What Does “Hitting” Mean in Blackjack?
“Hitting” in blackjack is a strategic move where you ask for an additional card from the dealer. This can boost your hand’s value or tip the scales, causing a bust – a situation where the total count of your cards exceeds 21.
By hitting, you take the risk of busting but also the potential of getting a more valuable hand. The dealer’s shown card and your hand’s current total directly influence this crucial decision.
For example, if you have a hand total of 11 or less, a hit becomes an advantageous strategy, as no additional card can cause a bust. Conversely, if the dealer’s card shows a value of 7 or higher, and your hand totals 12 to 16, hitting can be a risky yet necessary step if you want to have any hope of defeating the dealer.
When Should I Hit?
The Cards in Your Hand
The total value of cards in your hand dictates if a hit improves your chances.
- If the total lies within 3 to 11, a hit likely won’t tip you over 21. That’s a safe zone.
- A total of 12 to 16, however, falls in the dubious territory.
The risks spike, but a hit might still be worth it, conditional on the dealer’s card.
Dealer’s Up Card
The card the dealer is showing impacts your hit decision.
- Seeing a 2 or 3 opens a window for a hit if your total spans between 12-16.
- If the dealer shows a 7, 8, 9, 10, or an Ace, it’s generally advisable to hit on a hard 16 or less.
Here, a hit may prove beneficial as the possibility of the dealer having stronger hand peaks.
Hitting on a Hard Hand
A Hard hand doesn’t contain an ace, or the ace counts as 1 due to the total exceeding 21. With a hard hand, extra precaution is advisable when planning a hit.
Hard 12
In blackjack, encountering a hard 12 forces you into a tricky situation.
- Assuming the dealer shows a 2 or 3, it’s typically beneficial for you to hit.
- Conversely, if the dealer holds a 4 through 6, you’re better off standing pat, anticipating the dealer busting.
- For instances where the dealer possesses a 7 or higher, making a hit becomes the favorable move.
Hard 13-16
With a hard 13 to 16, blackjack dictates a nuanced approach.
- If the dealer’s card stands between 2 and 6, stick with your current total.
- Meanwhile, any dealer’s card from 7 upwards calls for a hit from your side.
Smart decision-making in these moments plays a massive role in reducing the house edge in your favor.
Hard 17 and above
Upon receiving a hard 17 or above, your strategy simplifies dramatically. You’re generally advised to stand. A hit at this point risks busting, tipping the game toward the dealer’s favor.
Hitting on a Soft Hand
Soft 13-15
Possessing a soft 13 to 15 hand implies that you’ve got an Ace and a 2 to 4, respectively. Hitting is generally advised as it hands you a chance to tread new total territories without fearing a bust (when the total exceeds 21). For instance, if you draw a 7 with a soft 15, it doesn’t spell bust, 22, but lets you shift to a new total, hard 12.
Soft 16-18
With soft 16 to 18, things get slightly complex. Here, considering the dealer’s up card is paramount. For example,
- If the dealer exhibits lower-value cards (2 to 6), standing could be your best course.
- However, if they showcase upper-value cards (7 and above), hitting is typically advisable.
After all, if that Ace turns into a 1, you won’t be clutching straight bust but hard 16 to 18, still enabling you to continue the game.
Hitting with Pairs
Pair of 5s
Instead of hitting or splitting, consider doubling down, given that your total hand value is 10. For instance,
- If the dealer’s upcard is anything between 2 and 9, you’ve got an advantage.
- On the other hand, if the dealer reveals a 10 or an Ace, it’s generally okay to “hit” your pair of 5s.
Pair of Aces
Always split a pair of Aces in blackjack—that’s a rock-solid rule prevalent among players. Upon splitting, you’re basically setting up two hands, each starting with an Ace, advancing your winning prospects in the given round. Avoid hitting on a pair of Aces, lest you risk moving further away from the ideal 21.
Your Table Position
Being one of the later players enables you to observe others’ moves before planning your own. Contrarily, in the earlier spots, you have fewer insights into the gameplay, necessitating a more cautious approach toward hitting.
When Should You Not Hit in Blackjack?
Dealer’s High Card
When the dealer shows a high card (7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace), they have a strong possibility of reaching a high hand total, possibly even 21. Yet, avoid hitting if your hand’s total is 17 or higher. High odds exist that you’ll go bust (exceed 21) in such cases. Hence, in such a case, stand rather than hit.
Possessing a Hard 19, 20, or 21
Generally, a hard 19, 20, or 21 typically indicates a strong hand. A hard hand means you don’t have an Ace that can be considered as either 1 or 11. So, if your hand’s total is hard 19, hard 20, or hard 21, it’s advisable not to hit.
Blackjack Hitting Strategy Chart
| Your Hand | Dealer’s Upcard | Action |
| 5-8 | 2-10, A | Hit |
| 9 | 2, 7-10, A | Hit |
| 9 | 3-6 | Don’t Hit (Double Down) |
| 10 | 2-9 | Don’t Hit (Double Down) |
| 10 | 10, A | Hit |
| 11 | 2-10 | Don’t Hit (Double Down) |
| 11 | A | Hit |
| 12 | 2-3, 7-10, A | Hit |
| 12 | 4-6 | Don’t Hit (Stand) |
| 13-16 | 2-6 | Don’t Hit (Stand) |
| 13-16 | 7-10, A | Hit |
| 17-21 | Any | Don’t Hit (Stand) |
| Soft 13-14 (A,2-A,3) | 2-4, 7-10, A | Hit |
| Soft 13-14 (A,2-A,3) | 5-6 | Don’t Hit (Double Down) |
| Soft 15-16 (A,4-A,5) | 2-3, 7-10, A | Hit |
| Soft 15-16 (A,4-A,5) | 4-6 | Don’t Hit (Double Down) |
| Soft 17 (A,6) | 2, 7-10, A | Hit |
| Soft 17 (A,6) | 3-6 | Don’t Hit (Double Down) |
| Soft 18 (A,7) | 2-6 | Don’t Hit (Double Down or Stand) |
| Soft 18 (A,7) | 7-8 | Don’t Hit (Stand) |
| Soft 18 (A,7) | 9-10, A | Hit |
| Soft 19-21 (A,8-A,10) | Any | Don’t Hit (Stand) |
Counting Cards and Hitting
Here, you attribute a value of -1 to high cards, +1 to low cards, and zero to neutral cards (7-9). You then start a running count, which adjusts as each card is revealed. If the count is positive after a round, it denotes more low cards have been played, and the remaining deck is high-card rich.
In a situation where the running count is high and high cards dominate the remaining deck, you’re more likely to get a ten or face card. It’s an opportunity to take advantage of despite having a weak hand that might normally prevent you from hitting, like a 12 or 13.
How do different rule sets (like H17 vs. S17) affect when you should hit?
The H17 rule stipulates that the dealer hits when they land on a soft 17. Here, the dealer’s action of hitting a soft 17 bumps up the house edge by approximately 0.2%, and this could alter your decision to hit slightly.
For instance, when the dealer’s up card is a 2 and you’re left with a hard 12, the H17 rule makes it more favorable for you to hit, as it curbs the risk of the dealer obtaining a higher total after hitting their soft 17.
Contrastingly, under the S17 rule, the dealer stands if landing on a soft 17. Compared to the H17 rule, this convention phrases a lower house edge, around a 0.2% decline.
For example, with a hard 16 and the dealer showing an Ace, under the S17 rule, you might decide not to hit. It’s because the chances of the dealer busting are relatively high when they are forbidden from hitting on soft 17.
More about Hitting in Blackjack
Do you hit 12 against 4?
No. Standing is the optimal gambling move here.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that in a 6-deck game, you have a 39.58% chance to bust if you hit on 12 against a dealer’s 4. However, if you stand, the dealer busts 40% of the time.
Also, hitting a 12 against a 4-shift with deck penetration. As the game goes deeper in the deck, it moves more towards hitting instead of standing. But if the game is at the beginning, the move tilts towards standing.
Do You Hit on 13 in Blackjack?
The dealer’s up card typically determines it.
The Dealer Shows a 2 Through 6
If the dealer’s up card is anything from 2 through 6, you are in a strong position. Statistically, the dealer is likely to bust, as outlined by blackjack probability tables. In this scenario, your optimal strategy is to stand for two main reasons.
Firstly, you’re preserving your 13 and allowing the dealer the chance to bust. Secondly, hitting on 13 risks going bust yourself, as eight out of the 13 denominations (7 through Ace) could potentially push your hand over 21.
The Dealer Shows a 7 or Higher
The dealer has a favorable chance of achieving a strong hand (17 – 21). In this case, standing on 13 puts you at significant risk of losing the round. Thus, hitting becomes the optimal strategy—despite the inherent risk of busting—to increase your chances of beating the dealer.
Should you hit 16?
Typically, the dealer’s up card largely dictates the course of action for the player.
If the dealer shows a high card, specifically a 7, 8, 9, 10 face card or an Ace, hitting becomes the most optimal option. This choice arises from the high probability for the dealer, with a 7 or above, to total a hand of 17 or higher, thus potentially overcoming a player’s 16. In contrast, if the dealer’s up card is a 6 or lower, standing is a strategically sound approach. These low dealer cards are likely to lead to a dealer bust, securing a win for the player.
H17 rules favor hitting on a 16, as the possibility of the dealer busting increases. On the contrary, S17 rules lean more towards standing on a 16, particularly with a dealer-up card of 2 to 6.
Risks and Rewards of Hitting in Blackjack
Rewards
- Opportunity to build a Stronger Hand: Hitting wisely can also profit your game, letting you build a stronger hand than the dealer’s. If the dealer’s upcard is strong, say a 10, and you have a weak hand, say anywhere between 12 and 16, the chances increase that the dealer may end up with a higher total.
- Reduces the House Edge: Sound-hitting decisions can lower the house edge. By adhering to a basic blackjack strategy that recommends when to hit or stand, you can reduce the house advantage to less than 0.5%. It’s a way of turning the odds in your favor.
Risks
- Might lead you to a Bust: If the total value of the hand crosses 21, you lose the bet instantly without any recourse.
- Wrong moves increase the House Edge: House edge in blackjack normally fluctuates around 1%. But consistent wrong moves like hitting when you should stand can ramp it up.