Knowing when to hit in blackjack is fundamental to minimizing losses and maximizing wins. This decision depends on your hand total, the dealer’s upcard, and the specific rules of the game. Making consistent, mathematically sound choices is the core of basic strategy.
While intuition might suggest playing it safe, optimal play often requires hitting on hands that feel risky. This article explains the logic behind hitting decisions and provides clear guidelines based on statistical outcomes.
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Hard hands contain no ace or an ace counted as 1. For totals of 8 or lower, always hit regardless of the dealer’s card. With 9, hit unless the dealer shows 3–6, where doubling is preferred. For 10 or 11, double if possible; otherwise, hit unless you have 11 and the dealer shows an ace.
At 12, hitting depends on the dealer’s upcard. If the dealer shows 2 or 3, hit. If showing 4–6, stand. For 13–16, stand against 2–6, hit against 7–A. Always hit on 17 or lower unless you have a soft hand.
Soft hands include an ace counted as 11. These are more flexible. With soft 13–17, always hit. With soft 18, hit if the dealer shows 9, 10, or ace. Stand against 2–8, and double against 3–6 in some strategies.
Soft 19 and 20 should almost always stand. Hitting these hands risks reducing them to weaker totals. The only exception is in rare rule variations where doubling is allowed on more than two cards.
The dealer’s visible card is critical in deciding when to hit. Cards 2–6 are weak for the dealer, increasing their bust probability. When the dealer shows these, players should stand more often, even on lower totals like 12–16.
When the dealer shows 7–A, their chance of making a strong hand increases. In these cases, players must hit more aggressively to improve their own hand, even if it risks busting. This risk is justified by long-term expected value.
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