Is There a 5 Card Rule in Blackjack?

It is often said that the key to winning at blackjack is to follow the “5 card rule”. This rule is simple – never hit on a hand of 5 cards or more.

The logic behind this rule is that it is very unlikely to improve your hand by drawing additional cards, so you should always stand on a hand of 5 cards or more. While this rule may seem straightforward, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, the 5 card rule only applies to hard hands, or hands that do not contain an ace. This is because an ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, so it is possible to improve your hand by drawing additional cards.

For example, if you have a hand of Ace-4-5-6-7, you would not hit because you already have a hard 17. However, if you have a hand of Ace-6-7-8-9, you would hit because you have a soft 17 and there is a good chance you can improve your hand by drawing an additional card.

Second, the 5 card rule only applies to hands that do not contain a pair. This is because pairs can be split into two separate hands, which gives you a better chance of winning.

For example, if you have a hand of Ace-4-5-6-7 and the dealer has an Ace showing, you would not hit because you already have a hard 17. However, if you have a pair of 8s and the dealer has an Ace showing, you would split your pairs because there is a good chance you can get two winning hands out of the split.

Third, the 5 card rule does not apply to all blackjack games. Some blackjack variants use different rules and payouts, so it is important to know what game you are playing before using this rule.

For example, in Spanish 21 blackjack all player hands of 21 are automatic winners regardless of how many cards they contain. In this case, it would be beneficial to hit on a hand of 21 instead of standing.

The bottom line is that the 5 card rule is a good general guideline to follow when playing blackjack. However, there are some exceptions to this rule and it is important to know when these exceptions apply.