What Is Pip Value in Blackjack?

Blackjack is a popular casino game played around the world. It is a game of skill and strategy, where players aim to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21.

One important concept in blackjack is pip value. Pip value refers to the value of each card in the game. In this article, we will discuss what pip value is and how it affects your gameplay.

Firstly, let us define what pips are. Pips are the small symbols or numbers on the face of a playing card that indicates its rank or value.

In blackjack, cards from 2 to 10 have their face value; meaning that a 2 of hearts has a pip value of 2, a 3 of spades has a pip value of 3, and so on. Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) have a pip value of 10 each. The Ace card can be counted as either 1 or 11 depending on what works best for your hand.

Now that we know what pips are let us understand how they affect our gameplay in blackjack.

In blackjack, players aim to get as close to 21 as possible without going over it while also having a higher hand than the dealer’s hand. Each player is dealt two cards at the start of the game; these two cards determine if you hit (ask for another card) or stand (keep your current hand). The pip values on these two cards determine whether you should hit or stand.

For instance, if you have an Ace and an eight in your initial hand, you can count your Ace as either one or eleven (whichever works best for you). This means that your total pip count would be nine or nineteen respectively (Ace = one/eleven + eight = eight). If your total pip count equals twenty-one after adding up all your cards’ values in hand, you have achieved blackjack and win immediately unless tied with the dealer’s hand.

If you have a pip value of 17 or more, it is best to stand as the chances of going over 21 with another hit are high. If your pip value is less than 17, it is best to ask for another card (hit) to increase your chances of getting closer to 21. However, be careful not to go over 21 as this results in an automatic loss.

Pip value also affects the dealer’s gameplay. In most blackjack games, the dealer must hit until they reach a total pip value of at least 17.

Once they reach that number, they must stand. This rule means that if you have a pip value of more than 17 when playing against the dealer, you should stand unless your hand has an Ace accounted for (Ace + six/seven/eight/nine = soft seventeen/eighteen/nineteen/twenty).

In conclusion, understanding pip value in blackjack is essential to winning and developing sound game strategy. Knowing when to hit or stand based on your pip count can make all the difference between winning and losing a game. So next time you play blackjack, pay attention to those pips and use them to your advantage!