When it comes to playing blackjack, there are a few common scenarios that every player should be familiar with. Two of these scenarios involve whether to hit or stand on certain hands, and whether or not to split pairs. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at two specific situations that often leave players scratching their heads: hitting 12 against a dealer’s 3, and not splitting 8s against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace.
Let’s start with the first scenario: hitting 12 against a dealer’s 3. This is a hand that many players struggle with because it feels counterintuitive to hit when you’re already so close to busting. However, the truth is that hitting is actually the better play here – even though it may not seem like it in the short term.
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Why is hitting the better play? Simply put, because in the long run it will save you money compared to standing. To understand why, you need to look at the odds of each outcome.
If you stand on your 12 against a dealer’s 3, there are only four cards that will improve your hand (the four Aces). However, there are eight cards (the four 10s and the four face cards) that will cause you to bust. That means that if you stand on your 12 against a dealer’s 3, you have an expected loss of around $0.29 for every dollar you bet.
On the other hand, if you hit your 12 against a dealer’s 3, you have a chance of improving your hand without immediately busting. Even if you draw one of those eight “busting” cards, there’s still a chance that the dealer will bust as well (since they’re showing a low card). And if you do manage to improve your hand without busting – even just by drawing an Ace or a small card – you give yourself a better chance of winning the hand.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that hitting your 12 against a dealer’s 3 will result in a win. But over time, hitting will save you money compared to standing. In fact, if you play this situation correctly every time, you can expect to save around $0.04 for every dollar you bet.
Now let’s move on to the second scenario: not splitting 8s against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace. This is another situation where players often get tripped up because it feels like you’re giving up a chance to improve your hand. However, in this case, not splitting is actually the better play.
Why is not splitting the better play? There are a few reasons.
First of all, when you have a pair of 8s against a dealer’s strong upcard (9, 10, or Ace), your expected loss per hand is actually lower if you don’t split. That’s because when you split and create two separate hands, each of those hands has a higher chance of losing than if you just played out the original hand as-is.
Secondly, by not splitting your 8s against these strong upcards, you have a chance of winning the hand outright if the dealer busts (which is more likely with these high-value cards). And even if the dealer doesn’t bust and has a strong hand themselves, your original hand still has some value – especially if it includes one or more face cards.
Of course, there are some situations where splitting 8s is the correct play – namely when the dealer has a weak upcard (2 through 7). In those cases, splitting gives you two chances to beat the dealer instead of just one. But when facing a strong upcard like 9, 10 or Ace, it’s usually better to just play out your 8s as a single hand.
In conclusion, these two scenarios – hitting 12 against a dealer’s 3, and not splitting 8s against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace – are just two examples of the many strategic decisions you’ll need to make when playing blackjack. By understanding the odds and making the correct play in each situation, you can give yourself the best chance of winning in the long run.
So next time you’re faced with one of these tricky hands, remember: even though you’ll never get rich on 12 against a 3, hitting is still the better play. And when it comes to those pesky 8s against strong upcards, sometimes it’s better to just stick with what you’ve got.
