Blackjack Hands Guide

The Blackjack Hands Guide will help you understand how to play your cards strategically based on the total hand value and the dealer’s upcard. Casino Days will help you achieve your goal and potentially increase your winnings. Remember, in this game, your goal is to have a value as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. Here is a guide about the hands you’ll get dealt to achieve this goal.

Definition of Hard and Soft Hands in Blackjack

In Blackjack, a hard hand and a soft hand are terms used to describe the composition of your hand based on the cards you have been dealt, particularly when it comes to the Ace card.

Hard Hands

A hard hand does not contain an Ace (or the Ace is counted as 1).

• Example 1: A hand with a 9 and a 7 is a hard hand with a value of 16;
• Example 2: A hand with a 5, 5 and 6 is also a hard hand with a value of 16.

Soft Hands

A soft hand contains an Ace that is counted as 11 without the risk of busting. This gives you more flexibility in how you play your hand because if you hit and go over 21, you can adjust the Ace to count as 1 instead of 11 to avoid busting.

• Example 1: A hand with Ace-6 is a soft hand with a value of 17 (Ace counts as 11, but if you hit and go over 21, you can adjust the Ace to 1);
• Example 2: A hand with Ace-2-3 is a soft hand with a value of 6. If you hit, the Ace can be adjusted to 1 if necessary.

Blackjack Hands – Rankings and How to Play Them

The rank of hands is primarily determined by the total value of the cards in your hand, with special emphasis on combinations involving Aces and face cards.

How to Play Hard Hands?

The basic strategy for hard hands is based on the total value of your hand and the dealer’s upcard. Here is how to approach different hard hands:

1. Hard 17 or higher: Always stand. A hand of 17 or higher is already a strong hand, and hitting risks going over 21 (busting);
2. Hard 16: Hit if the dealer shows 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace. Stand if the dealer shows 2-6 (the dealer is likely to bust);
3. Hard 15: Stand if the dealer shows 2-6. Hit if the dealer shows 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace;
4. Hard 14: Stand if the dealer shows 2-6. Hit if the dealer shows 7 or higher;
5. Hard 13: Stand if the dealer shows 2-6. Hit if the dealer shows 7 or higher;
6. Hard 12: Stand if the dealer shows 4-6. Hit if the dealer shows 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace;
7. Hard 11: Double down if the dealer shows 2-9. Hit if the dealer shows 10 or Ace;
8. Hard 10: Double down if the dealer shows 2-9. Hit if the dealer shows 10 or Ace;
9. Hard 9: Double down if the dealer shows 3-6. Hit if the dealer shows 2 or 7-Ace;
10. Hard 8 or below: Always hit.

How to Play Soft Hands?

Here is a short guide on how to approach soft hards in different situations:

1. Soft 20: Always stand. Soft 20 is a very strong hand. You will not improve by hitting, and you are very close to the best possible hand, which is a Blackjack (21);
2. Soft 19: Always stand. Soft 19 is yet another very strong hand. Standing is your best option, as it is unlikely to improve by hitting;
3. Soft 18: Stand if the dealer shows 2, 7, or 8. Double down if the dealer shows 3-6. Hit if the dealer shows 9, 10, or Ace;
4. Soft 17: Stand if the dealer shows 2-6. Double down if the dealer shows 3-6. Hit if the dealer shows 7 or higher;
5. Soft 16: Double down if the dealer shows 4-6. Hit if the dealer shows 2, 3, or 7-Ace;
6. Soft 15: Double down if the dealer shows 4-6. Hit if the dealer shows 2, 3, or 7-Ace;
7. Soft 14: Double down if the dealer shows 5-6. Hit if the dealer shows 2, 3, or 7-Ace;
8. Soft 13: Double down if the dealer shows 5-6. Hit if the dealer shows 2, 3, or 7-Ace.

How to Play a Hand with Two Aces?

Holding a pair of Aces is among the strongest hands available since it allows several options to enhance your hand. The adaptability of the Ace (values as either 1 or 11) renders this hand particularly flexible. The standard strategy for handling a pair of Aces is always splitting them.

Natural Blackjack

A Natural Blackjack, often called simply Blackjack, represents the optimal hand in the game. This is accomplished when a player receives an Ace and a 10-point card (a 10, Jack, Queen, or King) as their initial two cards. This combination sums up to 21, the maximum score achievable without exceeding 21.

• Payout: Typically 3:2, but can vary depending on casino rules;
• Automatic win: Unless the dealer also has a Blackjack (in which case it is a tie or push);
• No action needed: Once you are dealt a Natural Blackjack, no further action (hit, stand, double down, etc.) is necessary.