What Does the House Have to Hit on in Blackjack?

Blackjack is a popular casino game known for its simplicity and the thrill it provides to players. In the game, the player’s goal is to beat the dealer by having a hand value higher than that of the dealer but not exceeding 21. However, many players wonder what does the house have to hit on in Blackjack?

To understand what the house has to hit on, we first need to understand some basic rules of Blackjack. In a standard game of Blackjack, the house or dealer must follow certain rules based on their hand value.

If the dealer’s hand value is less than 17, they must hit until they reach a total of 17 or more. This rule is known as ‘Dealer Hits Soft 17.’ A soft hand refers to any hand that contains an Ace which can be counted as either 1 or 11.

For example, if the dealer’s up card is an Ace and their hole card is a six, their total hand value would be seven or seventeen. If they choose to count the Ace as eleven, their total would be seventeen. However, since this is a soft total, they must continue hitting until they reach at least seventeen.

On the other hand, if the dealer’s up card is a ten-value card (10, J, Q, K), and their hole card makes their total less than 17 (known as ‘hard 17’), then they must hit until they reach at least seventeen.

Once the dealer reaches a total of at least seventeen (or higher), they must stand and cannot take any more cards. This rule gives players an advantage because if you have a high-value hand and stand while the dealer busts (exceeding twenty-one), you win automatically.

It’s important to note that different variations of Blackjack may have different rules regarding when the dealer hits or stands. Therefore it’s crucial to read and understand all rules before playing any variant of Blackjack.

In conclusion, the house must hit until they reach a total of at least seventeen in Blackjack. The rules for hitting or standing vary based on the dealer’s hand value, and it’s important to understand these rules before playing any variation of the game. By understanding these rules, players can better strategize and increase their chances of winning.