In the world of casino gaming, few experiences match the rush of a good blackjack game. Whether you’re sitting at a felt-covered table in Las Vegas or enjoying a round of online blackjack at Bodog Casino, there’s nothing like the feeling you get when those cards are in the air. But if you want to make the best plays and maximize your chances of winning, understanding the nuances of all the different blackjack hands you can be dealt is crucial to your success.
Before we take a deep dive into the intricacies of all those blackjack hands, we’ll introduce our comprehensive blackjack guide covering all of the rules and strategies for playing both Single Deck Blackjack and multi-deck variants. And for those interested in the mathematical aspects of the game, we offer a dedicated page on probabilities and expected values in blackjack. These resources will give you valuable context for the following exploration of the various hands you’ll be dealt at the tables.
Bringing a blackjack hands chart with you to the table is always an option. This is allowed at live casinos, but you won’t get the luxury of taking as much time as you want to make a decision – especially when other players are waiting their turn.
It’s also a lot more fun to play blackjack once you’ve taken a peek behind the curtain and figured out the right strategies for yourself. So let’s get right to it—here are the best hands in blackjack, the worst hands possible, and expert advice on what you should do when those cards come your way.
Soft Hands vs. Hard Hands: A Crucial Distinction
First and foremost, one of the fundamental concepts when learning to play blackjack is the difference between “soft” and “hard” hands. If you don’t understand this concept before you hit the tables, it will significantly lower your expected win rate for every hand you play.
Soft Hands: Flexibility is Key
A soft hand in blackjack is any hand containing an 11-point Ace. For example:
– Ace-Six is a soft 17
– Ace-Three is a soft 14
Soft hands are valuable because of their flexibility. You can always hit a soft hand without the risk of busting, as the Ace will switch from 11 points to 1 as required.
Strategy for Soft Hands
The most profitable plays for soft hands in blackjack are often the more aggressive plays, including doubling down, when the dealer shows weak up-cards (particularly a Five or Six).
Let’s say you’re dealt Ace-Five (soft 16) in the standard six-deck game of blackjack at Bodog Casino, and the dealer shows a Six. The optimal (aka “basic”) strategy recommends doubling here. If you draw a 10-value card, you’ll still have 16; if, however, you draw a smaller card, you won’t bust right away. Meanwhile, the dealer has to hit if they end up with 16, so they’re in grave danger of busting themselves.
Hard Hands: Proceed with Caution
A hard hand is any hand without an 11-point Ace. For instance:
– 10-7 is a hard 17
– 8-9 is a hard 17
– A-6-Q is a hard 17 (the Ace must be counted as 1)
Hard hands are riskier because they have a higher chance of busting when you hit. You don’t have to worry about the implications of your third card when you’re dealt a hard 11 or lower, and you’ll almost always stand on hard 17 or higher; it’s those tricky hands from 12-16 that you have to watch out for.
Strategy for Hard Hands
– For hard 8 or lower, always hit
– For hard 17 or higher, generally stand
– With hard 9, consider doubling down against dealer’s 3-6
Pairs: We’re Two of a Kind
There’s a third type of hand in blackjack that usually gets classified as neither soft nor hard, although it can technically be either: the pair. If your two cards from the initial deal have the same rank, you have the option of splitting them into two separate hands, doubling your bet in the process.
This option is often enough to completely change the strategy compared to unpaired cards of the same point value. Let’s say you’ve been dealt a hard 16 – that’s a hand you’ll expect to lose money on in the long run. With a pair of Eights, however, you can split them, hoping to draw 10-value cards and create two hands worth 18 points apiece, or maybe even an Ace for 19.
The Anatomy of Blackjack Hands
In blackjack, the cards you can see—your cards, and the dealer’s up-card—define your chances of winning. Understanding how to play each hand optimally is the key to reducing the house edge and maximizing your potential returns. Let’s explore the full spectrum of blackjack hands, from the best to the worst.
Best Blackjack Hands: The Cream of the Crop
The ultimate hand in any standard blackjack game is the “natural” 21, which is any combination of an Ace and a 10-value card (Ten, Jack, Queen or King) as your initial two cards. This powerhouse hand offers the highest payout at 3:2 when you play at Bodog Casino. Some live casinos used to pay 2:1 for Blackjacks with certain variants, but now you’re more likely to encounter 6:5 if you play cards in Las Vegas.
That 3:2 Blackjack payout at Bodog means you receive $3 for every $2 you’ve wagered at the start of the hand. However, it’s important to remember that even a natural Blackjack doesn’t guarantee victory. If the dealer also has a natural, the result is a “push,” and you’ll simply get your original bet back. This rare scenario underlines the value of knowing your blackjack winning hands and probabilities before you play.
Other Strong Starting Hands
– Pair of 10-value cards: Totalling 20 points, this hand wins approximately 80% of the time. Despite the temptation to split when you’ve got a pair of Tens, Jacks, Queens or Kings, basic blackjack strategy recommends standing pat with this powerful hand. The only way to lose with 20 is if the dealer hits blackjack – or also has 20 and you’re playing under rules where the dealer wins a tie.
– Pair of Aces: Most blackjack strategies recommend splitting Aces against any dealer up-card. This gives you two opportunities to draw a 10-value card and make a perfect 21.
– Hard 11: Any two-card combination totalling 11 (like Six-Five or Seven-Four) is a strong starting hand. With a nearly 1-in-3 chance of drawing a 10-value card to make 21, doubling down is the optimal play; the only exception is when the dealer shows an Ace, which poses the threat of a natural.
– Hard 10: Similar to hard 11, a starting hand of 10 (like Six-Four or Seven-Three) is strong. Doubling down is often recommended, especially if the dealer’s up-card is Nine or lower.
Worst Blackjack Hands: The Challenging Ones
Hard 16
Statistically, hard 16 (like Jack-Six or Nine-Seven) is the worst hand for a player. It’s too high to hit comfortably, but often too low to stand successfully, especially when the dealer shows a high up-card (Seven through Ace). Hard 16 is trickiest when the dealer shows a Nine, Ten or Ace; hitting still risks that immediate bust, while standing gives the dealer a strong chance to win with their third card.
With a hard 16 against a dealer’s Nine, Ten or Ace, you’re better off surrendering if it’s an option. This move lets you give up half of your bet and end the round immediately. If surrender isn’t an option, you should hit and accept the risk of going over 21; it’s the only way to give yourself a shot at improving your hand.
Trouble Hands: 12, 13, 14, and 15
Hard hands worth 12-15 points are also challenging, but not as challenging as hard 16. Once again, these trouble hands are prone to busting, but too low to stand confidently. They become particularly weak when the dealer shows a Seven or higher.
Tip: Against low dealer up-cards of 2-6, stand with these hands as part of a simplified blackjack strategy. The dealer has a decent chance of busting with these lower cards. Against up-cards Seven and higher, you should consider hitting instead, despite the added risk of busting.
Even when you’re dealt these difficult hands, remember: There’s always hope. The dealer might bust, especially with lower up-cards like Four, Five or Six. Understanding the dealer’s probabilities is a key part of mastering blackjack strategy, just like understanding your own chances of success with each hand.
Navigating Tricky Situations: Strategy for Difficult Hands
Even with all this knowledge about hand types and basic strategy, you’ll occasionally face a challenging decision at the blackjack tables. Let’s explore some of these difficult situations and how to approach them.
Pair of Eights vs. Dealer’s Ace
This scenario often confuses players. You have a pair of Eights, typically a splitting hand, but the dealer shows an Ace, threatening Blackjack. This move depends on whether the dealer stands or hits on soft 17. If the dealer hits on soft 17, you should surrender if possible—if it’s not possible, you split. If, however, the dealer stands on soft 17, you should automatically split. Here’s why:
– Starting with hard 16 against an Ace is a very weak position—sometimes weak enough to surrender.
– By splitting, you create two hands starting with 8 points, giving yourself a chance to draw 10-value cards and make two strong hands of 18.
– Even if you lose both hands in the short run, the long-term expected loss when splitting Eights here is less than playing the hard 16 as a single hand.
Hard 12 vs. Dealer’s 3
With a hard 12 against a dealer’s Three, you’re in a tight spot. Hitting risks an immediate bust with any 10-value card, but standing leaves you with a weak hand.
The basic strategy for most blackjack variants advises hitting in this situation. While you do risk busting, the dealer’s up-card isn’t quite strong enough to justify standing on such a low total. By hitting, you give yourself a chance to improve your hand significantly.
Soft 18 vs. Dealer’s 9-11
Many players automatically stand on 18 no matter what, but with a soft 18 against strong dealer up-cards, this isn’t always the best course of action. Here’s our recommended blackjack strategy for this spot in most blackjack variants:
Hit a soft 18 against a dealer’s Nine, Ten, or Ace.
Conclusion: Knowledge is Power in Blackjack
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just learning the ropes, mastering the art of playing different blackjack hands can significantly enhance your enjoyment of the game – and potentially improve your outcomes. Now that you’ve finished this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to make expert decisions the next time you play blackjack at Bodog Casino, no matter which cards you’re dealt. Get in the game today, and we’ll see you at the tables.