The rules of the game are fairly straightforward, but it’s important to follow the correct online blackjack strategy if you want to increase your chances of winning money at the tables. There are only a few actions that a player can take at the blackjack table: hitting, standing, splitting and doubling down. If a blackjack player wants to maintain the best odds of success, they must choose the correct action based on both their cards and the dealer’s cards.
Since we’ve already examined when to hit in blackjack, the next step is to examine when a player should stand in blackjack. This article will walk you through the basics and provide a clear strategy that will help you to win some real-money at the blackjack table.
The Basics of Standing in Blackjack
In the game of blackjack, the term ‘standing’ means that you’re telling the dealer you don’t want any more cards and prefer to stay with your current total. Often referred to as ‘staying’, this action should be guided by strategy. Let’s have a look at some of the different scenarios where you should stand at the blackjack table.
Made Hands
The most obvious situation where you should stand in blackjack is when you already have a total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21. You should never hit in this position, regardless of what the dealer is showing. With such a high starting hand, you would most likely go bust (exceed a score of 21) if you draw an additional card. Another reason why you should stand in this position is that blackjack dealers must always hit on any hand of 16 or less, which gives players with a hand of 17 or higher a far greater chance of winning.
Dealer Showing Bust Potential
The first thing most players do at the blackjack table is look at the cards they’ve been dealt. However, it’s just as important to check what the dealer is showing. In blackjack, dealers are dealt their first card face up and the second card face down. Even with just one card showing, the dealer’s hand can play a pivotal role in dictating your next move. A good tip for beginner blackjack players is to always assume that any face down card has a value of 10. This may not always be the case, but it’s the most likely outcome given how many cards hold a value of 10.
Based on the assumption that the dealer’s hole card is a 10, blackjack players should stand when the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Since you’re strategically assuming that the dealer’s face down card is a 10, that means the dealer will be left with a 12, 13, 14 15 or 16 and forced to hit. Once again assuming the next card is another 10, the dealer will bust and you’ll be a winner.
