EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BLACKJACK HANDS

How can blackjack players know which combination of cards requires a specific action? Which are the best and worst blackjack hands, and how can you deal with them? How does the dealer’s face up-card factor into your decision?

Should you be wondering about any of the above, rest assured that we’ll be revealing everything you need to know in this post! Although there are many strategy charts out there available for players, but each circumstance can result in an unexpected outcome.

If you are going to pick a strategy, you should keep it and stick with it throughout the whole game. This is primarily what we’ll advocate in this article — no need to learn some complicated card counting system.

THE BEST AND WORST BLACKJACK HANDS IN A SINGLE-DECK GAME

Although all hands are subject to how the player deals with them and the dealer’s hole card, these are the most favourable hands that you can draw:

• Blackjack vs ace or any non-ten-value card
• Hard 20 vs seven
• Hard 20 vs 8
• Total of 19
• Total of 18
• Total of 11

Such hands are great tools to win, granted that you are capable of making the correct decision every time. If you follow a basic blackjack strategy, you shouldn’t have any problem landing a win with these hands. Of course, paying attention to the dealer’s hand at all times is imperative.

TYPES OF HANDS IN BLACKJACK

In the game of blackjack, players encounter a diverse array of hands, each with its own set of challenges and strategic considerations. Understanding the nuances of these different hand types is essential for making informed decisions at the blackjack table. Let’s explore the various types of hands that can be dealt and the implications each holds for players.

1. Natural Blackjack: A natural blackjack, also known as a “blackjack” or a “natural 21,” is the most coveted hand in the game. It consists of an ace and a ten card (10, jack, queen, or king) as the initial two cards. Achieving a natural blackjack results in an immediate win for the player, unless the dealer also has a natural, leading to a push.
2. Hard Hands: Hard hands are those that do not contain an ace or contain an ace valued as 1. These hands lack the flexibility of soft hands and present a more straightforward decision-making process. Players must carefully consider their total point value and the dealer’s upcard to determine the optimal move.
3. Soft Hands: Soft hands include an ace that can be valued as either 1 or 11. This duality offers players flexibility and strategic advantages. Soft hands are crucial for implementing advanced strategies like doubling down and hitting without the risk of busting.
4. Pairs: When a player is dealt two cards of the same rank (for example, two 7s or two jacks), they have a pair. Pairs open up the opportunity for splitting, where the player can separate the cards into two hands, each with its own bet. This increases the chances of achieving two winning hands.
5. Bust Hands: A bust hand occurs when the total point value of the cards exceeds 21. This results in an automatic loss for the player, regardless of the dealer’s hand. Understanding when a hand is at risk of busting is crucial for effective decision-making, especially for hard hands.
6. Soft Doubles: Soft doubles involve doubling down on a soft hand, typically when the player has an Ace and a lower-value card. This strategic move aims to capitalise on the potential for improvement without the risk of busting, as the Ace’s value can be adjusted as needed.
7. Surrender Hands: Surrendering is a strategic option that allows a player to forfeit their half bet and end the round if they believe their chances of winning are slim. Knowing when to surrender is an advanced tactic that can help minimise losses in unfavourable situations, especially with hard hands.

SOFT HANDS IN BLACKJACK

Having an ace means you have a soft hand. In blackjack, an ace is crucial because it can boost your total depending on your present situation. Possessing a soft hand implies that you can’t bust by hitting. Why? Because the value can be changed anytime! As you can’t lose by hitting, many players target soft hands for doubling down. It is one of the best strategies.

Having that in mind, let’s focus on some possible soft blackjack hand card combinations that may arise when playing the game.

For example, if you have an ace and a three, that is a soft fourteen. Let’s say the dealer possesses a strong upcard, and so you decide to boost your hand by hitting. You get dealt an 8; however, instead of busting, you can opt to change the ace value to one. As you can see, the Ace is very important when playing blackjack. It is undoubtedly the most powerful card in the game, offering you flexibility for your hand’s total.

HOW TO PLAY SOFT HANDS IN BLACKJACK

Let’s say that you’ve been dealt an ace and a two, a soft thirteen. Regardless of the dealer’s up-card, the general consensus is that you should not stand on a soft 13. It’s not the best idea to stand on anything that is a soft hand from 13 to 17. So, you can take advantage of that ace and hit for a better position. Unless, the dealer has a 4, 5 or 6 up-card!

You should double down if you have a soft 13 to 18, and the dealer has a 5 or 6 up-card. You do this because there’s a good chance that the upcoming dealer’s card makes them bust. Therefore, it would be a wise decision to try to maximise your chances of profit, as you may well improve your hand.

EXAMPLES OF SOFT HANDS IN BLACKJACK

Here are a few examples of soft hands in this card game.

1. Ace-6 (Soft 17)
2. Ace-2-4 (Soft 17)
3. Ace-8 (Soft 19)
4. Ace-Ace (Soft 12 or Soft 2)
5. Ace-3-3 (Soft 17)
6. Ace-5 (Soft 16)

HARD HANDS IN BLACKJACK

Hard hands are those that don’t include an ace, or those that include an ace that has to be counted as 1, because if not, the overall value would exceed 21. These hands are regarded as disadvantageous and are risky because you can bust by hitting.

For example, if you get a hand like six and seven, you have a hard thirteen, and there is a high probability of busting if you hit.

The methodology for how to play a hard blackjack hand doesn’t pertain to low hand values whose total is below 11 since they can be improved without busting; hence no risk is involved. In fact, the best strategy in such cases is to hit, no matter the dealer’s upcard.

HOW TO PLAY HARD HANDS IN BLACKJACK

Basic strategy fully covers how hard hands should be played. The initial trick to getting started is to always think about the dealer. Assume they possess ten-value cards in the hole. That is to say, you should add 10 to every number that the dealer shows you. This will help you to estimate their total.

So, you should hit your hard hands till you either reach 17 or beat that total. Obviously, it is challenging to either hit a hard hand 17 or hit a hard hand of 18, 19, or 20.

The higher your total, the higher the probability that you’ll bust if you continue to hit, so you should stand on them in all the incidences. hit, so you should stand on them in all the incidences.

Lastly, when playing a hard blackjack hand, you should consider hitting when you have hard totals of 15 or 16 versus the dealer’s 10.

EXAMPLES OF HARD HANDS IN BLACKJACK

Here are a few examples of hard hands in this card game.

1. 10-6 (Hard 16)
2. 9-7 (Hard 16)
3. King-5 (Hard 15)
4. 8-8 (Hard 16)
5. 7-4 (Hard 11)
6. Queen-3 (Hard 13)
7. Ace-8 (Hard 19)

BASIC STRATEGY FOR HARD AND SOFT BLACKJACK HANDS

Although professional gamblers breeze through blackjack variants, playing blackjack can definitely be confusing for a novice. Novices aren’t certain which type of hand is best for their situation and they end up with more misplayed hands than winning ones. So, if you’re a novice, take heed; soft hands are much better for players. Why? Because they offer flexibility, allowing a greater ability for players to change their card total and achieve a strong value compared to the dealer’s upcard.

Always remember, a player cannot bust with a soft blackjack hand just by taking a third card from the deck. When you are dealt an Ace, no matter what else you have with it, it is not possible to bust with the third card because you can simply change the value of the Ace to one if you get dealt a card higher than a seven. In this situation, your soft hand will get back to the hard hand, allowing you to proceed to play in relation to the basic strategy.

BASIC STRATEGY CHARTS FOR SELECTED BLACKJACK HANDS

A basic strategy chart can be a valuable tool to win in blackjack games. It can be extremely beneficial for you to consult a chart, since it will provide you the best chances to beat the dealer and keep the house edge to a minimum.

Should you draw an additional card or stand to see if the dealer busts? This chart will guide you as best as charts can! That said, you should make sure to know all the blackjack rules as well as your game’s rules, which include rules about when the dealer stands and when the dealer hits.

Here’s a table detailing how hard hands must be played.

Player’s Hand	Dealer’s Upcard	Optimal Action
8 or less	Any	Hit
9	3, 4, 5, 6	Double Down
9	2, 7, 8, 9, 10, A	Hit
10	2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Double Down
10	10, J, Q, K, A	Hit
11	2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Double Down
11	7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A	Hit
12	4, 5, 6	Stand
12	2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A	Hit

Here’s how soft hands must be played.

Player’s Hand	Dealer’s Upcard	Optimal Action
Ace-2, Ace-3	5, 6	Double Down
Ace-4, Ace-5	4, 5, 6	Double Down
Ace-6	3, 4, 5, 6	Double Down
Ace-6	2, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A	Hit
Ace-7	3, 4, 5, 6	Double Down
Ace-7	2, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A	Stand
Ace-8, Ace-9	Any	Stand

BLACKJACK DRAW BETWEEN PLAYER AND DEALER

In the game of blackjack, a draw between the player and the dealer, often referred to as a “push” or a “tie,” occurs when both parties end up with the same total hand value. This scenario has specific implications for both the player’s wager and the progression of the game. Understanding the dynamics of a draw in blackjack is crucial for players to navigate the outcomes effectively.

1. Definition of a Draw: A draw occurs when the player and the dealer have hands of equal value, commonly known as a tie. This usually involves both parties having the same total point value without either going over 21, or else, they would immediately lose.
2. Impact on the Player’s Wager: When a draw occurs, the player’s original wager is returned. Essentially, the player neither wins nor loses money in this situation. While it doesn’t contribute to the player’s profits, it also prevents any losses, maintaining the status quo.
3. Effect on the Game Progression: A draw does not impact the overall progress of the game. Instead, it results in the commencement of a new round, allowing both the player and the dealer to receive new cards and continue the game.
4. No Blackjack Payout: In a draw, where both the player and the dealer have a total of 21 but not a natural blackjack, there is no additional payout. Payouts are typically reserved for scenarios where a player achieves a natural blackjack or beats the dealer without exceeding 21.
5. Insurance Bet in Case of Dealer Blackjack: If the player has taken an insurance bet and the dealer ends up with a blackjack, the player loses insurance bet but is refunded their original bet due to the draw. Although not exactly a side bet, the insurance bet helps mitigate potential losses for the player.

HOW TO MATCH BLACKJACK HANDS AGAINST THE DEALER’S FACE-UP CARD?

In blackjack, one of the critical aspects of strategic decision-making is understanding how to evaluate your own hand in relation to the dealer’s up card.

• Evaluate Your Hand: Begin by assessing the total value of your own hand. Distinguish between soft hands (those containing an ace) and hard hands (those without an ace or where aces count as 1 to avoid busting).
• Consider the Dealer’s up-card: The dealer’s face-up card is a crucial factor in determining your strategy. Categorize the dealer’s card into three ranges: weak (2 through 6), neutral (7 through 9), and strong (10, J, Q, K, A).
• Pairs and Splitting: If you are dealt a pair, the decision to split the initial hand into two separate hands depends on the dealer’s card. In general, you might consider splitting pairs of same-value cards, especially 8s and splitting aces against weaker dealer upcards. Split aces work well since a blackjack occurs whenever a ten card is drawn after that — no matter what the dealer card is.
• Adapt to the Game Context: Although you should always trust basic strategy, keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and specific decisions may vary based on the exact composition of your hand, the number of decks in play, and house rules. There are rule variations out there, so make sure to keep them in mind.

HOW TO PLAY BLACKJACK HANDS IN AN ONLINE CASINO?

Playing a blackjack game in most casinos is pretty straightforward. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to play a blackjack casino game:

1. Go for a Legitimate Online Casino: Most casinos that have a licence from an esteemed gaming authority are perfectly capable of hosting your casino play.
2. Create an Account: Register for an account on the chosen online casino platform. Provide accurate details during the registration process, and choose a secure password.
3. Check out their Blackjack Tables: Once logged in, navigate to the blackjack section of the online casino. Decide whether you want a single-deck variant, a double-deck game or a six-deck game, and choose from the available options.
4. Consult the Rules: Whether you’re playing single-player blackjack or a live variant, make sure to know the betting limits (if any), the dealer rules, the house edge and any particular house rules. If you enjoy blackjack side bets, check out if the variant you selected offers a good variety.
5. Claim a Bonus: Take advantage of bonuses and promotions offered by the online casino. These may include welcome bonuses, deposit bonuses, or promotions specific to blackjack.
6. Start Playing: All that’s left is to play! Keep basic strategy in mind and try to beat the dealer!