Blackjack Hands
In the world of casino gaming, few experiences match the thrill and strategic depth of a good Blackjack game. Whether you're sitting at a felt-covered table in Las Vegas or enjoying a round of online Blackjack from the comfort of your home, understanding the nuances of different Blackjack hands is crucial to your success.
Before we dive into the intricacies of Blackjack hands, it's worth noting that we have a comprehensive Blackjack guide covers basic and advanced rules and strategies for playing Blackjack, both sigle deck and multi-hand variants. Additionally, for those interested in the mathematical aspects of the game, we also offer a dedicated page exploring probabilities and expected value in Blackjack. These resources can provide valuable context as we explore the various hands you might encounter during play.
The Anatomy of Blackjack Hands
In Blackjack, the hands you're dealt significantly impact your chances of winning. Understanding how to play each hand optimally is the key to reducing the house edge and maximizing your potential returns. Let's explore the spectrum of Blackjack hands, from the best to the worst, and examine the crucial distinction between soft and hard hands.
Best Blackjack Hands: The Cream of the Crop
Natural Blackjack: The Holy Grail
The ultimate hand in any Blackjack game is the "natural" Blackjack - a combination of an Ace and a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King) as your initial two cards. This powerhouse hand typically offers the highest payout, usually 3:2 or even 2:1 in some generous Blackjack variations. For instance, if you're playing online Blackjack with a $10 bet and hit a natural Blackjack with a 3:2 payout, you'd win $15 on top of your original bet.
However, it's important to remember that even a natural Blackjack doesn't guarantee a win. If the dealer also has a Blackjack, the result is a "push," and you'll simply get your original bet back. This scenario underscores the importance of understanding Blackjack rules and probabilities.
Other Strong Starting Hands
- Pair of 10s: This hand, totaling 20, wins approximately 80% of the time. Despite the temptation to split, basic Blackjack strategy usually recommends standing pat with this powerful hand. The only way to lose is if the dealer hits 21 or also has 20 and you're playing under rules where the dealer wins ties.
- Hard 11: Any two-card combination totaling 11 (like 6-5 or 7-4) is a strong starting point. With a nearly 1 in 3 chance of drawing a 10-value card to make 21, doubling down is often the optimal play. The exception is when the dealer shows an Ace, which threatens a natural Blackjack.
- Pair of Aces: This flexible hand can be played as either 2 or 12. Most Blackjack strategies recommend splitting these Aces against any dealer upcard. This gives you two chances to draw a 10-value card and make 21.
- Hard 10: Similar to hard 11, a starting hand of 10 (like 6-4 or 5-5) is strong. Doubling down is often recommended, especially if the dealer's upcard is 9 or lower.
Worst Blackjack Hands: The Challenging Ones
The Hard 16
Statistically, a hard 16 (like 10-6 or 9-7) is the worst hand for a player. It's too high to hit comfortably but often too low to stand successfully, especially if the dealer shows a strong upcard like 7 through Ace. The hand becomes particularly problematic when the dealer shows a 10, as you're in a lose-lose situation: hitting risks an immediate bust, while standing gives the dealer a strong chance to win with any card 5 or higher.
With a hard 16 against a dealer's 10, some Blackjack variations allow surrendering, where you give up half your bet and end the hand immediately. If surrender isn't an option, basic strategy usually recommends hitting, accepting the risk of busting to give yourself a chance to improve your hand.
The Trouble Trio: 13, 14, and 15
These hard hands (13-15) are also challenging, though slightly less perilous than 16. They're prone to busting if you hit but often too low to stand confidently. They become particularly weak hands when the dealer shows a 7 or higher.
Strategy Tip: Against dealer upcards of 2-6, stand with these hands. The dealer has a decent chance of busting when drawing to these lower cards. Against dealer 7-Ace, basic Blackjack strategy recommends hitting, despite the risk of busting.
Remember, even with these difficult hands, there's always hope. The dealer might bust, especially with lower upcards like 4, 5, or 6 showing. Understanding the dealer's probabilities is a key part of mastering Blackjack strategy.
Soft Hands vs. Hard Hands: A Crucial Distinction
One of the most important concepts to grasp when learning to play Blackjack is the difference between soft and hard hands. This distinction significantly impacts your strategic decisions during play.
Soft Hands: Flexibility is Key
A soft hand contains an Ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11 without the hand going over 21. For example:
- Ace-6 is a soft 17 (can be played as 7 or 17)
- Ace-3 is a soft 14 (can be played as 4 or 14)
Soft hands are generally preferred because they offer more flexibility. You can always hit a soft hand without the risk of immediately busting, as the Ace can switch from 11 to 1 if needed.
Strategy for Soft Hands
- Often involves more aggressive play, including doubling down when the dealer shows weak upcards (particularly 5 or 6)
- With soft 18, stand against dealer 2-8, hit against 9-Ace
- With soft 13-17, always hit unless doubling down is the better option
Let’s say you are dealt Ace-5 (soft 16) and the dealer shows a 6. Basic strategy recommends doubling down here. If you draw a 10, you have 16 and the dealer is in a weak position. If you draw a small card, you still can't bust and have improved your hand.
Hard Hands: Proceed with Caution
A hard hand is any hand without an Ace, or where the Ace must be counted as 1 to avoid busting. For instance:
- 10-7 is a hard 17
- 8-9 is a hard 17
- Ace-6-10 is a hard 17 (the Ace must be counted as 1)
Hard hands are riskier because they have a higher chance of busting when hitting.
Strategy for Hard Hands
- For hard 8 or lower, always hit
- For hard 17 or higher, generally stand
- With hard 9, 10, or 11, consider doubling down against dealer's 3-6
Imagine you are dealt 7-8 (hard 15) and the dealer shows a 10. Despite the risk of busting, basic strategy recommends hitting. The dealer's strong upcard means standing is likely to lose, so you need to try to improve your hand.
Navigating Tricky Situations: Strategy for Difficult Hands
Even armed with knowledge about hand types and basic strategy, you'll often face challenging decisions in Blackjack. Let's explore some common difficult situations and how to approach them:
Pair of 8s vs. Dealer's Ace
This scenario often confuses new players. You have a pair of 8s (hard 16), typically a splitting hand, but the dealer shows an Ace, threatening a natural Blackjack.
Despite the dealer's strong upcard, the recommended play is still to split. Here's why:
- Starting with 16 against an Ace is a very weak position
- By splitting, you create two hands starting with 8, giving yourself a chance to draw 10-value cards and make strong hands
- Even if you lose both hands, the expected loss is less than playing the 16 as a single hand
Hard 12 vs. Dealer's 3
With a hard 12 against a dealer's 3, you're in a tight spot. Hitting risks an immediate bust with any 10-value card, but standing leaves you with a weak hand.
Basic strategy recommends hitting in this situation. While you risk busting, the dealer's 3 isn't strong enough to justify standing on such a low total. By hitting, you give yourself a chance to improve your hand significantly.
Soft 18 vs. Dealer's 9, 10, or Ace
Many players automatically stand on 18, but with a soft 18 against strong dealer upcards, this isn't always correct.
The recommended strategy would be:
- Against a dealer's 9, hit your soft 18
- Against a dealer's 10 or Ace, hit if double down isn't allowed; if double down is allowed, double against a 10 and hit against an Ace
The reasoning is that 18 often won't be good enough to win against these strong dealer upcards, so you need to try to improve your hand.
Conclusion: Knowledge is Power in Blackjack
Understanding the various types of Blackjack hands and how to play them optimally is crucial for any serious player. Whether you're playing traditional Blackjack in a brick-and-mortar casino or enjoying online Blackjack from home, this knowledge forms the foundation of strong Blackjack strategy.
Remember, while these guidelines are based on mathematical probabilities, Blackjack is still a game of chance. No strategy can guarantee wins every time.
For those looking to dive deeper into Blackjack strategy, don't forget to check out our detailed Blackjack guide and our page on probabilities and expected value in Blackjack. These resources can help you further refine your skills and understanding of this classic casino game.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or just learning the ropes, mastering the art of playing different Blackjack hands can significantly enhance your enjoyment of the game and potentially improve your outcomes. So next time you sit down to play Blackjack, online or in person, you'll be well-equipped to make informed decisions no matter what cards you're dealt.