Few card games are able to deliver the same thrills as Blackjack. Easy to learn, but challenging to master, the game of 21 is often central to a casino’s table game collection. We’ve created this guide to help you understand the basics of the game and learn when to hit in Blackjack. You will also learn when you should stand or use one of the other available actions.
After having read through this guide, you’ll know when you should Blackjack hit or stand. You will also learn about the top online casinos that offer this game and provide you with generous rewards as soon as you place your first deposit.
Hit or Stand in Blackjack
Hit and stand are the two main actions that you can take when playing Blackjack. If you decide to hit, you will receive another card from the dealer. However, when you feel that you’ve got a winning hand and don’t need any more cards, you can stand.
Understanding when to stand in Blackjack, or when to hit, can make all the difference in the game’s outcome. While there is no guaranteed way to know the next cards, you can use various strategies to increase the likelihood of a positive result.
When to Hit in Blackjack and When to Stand
Before we delve into whether you should hit or stay in Blackjack, let’s remind ourselves what the objective of the game is. We’ve written a detailed guide on how to play Blackjack, but in brief, the goal of the game is to create a hand that has a higher value than the dealer’s. However, it’s important that your hand’s value does not surpass 21.
This card game is primarily based on luck, however, you do have some control over your actions. Moreover, the dealer must adhere to specific rules, and knowing this gives you an edge that you can exploit to your advantage.
When to Hit
Determining when to hit in Blackjack requires you to first check your own cards and then look at the dealer’s face-up card. Unless you’ve learned how to count cards in Blackjack, those three cards are all that you have to work with.
There are many different rules that you would need to keep in mind while playing the game. In addition, you should also learn when not to hit in Blackjack, such as if your hand has a value of between five and eight. Fortunately, you don’t need to memorize any rule since you can use a Blackjack chart instead.
When to Stand
Many newbies wonder when to stand in Blackjack, and the simple answer is once, again, when the chart tells you to. Just like when to hit, you should stand when your cards and the dealer’s face-up card fit a particular scenario.
For example, you should stand when the value of your hand is between 12 and 16 as long as the dealer’s card is either a 4, 5, or 6. You should also stand when your hand is a hard 17 but hit with a soft 17.
Handy Tip:
A soft hand is one that includes an Ace since the value of the Ace could be either one or 11, depending on what is more favorable. In contrast, a hard hand is one that does not include an Ace, so its value cannot change.
Blackjack Hit or Stand Examples
Below, we’ve outlined two examples to help you understand when to hit or stay in Blackjack. We have based our decisions on the chart since it offers a simple a convenient way to take what is probably the best action.
An Example of a Blackjack Hit
We’ve been dealt a 2 and an A, so this means that we have a soft 13. The dealer shows a 9. According to the chart, we should hit, and this is what we do.
The dealer dealt us a 4, so now our hand has a value of soft 17. Using the chart, we need to look at the row with ‘A,6’ in the first column. The chart suggests that we hit once more since, even if the next card has a high value, we can lower our hand’s value by turning the Ace into a one.
We’ve now been dealt another A. However, since the chart does not include having multiple A’s in the same hand, we should count the second as a one. This means that our current hand is made up of an A and 7. According to the Blackjack chart, we should hit once more.
Our final card is a K, so both our A’s have a value of one and the total value of our hand is 18. At this point, we should stand.
It’s now the dealer’s turn to play, and the computer turns its face-down card to reveal a 3. The dealer gets another card which happens to be a 6. The result is a tie so the game ends in a push. Even though the Blackjack chart did not help us to win on this occasion, it prevented us from losing our bet.
Handy Tip:
Most online Blackjack games will automatically calculate the total value or, in the case of an Ace, the possible values of your hand. This is useful as some charts might feature combined values rather than separate ones.
An Example of a Blackjack Stand
In this example, you are initially dealt a 10 and a K, which both have a value of 10. The dealer’s face-up card is a 9. According to the chart, the best course of action is to stand.
The dealer, or computer, in this case, had to adhere to the house rules and hit until it went bust.
What About Splitting, Doubling Down, or Surrendering?
As you look at the Blackjack chart, you’ll notice various other symbols apart from H and S. In fact, most games give you additional actions that you can take in order to increase your potential payouts or reduce your potential losses.
We’ve outlined the main definitions of these actions in the following table.
| Action | Description | Chart Symbol |
| Double Down | Place a second wager that is equal to your Ante and receive one more card before standing. | D |
| Split | If your first two cards match, you can split them and play two hands in the same game. You will need to place a new and equal Ante bet for your new hand. | P |
| Surrender | You can surrender and receive 50% of your Ante bet back if you do not wish to continue playing in that round. | R |
Knowing when to surrender in Blackjack, or when to use any other of the actions tabled above will help you to reduce the house’s edge. Once again, our chart can help you identify the right moments when to take specific actions.
Most games featured at the best online Blackjack live dealer casinos include one more action, Insurance. You might have noticed that this option is not featured on our chart, and with good reason. No Blackjack pro or mathematician would ever recommend it.
You can only use this optional side bet if the dealer’s face-up card is an A. Insurance bets can only be as high as half your Ante and are won by the player when the dealer’s face-down card creates a Blackjack. If you win an Insurance bet, you are paid 2:1, so you’ll essentially get your Ante bet back.
Handy Tip:
Seeing an A in the dealer’s hand might tempt you to place the Insurance bet, however, for you to win this bet the dealer’s face-down card must be a 10 or face card. There is only a 30% chance that the face-down card has a value of 10. At the same time, there’s a 70% chance that the card is anything else.
This means that is more than twice as likely that the dealer does not have the right card for you to win an Insurance bet.
FAQs About When to Hit in Blackjack
Should I hit on 15?
Should you stand or hit on 16?
Do you hit in Blackjack on 13 against a 2?
When should I hit or stay in Blackjack?
Does knowing when to hit in Blackjack guarantee a win?
When Does the Dealer Have to Hit in Blackjack?
In any game of Blackjack, the dealer’s hands are figuratively tied. Unlike players, the dealer can only take specific actions that are based on his or her hand. In most games, the rule may be simply that the dealer hits at 16 or lower and stands at 17.
A few games, however, have a slightly altered rule which requires that the dealer hits with a soft 17 or lower and stands with a hard 17 or higher. You can easily check the dealer’s rules of a particular game by looking at the table or checking the paytable.
When to Hit in Single or Multi-Deck Blackjack
Most versions of Single-Deck Blackjack have slightly altered rules to versions that are played with two or more decks. Since this version typically has a house edge of just about 1.75%, the dealer is usually required to hit on a soft 17 and the surrender option may not be available to players. Moreover, players might be unable to double down after having split their hands.
When you’re playing a round of Single-Deck Blackjack with a hard hand, you should in the cases outlined below.
| Hand Value | Dealer’s Face-Up Card | Recommended Action |
| 5, 6, or 7 | N/A | Hit |
| 8 | 5 or 6 | Double Down |
| 8 | Not a 5 or 6 | Hit |
| 9 | 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 | Double Down |
| 9 | Not a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 | Hit |
| 10 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 | Double Down |
| 10 | Not a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 | Hit |
| 11 | N/A | Double Down |
| 12 | 4, 5, or 6 | Stand |
| 12 | Not a 4, 5, or 6 | Hit |
| 13, 14, 15, or 16 | 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 | Stand |
| 13, 14, 15, or 16 | Not a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 | Hit |
| 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 | N/A | Stand |
If you’ve got a soft hand, you should instead use the following guide.
| Ace + | Dealer’s Face-Up Card | Recommended Action |
| 2, 3, 4, or 5 | 4, 5, or 6 | Double Down |
| 2, 3, 4, or 5 | Not a 4, 5, or 6 | Hit |
| 6 | 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 | Double Down |
| 6 | Not a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 | Hit |
| 7 | 3, 4, 5, or 6 | Double Down |
| 7 | 2, 7, or 8 | Stand |
| 7 | 9, 10, or A | Hit |
| 8 | 6 | Double Down |
| 8 | Not 6 | Stand |
| 9 | N/A | Stand |
| 10 | N/A | Stand |
Handy Tip:
If you’re used to playing Multi-Deck Blackjack, playing the single-deck version can be confusing at first. Take advantage of free games to allow yourself time to practice risk-free.
Blackjack Tips on When to Hit
There aren’t really any tips to help you know when to hit in Blackjack beyond following the chart. However, it is easy to make mistakes as you play and to lose more than you would if you paid more attention. Here are a few tips to help you play better Blackjack online”
- Keep your chart handy – Before you start playing Blackjack, make sure that you’ve got easy access to charts and other helpful resources. If you’re playing online, you can keep the chart open in a separate tab.
- Place affordable wagers – Remember that even the best Blackjack players lose, so you should never bet more than you can afford. Many pros recommend limiting bets to 3% of your bankroll.
- Check the game’s rules – Have a look at the game that you are about to play and understand whether it’s a single-deck or multi-deck version. You should also look at the rules concerning the dealer’s possible actions.
- Practice playing for free – Many of the top online casinos let you play Blackjack online for free using a demo game. This game plays out exactly like the real money version and is a great way to brush up your skills risk-free.
- Take advantage of casino bonuses – Most Blackjack casinos will reward you with table game bonuses that enhance the value of your deposit or provide you with free chips. Always take advantage of reasonable offers to be able to play more games or place higher bets.