When Should You Hit in Blackjack?

When to Hit and Stand in Blackjack

Most blackjack players know they should hit when their hand totals less than 17 and stand when it totals more than that. But what if you have a soft hand, one with an Ace counting as 11 points? What if the dealer is showing a 7? Is it time to panic?

Here are some guidelines to help you make the right decision when to hit and stand in blackjack.

Hard Hands

With a hard hand, one where the Ace is counted as 1 point, you will hit if the hand totals 8 or less, stand if it totals 17 or more, and hit if it totals between 9 and 11 unless the dealer is showing a 7, 10, or Ace. With a 12, you will hit if the dealer is showing a 2 or 3 but stand if the dealer is showing a 4 through 7.

With a 13 through 16, you will hit if the dealer is showing a 7 or higher but stand if the dealer is showing a 2 through 6.

Soft Hands

A soft hand is one where the Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11 points. With a soft 13 or 14, you will hit if the dealer is showing a 5 or 6 but stand if the dealer is showing any other card. With a soft 15 or 16, you will hit if the dealer is showing a 4 through 6 but stand if the dealer is showing any other card.

With a soft 17, you will hit if the dealer is showing an Ace but stand if the dealer is showing any other card. And with a soft 18, you will always stand no matter what card the dealer is showing.

Splitting Pairs

If you are dealt a pair of Aces or 8s, always split them. If you are dealt any other pair except 10s, split them only when the dealer is showing 2 through 7 inclusive.

If you are dealt two 10s, never split them but simply treat them as two separate hands of 20 each and play each one accordingly as described above.

In conclusion, following these simple guidelines will help ensure that you make the right decision when to hit and stand in blackjack most of the time. Of course, no system is perfect and there will always be times when you need to rely on your gut instinct instead.