When Should You Hit & Stand in Blackjack?

The authentic casino table game Blackjack is widely played across both land casinos and online. While Blackjack lovers can today enjoy this fascinating game in various innovative formats, not much has changed in the rules and the strategies. It is the decisions that players ultimately make at the table which decides the outcome to be a win or loss. Among other pertinent decisions that you need to take when playing, to hit and stand in Blackjack on your hand makes for one of the most important. Hitting or standing is a skill that can make your game effective.

The meaning of hit and stand in Blackjack

There are two options that you have, i.e. either to hit and stand in Blackjack. Now hitting your hand means that you are expecting an additional card from the dealer. In Blackjack games where multiple decks are used, players tap the table to indicate a hit. In games played with a single or double card deck, players scrape the corner of the cards on the table near you to communicate to the dealer that you wish to hit. Each card received from the dealer is on a hit and you cannot hit your hand for 2 cards. Each time you hit you receive one card and may choose to re-hit or stand otherwise.

To stand on the other hand means that you are satisfied with your total in hand and do need any additional cards. This can be indicated to the dealer by sliding your cards under your original bet in a single or double deck game; in a multi-deck game, simply wave your hand at the dealer. A hit is recommended when you want to improve your hand to a total of 19.

Experts suggest that you assume the dealer to have hidden a ten in the hole which is hidden from you. Players never get to know the value of this card until it is revealed. With more number of 10s in a card deck, it is most likely that the hidden card has a value of 10. Thus, every decision that you make at the Blackjack table is mostly predicted based on the assumption that the dealer has hidden a ten in the hole. This means that each time you wish to predict the dealer’s total, simply add to his face up card.

Why do players hit and stand in Blackjack? The Deviations

The main reason why players stand is that they believe that their total will beat the dealer’s total or they believe that the dealer will bust. Standing for any other reason could lead to a failure. The game of Blackjack is premised on mathematical principles and even dealer’s need to follow the basic rules and hit when it’s 16 or less and stand on 17 or more.  

There are a few occasions when you can hit and stand in Blackjack. For instance, if the dealer shows a 10, you must hit a total of 16 and that’s because you assume the dealer has a 10 in the hole. This will give your dealer a total of 20 and you might lose this hand despite hitting or standing. In rare cases, hoping for the best you might actually improve your hand.

Expert Blackjack players suggest hitting a soft 17 with a hand that consists of an Ace and 6 will only improve it and not bust it. The other is to hit a hard 12 though only seasoned players can do this with expertise.

Playing more sessions of Blackjack and practising different ways could improve your overall game to help you hit and stand in Blackjack perfectly.