Now you know how the rules work you’re almost ready to start playing. Before you join a table, it’s a good idea to brush up on some basic Blackjack strategy. You don’t have to follow these rules, but they will help you to increase the chances of winning. We’ve listed a few eg. of when to perform each action to help give you improved odds when you play Blackjack
Knowing when to hit
You should take a hit in Blackjack if any of the following is true:
- Your hand is between eight and twelve, and the dealer’s upcard is a seven, eight, nine, ten, or Ace.
- Your hand value is eleven, and the dealer has an Ace.
- You have a total of ten, and the dealer’s card is showing a ten.
- Your hand has a value of nine and the dealer has a seven, eight, or nine shows.
Knowing when to stand
You should stand if any of the following is true:
- Your hand totals seventeen or above.
- You have a total of thirteen or above, and the dealer’s upcard is a six or below.
- You have a pair of tens or face cards. You might be tempted to split them, but it’s much better to stand.
Knowing when to double down
You should double down if any of the following is true:
- Your hand value is at eleven, and the dealer doesn’t have an Ace as the upcard.
- You have a total of ten, and the dealer doesn’t have an Ace or a ten.
- You have a hard nine or ten, and the dealer has a three, four, five, or six upcard.
Knowing when to split
You should ideally split your pairs if any of the following are true:
- Split twos or three if the dealer has an upcard between four and seven.
- Sixes or sevens can be split if the dealer has a six or below shows.
- Always split eights no matter what upcard the dealer has.
- You have a pair of Aces and the rules allow for them to be split.
Knowing when to surrender
Surrendering isn’t always accepted at every casino, but if it is, you can choose to surrender if any of the following is true:
- You have a sixteen that’s not made of a pair of eights, and the dealer has a nine, ten, or Ace.
- You have a hand value of fifteen, and the dealer has an upcard with a value of ten.
Now you know most of the rules and Blackjack Strategy, now you can hit the table and start winning.
