Key Takeaways
- Blackjack doesn’t rely solely on luck, so understanding how to deal with the hard and soft hands is essential.
- Knowing the different hands and what they imply makes it possible to apply the right strategy.
- Some blackjack hands are categorized as the best and worst hands, and there are easy ways to deal with them.
- We have listed a few Blackjack strategies to guide your decisions based on the flexibility of soft hards and risks involved with hard hands.
Blackjack is a fun casino game you can play online through live Blackjack or in land-based establishments. Thanks to its simple rules, it’s easy for anyone to grasp, but becoming a consistent winner requires understanding the Blackjack hands and what to do with them. This article provides everything you need to know about the soft and hard blackjack hands, the best and worst hands in the game, and simple strategies to help you.
What is a Blackjack Hand
A Blackjack hand refers to the cards you hold during a game, consisting of two or more cards. Your goal during the game is to get a hand with a value equal to or close to 21.
To win the game, the value of your hand must be higher than that of the dealer, or the dealer’s must go over 21 (Bust). If the dealer has a hand value that is higher than yours, or you go bust, then you lose the game.
A regular Blackjack game uses a 52-card deck, and you can determine the value of your hand by summing up the values as listed below:
- An Ace can have a value of 1 or 11,
- Cards 2 to 10 use their face value, which means a 3 card has a value of 3,
- Cards Q, K, and J have a value of 10,
- So, if you have a hand with cards 8 and J, you have a value of 18.
Depending on the presence of an Ace, you can have a Hard or Soft hand, which we will explain as you read on.
Hard Hands in Blackjack
A Hard Hand in Blackjack typically refers to when you don’t have an Ace. However, you can also have a Hard Hand in cases where the Ace must have a value of 1 to prevent you from going bust.
In Blackjack, the hard hands are considered high risk since you’re more likely to go bust with these cards. With low-value hard hands, like a hard 8, it’s possible to improve the hand, but with a hard 15 or hard 16, it’s more complicated. Surrendering when you have a hard 15 or 16 is always a great idea.
Since hard hands are not very flexible, you must be careful when deciding your next move. For the hard 12 – 16, it’s usually better to stand unless the dealer has a 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace. However, with a hard 17+, you always want to stand.
Soft Hands in Blackjack
The Soft Hand in Blackjack refers to one with an Ace. Players who land a soft hand are less likely to go bust since they can count the Ace as a 1 or 11, depending on the value of the other card.
There are several soft hand combinations in Blackjack, and the Natural (Ace and 10-value card) is the most profitable. Other combinations include an Ace and 2-value card, Ace and 3-value card, and so on.
Best Hands in Blackjack
From the possible combinations you can have in Blackjack, a few stand out as the best hands. One of these is the 21, also known as Natural or Blackjack. This hand consists of a 10-value (10, J, K, Q) card and Ace, and means you automatically win the game unless the dealer also gets a natural.
Another great hand is a hard 20 (two 10-value cards). This is another difficult hand for the dealer to beat, and there is no need to split if you get this hand.
With the best hands in Blackjack, you don’t need to take additional action to win the game, and the odds are usually in your favor. In addition to the hands listed earlier, you can also have other combinations that give you a high chance of winning the game, such as an Ace and 9, Ace and 8, or 10 and 9 value cards.
Worst Hands in Blackjack
If you’re not lucky enough to get the best hands in Blackjack, there is a possibility of having the worst hands in the game. With these, there is a high chance of going bust if you choose to hit.
A 16 is one of the worst hands in Blackjack, and many players will agree. With this hand, there is very little you can do to win the game, especially if the dealer has a more favorable card, like a 10. Players who hit with a 16 have a higher chance of going bust, while the dealer has a better chance of winning the game. However, if you have a pair of 8s, your best option is to split the cards, since this provides a better alternative than trying to win with a 16 hand.
Another option is to surrender, which gives you a chance to get a part of your bet back. Although this is a great option when you have the worst hand, some Blackjack games do not allow players to surrender.
Strategies for Playing Blackjack Hands
Blackjack isn’t a game of luck like casino slot games, so you must know a few strategies to improve your chances of winning. Fortunately, there are several ways to outplay the dealer and protect your bankroll. You can try on our free blackjack games. These are some of our best tips:
- If you have a hard 12 – 16, stand if the dealer has a 2 – 6 or hit if the dealer has a 7 or higher.
- You should hit if you have a soft 13 – 17 and stand with a soft 18 or higher. However, if you have a soft 18 and the dealer shows a 9, 10, or A, you can hit, but it’s risky.
- Improve your chances by splitting your pairs of Aces or 8s.
- Surrender when you have a hard 16, and the dealer shows a 9, 10, or Ace.
- Insurance bets aren’t as good as they sound; avoid them.
In addition to the tips above, we recommend avoiding the 6 to 5 Blackjacks. These reduce your payout for a Natural, increase the house’s edge, and are available as live blackjack or land-based options.