak, you push the dealer to play and place him in a position where there is a high probability of busting. You do not need to risk busting your own hand; let the dealer take the risk.

3. Always Hit a ‘Hard’ 11 or Less

If your total is 11 or lower, you cannot possibly bust with a single card. The Play: A hard 11 is a great hand for doubling down. This is a smart strategy for aggressive players. The Reason Why: You are guaranteed to improve your hand, and there is a high concentration of 10-value cards in the deck that could land you on a 20 or 21. You may also draw a 7, 8, or 9, creating a tough hand for the dealer to beat.

4. Hit ‘Hard’ 12–16 Against a High Dealer Card

If the dealer is showing a 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace, they likely have a strong hand. The Play: If you have 12 through 16, you must hit, as you are in a position of weakness. The Reason Why: While hitting a 16 is risky because you might bust, the dealer’s chances of ending up with 17–21 are very high. This is one situation where you have to take the risk to improve your hand to be in with a chance of winning.

5. Never Split 10s or 5s

It can be tempting to split 10s to try for double blackjack, but a hand of 20 wins at an expected rate of 80%. Playing the percentages in this situation is a profitable long-term strategy. The Play: Stand on 10s and Hit/Double on 5s. The Reason Why: Splitting 10s ruins a great hand. Splitting 5s is even worse—you’re turning a strong starting 10 and a chance of 20 or blackjack into two weak hands starting with 5.

Understanding the Term Hit When Playing at the Casino

If you tell a blackjack dealer to “hit,” they will give you another card, turning it and hitting the blackjack table where your original cards are placed. This term is similar to “twist” in the game of pontoon. For a player to get an additional card, they would tell the dealer to twist, e.g, twist a card from the pack. It’s the same thing.

How Many Times Can You Hit During Each Hand?

This depends on the value of your opening two cards, but there are no hard or fast rules at most blackjack casinos. As an example, you could be dealt a 2 and a 3 and then hit more cards. The whole point of the game is to get to 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over or “busting.”

What does Stand Mean in Blackjack?

Similar to the hit in blackjack, meaning you want the dealer to give you another card, to stand in blackjack means to stop taking more cards. When you stand or stick, it is then up to the dealer to beat your hand.

Understanding the Term Hard Hand

A hard hand in blackjack means that your hand would not contain an Ace. If the hand does contain an ace,e then the value of that would be 1 and not 11. An example would be where you have been dealt an A-,4, which could be classed as 5 or 15. If you hit and draw a ten, then your hand is A-4-1,0, which totals 15. In this instance, Ace cannot be used as an 11 as it would bust your hand. We covered the term “Hard Hand” in one of the earlier basic blackjack tips sections.

What You Need to Know About the Term Soft Hand

A soft blackjack hand will always include an Ace. As an example, an Ace and a 5 will give you a soft 16. You can draw another car,d knowing you can use your Ace as a 1 or 11. An example would be holding a soft 16 and drawing a 10. You would use your ace as a 1, keeping your hand safe and giving you a further opportunity to hit or stand. Alternatively, you may have the soft 16 and hit. If you get a 2,3,4 or,5, then you have automatically improved your hand. Soft 16 – Ace + 5 + 2 = 18 Soft 16 – Ace + 5 + 3 = 19 Soft 16 – Ace + 5 + 4 = 20 Soft 16 – Ace + 5 + 5 = 21 Remember, playing soft hands depends on the dealer’s hand as well.

What does the Dealer Have to Hit On in Blackjack?

Different casinos may have different rules, but the common rule is that the dealer will have to hit on anything lower than 17. The most common question we get from players is does a blackjack dealer have to hit on 16? The clearest answer from our Blackjack experts is: yes, they usually do. From the players’ perspective, the hand you want to see the dealer hold is 15 or 16, as they have to hit. This means the hand has a higher opportunity to bust. Most casinos and online live dealer blackjack games will have the dealer stand if hitting 17. If a dealer hits a hard 17 (e.g, 10-7 or 9-8), then they have to stand. If the dealer has a soft 17 (e.g., Ace – 6), then the rules are different depending on the casino platform you are playing on. Some will treat thissimilarlyr to a hard 1,7 and the rule will be for the dealer to stand. However, a small number of casinos will allow the dealer to hit. This increases the house edge by giving the dealer another chance. If the dealer hits a 2,3 or 4, then his/her hand has improved significantly.

Strategy for Playing Hard Hands at the Table

We have talked about some of the more common terminology in relation to when to hit or stand in blackjack. One of the core Blackjack strategies to learn is how to read charts. There are three main charts that you should familiarize yourself with, these are:

• Hard totals chart – This chart will help you make solid decisions on whether to hit or stand,d depending on thedealer’ss upcar.d
• Soft totals chart – In this chart, you look at the opposite. What should your strategy be when you have a soft hand (Ace included), and the dealer has a specific upcard?d
• Split pairs chart – Splitting pairs is not always beneficial. This chart will guide you depending on your pair and thedealer’ss upcar.d

If you find this advanced blackjack betting strategy interesting, our experts have put together a full guide on how to usethe blackjack hand chart strategy.

The Etiquette of Hitting or Standing in Blackjack

Blackjack is a game of etiquette. Your decision to take a card can affect the players coming after you. Let’s look at three scenarios where this might happen and what common blackjack best practice ares.

Protector of the “Bust Card” (The Anchor Seat)

The player sitting in the last seat (the “Anchor”) is often blamed for the dealer’s results.

• The Scenario: You have a 12 to 16 (a “hard” hand). The dealer is showing a 5 or 6 (a “bust” card).
• The Sacrifice: You Stand, even if you feel a “hunch” to hit.
• The Logic: Other players believe that by standing, you are leaving the “bust card” (a 10 or Face card) at the top of the deck for the dealer to draw, causing the dealer to bust and the whole table to win.

Avoiding the “Table-Killer” Card

If the players before you have high bets out or have doubled down, they are looking for specific cards to stay alive.

• The Scenario: You have a Soft 18 (Ace-7). The dealer shows a 9. Blackjack strategy says you should hit.
• The Sacrifice: You Stand.
• The Logic: The player after you may fear you’ll take a 2 or 3, which the dealer needs for a bust hand. Alternatively, you may draw a 10 that they need for their double down. Best bet is to stand and let the high-rollers’ cards fall as they may.

The “Don’t Take the Ten” Rule

This happens most often when a player has a “power hand” like a Split or a Double Down.

• The Scenario: You have a 12. The dealer shows a 4. The player next to you has Split Aces.
• The Sacrifice: You Stand.
• The Logic: Since there are more 10-value cards in the deck than any other card, the table assumes the next card is a 10. If you “take” it by hitting your 12, and the player with the Split Aces gets a 2 instead, they (and the rest of the table) will likely blame you for “taking their card.” This is a clear piece of good etiquette on your part.

Related Guides

As well as reading this guide on when to hit or stand in blackjack, you should also learn other blackjack strategies,s such as bankroll management, how to count cards, and learning blackjack charts to understand all hand variations.s

Responsible Gambling

In any form of gambling, it is important to play responsibly. One way to do this is have a betting bank. This is money that you can afford to lose and does not impact your day-to-day living. Gambling can become compulsive, so if you feel that you are showing signs of this, then the links below can be of help. You can also read our own ReadWrite responsible gambling guide to help as well.

• National Council on Problem Gambling
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Gam Anon

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