When to Hit in Blackjack: A Full Guide  

The Dos and Don’ts of Hitting in Blackjack

Being one of the most popular card games in the world, it makes sense that many people are wondering when to hit in blackjack. Learning the ins and outs of the game can help players to increase their chances of success, with basic strategy being something to consider. In this article, we look at a variety of scenarios and discuss whether hitting or standing is the optimal decision!  

Table of Contents:  

• What is Hitting in Blackjack?  
• Situations Where You Should Hit  
• Situations Where You Should Not Hit  
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Hitting  
• Conclusion  
• Frequently Asked Questions About Hit or Stand Blackjack Decisions  

Before playing blackjack, it’s important to carefully read the rules, too. Some variations, such as Quantum Blackjack Plus and Free Bet Blackjack have unique rulesets that may alter the way you play each hand.  

What is Hitting in Blackjack?  

First things first, what is hitting in Blackjack? Hitting is the action that signifies to the dealer that you’d like another card. At land-based casinos, players can tap the table gently to indicate this, while a button can simply be pressed when playing blackjack online.  

Situations Where You Should Hit  

As mentioned earlier, basic strategy can help players to improve their chances of beating the dealer. This strategy says that players should hit in the following circumstances:  

When Your Hand is 11 or Below  

Of course, when to hit blackjack hand is when the total is 11 or less. This makes perfect sense, as it’s impossible to bust the hand by receiving another card, with the only potential outcome being an improvement of the current total.  

When the Dealer has a Good Card  

Should the dealer have a card such as 7, 8, 9, or 10, there’s a lower chance of them busting. This means that the player is advised to hit hands such as 14 or 15, in this instance, to try and beat the dealer’s total.  

Situations Where You Should Not Hit  

When deciding in blackjack when to hit your hand, players have to take their cards and the dealer’s face up card into consideration. Here is when basic strategy says to stand:  

Stand on 17 or More  

The chance of busting a hand that is valued at 17 or more is incredibly high, while the chance of improving the hand is low. To avoid busting, it’s recommended that players stand on 17 or above, regardless of what the dealer’s face up card is.  

When the Dealer has a Bad Card  

Another aspect of basic strategy is taking advantage of when the dealer has a bad card, such as a 5 or 6, both of which are more likely to bust than 9 or 10, for example. Should the dealer’s face up card be favourable for the player, they may decide to stand on anything greater than 11, in order to avoid busting.   

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hitting in Blackjack  

The advantages and disadvantages of hitting a hand in blackjack are relatively straightforward. First up are the benefits, which include the opportunity to improve your hand and have a better chance of beating the dealer as a result.   

On the other hand, the disadvantage is that players may bust their hand by hitting, meaning that they lose their bet. It’s also worth mentioning that after a blackjack hit, in most cases, players will be unable to split or double down.  

Conclusion  

To summarise, hitting is one of the most used actions in blackjack, alongside standing, so it’s crucial that players know exactly how it works. Looking at different scenarios, in accordance with basic strategy, is another thing to consider. Last but not least, playing free blackjack games at online casinos is a great way to practise, before sitting down at real money games such as Lightning Blackjack!  

Frequently Asked Questions About Hit or Stand Blackjack Decisions