Learn blackjack basic strategy with this free Flash blackjack game. Customize the game rules and even the hands you are dealt. In this situation, you will have the option to split the pair and play the hand as you would any other split. Most players prefer to stay on 20, since it’s the best hand you can have aside from blackjack. However, the more adventurous player will sometimes take advantage of the split option, especially against a weak dealer hand.
Blackjack has many wonderful qualities. It’s a game where your decisions matter. It’s also a game where you can get an edge over the casino (if you know how to count cards).
Most of all, it’s just plain fun.
But blackjack is more fun when you’re winning more often.
Luckily, it’s a game where the mathematically correct way to play each hand has already been figured out. Computer programmers have run millions of hands of blackjack through simulators to come up with the moves that have the highest expected value.
A word about that:“Expected value” refers to how much a bet is worth. In some situations at the blackjack table, the expected value of a specific decision is positive. It might be more positive than other positive decisions.
In some other situations at the blackjack table, you must choose between the lesser of several evils. If you have a stiff hand, the best you can do is go with the decision that loses you the least amount of money in the long run.
As luck would have it, you only have a handful of totals to make decisions about. The highest possible total you can have without busting is 21. The lowest possible total with 2 cards is 4.
In the post below, I’ll look at each possible total and how it could occur. Then I’ll explain how to play that total based on which cards it’s made of and what the dealer has as her face-up card.
All these explanations are based on basic strategy.
A Total of 21
When you have a total of 21, you should always stand. It doesn’t matter what cards make up that total. It doesn’t matter what the dealer’s up-card is.
You always stand with 21. Any other choice costs money.
A Total of 20
You’ll always stand with a total of 20, too, no matter what the cards are. It also doesn’t matter what the dealer’s face-up card is.
The reasoning behind this is clear. There’s only one possible total the dealer could have which will beat a 20, which means you’ll win with it most of the time.
You might need to decide whether to split a hard total of 20. If you have 2 cards of the same rank, you can put up another bet and start 2 hands using the cards in your hand as the first card of the 2 subsequent hands.
It seems like this might not be a bad idea. After all, any hand with a 10 as its first card is probably going to turn out okay.
It’s a mistake, though. Most of the time, you’ll wind up with 2 hands that aren’t as strong as your total of 20. There are more cards in the deck that aren’t worth 10 or 11 than there are cards which are worth 10 or 11.
A Total of 19
You will ALMOST always stand on a total of 19, regardless of which cards make up the total.
But there’s one exception:
If you have a soft total of 19—an ace and an 8—you’ll double down. But only if the dealer has a 6 showing.
In some casinos, you’re not allowed to double down on a soft total of 19. If that’s the case, you’ll just stand.
On any other total of 19, though, you’ll stand. It’s such a strong hand that it will beat anything except a total of 20 or 21 from the dealer.
But even if you suspect that the dealer has one of those totals, your odds of winding up with a worse hand are too good for it to be a smart move to take another card.
The only reason you double down against a dealer’s face-up 6 is because the dealer is so likely to bust that it’s worth the risk.
A Total of 18
If you have a total of 18 that’s made up of two 9s, you must decide whether to split your hand or not. Most of the time, you will split your hand, but there are exceptions.
You’ll split a pair of 9s if the dealer has a 6 or less showing. You’ll also split 9s if the dealer has an 8 or 9.
If the dealer has a 7, 10, or ace showing, you’ll stand.
If you have a total of 18 that includes an ace that can be counted as 1 or 11, you have a “soft” 18. If the dealer has a 6 or lower showing, and if the casino allows it, you’ll double down on this hand.
If the casino doesn’t allow you to double down on a soft 18, you’ll stand instead.
If the dealer has a 7 or 8, you’ll stand on a soft 18.
If the dealer has a 9, 10, or ace showing, you’ll hit a soft 18.
Being able to count the ace as 1 or as 11 gives you some flexibility with how you play this hand. The combination of the possibility to improve your hand and the possibility that the dealer will bust results in the possible doubling down decisions.
Any other total of 18 will be a hard total, and you’ll always stand on a hard total of 18.
A Total of 17
If you have an ace that counts as 1 or 11, you have a soft total of 17. In that case, you should double down if the dealer has a 3, 4, 5, or 6 showing. If the dealer has any other card showing, you should hit this total.
If you don’t have an ace, or if counting the ace as an 11 would bust you, you have a hard total of 17. It’s easy what to decide to do with a hard 17:
Always stand.
A Total of 16
Once you get down to the total of 16 or less, you’re getting into “stiff hand” territory. A stiff hand is one which is likely to bust.
It doesn’t matter, though.
There’s still only one correct way to play each stiff hand, too.
The first kind of total of 16 you should think about is a pair of 8s. You should always split a pair of 8s. The reasoning behind this should make sense. You’re trading a mediocre hand for 2 hands which are likely to improve. More cards in the deck will improve an 8 than will hurt it. Any ace, 10, or 9 will give you a better total than 16. (And there are 16 cards worth 10 in the deck, so that’s almost half the deck in total.)
The second kind of total of 16 to worry about is a soft 16. Again, this is a total where the ace can count as 1 or 11. You will NEVER stand on a soft 16.
You’ll double down on a soft 16 if the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6 showing. If the dealer has any other card showing, you’ll fold.
Finally, you need to know what to do with any other hard total of 16. You’ll stand if the dealer has a 6 or less showing. You’ll hit if the dealer has a 7 or higher showing.
If the dealer has a 6 or less showing, you’re hoping she’ll bust. Otherwise, you’re hoping to improve your hand so that you have a fighting chance.
A Total of 15
A soft total of 15 is easy to play. You’ll play it just like you would a soft total of 16, in fact. You’ll double down if the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6 showing. Otherwise, you’ll hit.
A hard total of 15 isn’t hard to play, either, although it’s a bummer of a hand. Again, you’ll play a hard 15 just like you would a hard 16. Hit if the dealer has a 7 or higher. Otherwise stand.
A Total of 14
If you have a pair of 7s, you need to decide whether to split. You will split if the dealer has a 7 or lower showing. If you don’t split, you’ll treat the hand as any other hard 14.
If you have a soft 14, you will never stand. You’ll double down if the dealer has a 5 or 6 showing. Otherwise, you’ll hit.
If you have a hard 14, you’ll play it just like a hard 15 or 16. Stand if the dealer has a 6 or less showing. Hit if the dealer has a 7 or higher showing.
A Total of 13
A soft total of 13 is played just like a soft 14. You’ll double down if the dealer has a 5 or 6. Otherwise, you’ll hit.
A hard total of 13 is played just like a hard 14, 15, or 16. Stand if the dealer has a 6 or less. Otherwise, hit.
A Total of 12
The first kind of 12 total to worry about is a pair of 6s. (You always consider whether to split first.) You should double down if the dealer has a 6 or lower showing. If not, you’ll treat the hand just like you would any other hard total of 12.
Next, you’ll think about a soft total of 12. This could mean you have a pair of aces. In that case, you always split. (Just remember—always split aces and 8s.)
There’s no other way to get a soft total of 12, so you’re left with the possibility of a hard 12. If that’s what you have, you stand against a dealer 4, 5, or 6. Otherwise, you hit.
A Total of 11
If you have an ace and a 10, you COULD consider that a soft total of 11. But really, you have a blackjack. Just accept your winning with grace.
On any other total of 11, you’ll double down. That’s an easy decision, because you have lots of cards which will increase your total to 21. There’s no real downside to doubling down on an 11, because it’s impossible to bust such a hand.
A Total of 10
You never split 5s. They’re always treated as a hard total of 10.
If you have a soft total of 10, you really have a soft total of 20, and I’ve already covered that. (Think about it.)
With a hard 10, which is really the only way you’ll ever have a total of 10, you’ll almost always double down. The only time you won’t double down is if the dealer has an ace or 10 showing. In that case, you’ll just stand. (You don’t want to put extra money into play because of the increased likelihood that the dealer will have a 21.)
A Total of 9
A hard 9 is played ALMOST exactly like a hard 10. You should double down if the dealer has a 3, 4, 5, or 6. Otherwise, hit.
Blackjack Split Rules
A Total of 8
You never split a pair of 4s. (In fact, you can remember this rule—never spit 4s, 5s, or 10s.)
In fact, there’s only ONE way to correctly play a hard total of 8. Always hit.
A Total of 7
Always hit a hard total of 7.
A Total of 6
Blackjack Hands Chart
If you have a pair of 3s, split if the dealer has a 7 or lower showing. Otherwise, just hit.
If you have any other hard total of 6, just hit the hand.
A Total of 5
Always hit a hard total of 5.
A Total of 4
If you have a pair of deuces, play it just like a pair of 3s. Split if the dealer has a 7 or lower showing. Otherwise, just hit.
Conclusion
That’s it.
You only have 18 possible starting totals in blackjack. Once you’ve learned how to play each of those totals correctly, you’ve mastered basic strategy.
Why is that a good thing to do?
If you’ve mastered basic strategy, the house edge for most blackjack games is between 0.5% and 1%, making it one of the best games in the casino.
Hands To Split In Blackjack
If you misplay these hands, the house edge goes up. Most players are bad at basic strategy, by the way. If you look at the casino’s numbers, the average blackjack player is so bad that he’s facing a house edge of between 4% and 5%.
With those kinds of numbers, you might as well play craps or roulette. You don’t have to make any playing decisions with those games.
memorize basic strategy in this way.
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Blackjack is a game that is all about action. The more action you get involved in the better your chances of taking down a big hand, and the more fun you will have at the table. Part of chasing that action is looking for opportunities where you can add to your original bet with some of the more tactical maneuvers available to you.
One of the most action-oriented plays you can make in blackjack is known as splitting. Splitting is only possible when you’ve been dealt two of the same card (e.g., a pair of threes or nines). When that happens, you are allowed to put down an extra bet, usually double your original wager, then have the cards are split off to form two separate hands.
Basic Splitting Rules
Depending on where you play, there will be some differences in the way certain rules are applied – some casinos, for example, won’t allow player to split tens or face cards – but there are some standard rules that generally apply across all venues.
The first is that, with only one exception, you are allowed to split continually as long as you keep getting the same card. So, if you were dealt two nines, split them, and then got another nine on top of one of them, you can split again, giving yourself three hands to play against the dealer. That can keep going until you run out of nines, although it rarely goes past three hands.
The one exception to that rule is if you are dealt a pair of aces. In that case, almost every venue you will ever play in requires that you can only take one card on top of each ace after you split, eliminating the hit or stay option entirely.
A pair of Aces.
In all other cases, once you split you then play each separate hand on its own. After you receive the first obligatory card on each of your original split cards, it is then up to you to decide whether to hit or stay versus the dealer’s hand based on strategic considerations.
Finally, in most venues, if you draw a potential double down hand – one where you have a total of nine, 10 or 11 or, if it’s allowed in the venue where you’re playing, when you have any hand that below 11 that you feel could beat the dealer’s with just one hit – after splitting you are allowed to pursue that double down. As you can see, the opportunity for action builds up very quickly with splitting.
Splitting Strategy – When to Split
Just because you can split doesn’t mean you should. There is only one instance where you will want to split every time you see it – when you are dealt two eights. Two eights give you 16, the worst starting hand in blackjack – and one to avoid at all costs, even if the dealer’s up card is worth ten.
In all other cases, you’re going to want to take into account what the dealer is showing, how aggressive you’re feeling at the time, how much money you want to risk on one hand and even how your luck is running at the moment. Let’s face it, luck plays an important role in blackjack, and your instincts can be important in any decision you make.
From a purely statistical standpoint, if you have the opportunity to split when the dealer is showing any of the three worst up cards they can have – a four, a five or a six – you should always take it, even if you’re splitting twos. In those instances, you are betting more on the belief that the dealer will bust than you are on making a good hand of your own. It’s a chance to press your bet and try to realize a large payoff on a single hand.
Occasionally people will decide to split tens or two of the same face card. Those people are usually either amateurs or self-styled professionals. Generally, splitting a 20 is not advisable. You already have the second best hand, and your odds of improving are mitigated by the chance it will lose value. It’s something you should only consider if the dealer has a very bad up card, you are feeling lucky and the venue in which you are playing allows it.
Splitting Strategy – When Not to Split
Again, your first consideration when contemplating splitting is to look at the dealer’s up card. If they are showing a card with a value of nine or 10, or an ace, you are probably going to want to avoid splitting, unless you have a pair of eights. Since basic blackjack strategy dictates that you assume every card you can’t see is worth 10, when the dealer’s up card is strong, you have to assume you will be drawing against a made hand.
A pair of Fives.
As for numbered cards, the only situation you will want to rule out splitting in is if you’ve been dealt two fives. In that case you simply want to double down, since your 10 total is much more likely to turn into something strong than two separate hands that are building off of a five.
Splitting strategy – When to Carefully Consider Splitting
There are a few cases where the decision to split is a bit more up in the air. For instance, when a dealer is showing a two and you are sitting with something like a pair of fours. There is a temptation to want to press your luck, but you might be better off trying to turn those two fours into an 18.
Really, any situation where the dealer is showing a two or three can be a tricky one in which to make a splitting decision. The basic blackjack strategy of assuming unseen cards are worth 10 is still valid, but with such a low card, if the dealer’s down card isn’t a 10 their range of possible holdings is large and presents a strategic challenge.
Splitting small pairs is usually safer than splitting bigger pairs. Two twos afford you the opportunity to take multiple hits, opening up a wealth of possibilities.
On the other hand, two sixes or a pair of sevens versus a dealer’s up card of seven or eight can cause you to sit there chewing your fingernails trying to decide what to do.
When you come across those situations, it might be time to trust your intuition to a certain extent.
Are you running well? Is the dealer turning up a majority of good hands or bad hands? Do you feel comfortable laying out more money on that particular hand? Will your decision complicate things for someone else at the table who already has a lot of bets, splits or double downs out? Do you “feel” like the next card out is going to help your hand or bust you?
It may sound a bit mystical, but in gambling sometimes you have to rely on your gut instinct. Statistics, odds and “The Book” will only get you so far. You can rely on those things completely if you’d like, but if you’re going to beat the house you’ll probably have to use intuition at critical moments. It’s one of the reasons blackjack is so much fun.