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Blackjack fans can serve themselves best by mastering the unique but precisely defined odds affiliated with the game. In a game like poker the player is expected to be able to logically deduce when to fold and when to hold depending on the cards and betting variables in play. The same goes for a fast paced game like blackjack; a blackjack fan must know with absolute certainty whether he or she should hit or stay. If a player requests a hit at the wrong time and goes over 21, the round ends in what is called a bust. The odds below will help a player determine if it is the right time to request a hit from a dealer or if a player is better off holding on to the cards that he or she possesses.
Total of All Cards in Player’s Hand Upon Initial Dealing | Likelihood that the Player Will Lose if a Hit is Requested | Both of the playing cards from the deck dealt to the player are equivalent to 21. | The best possible hand, hence why blackjack is sometimes called "21". Obviously, you'd always stay on 21.
| Both of the playing cards from the deck dealt to the player are equivalent to 20. | This is definitely a stay hand. If requesting an additional card after one has a value of 20 in his or her hand, there is a 92 percent chance that the player will bust. | Both of the playing cards from the deck dealt to the player are equivalent to 19. | This is definitely a stay hand. If requesting an additional card after one has a value of 19 in his or her hand, there is an 85 percent chance that the player will bust. | Both of the playing cards from the deck dealt to the player are equivalent to 18. | This is definitely a stay hand. If requesting an additional card after one has a value of 18 in his or her hand, there is an 85 percent chance that the player will bust. | Both of the playing cards from the deck dealt to the player are equivalent to 17. | This is definitely a stay hand. If requesting an additional card after one has a value of 17 in his or her hand, there is a 69 percent chance that the player will bust. Unless the player has an Ace in the combo that can be used as a one and thereby converts the value of the hand into eight, the player should stay and refrain from requesting additional cards. | Both of the playing cards from the deck dealt to the player are equivalent to 16. | This is a tricky hand. Many players choose to stay when the hand is equivalent to 16. If requesting an additional card after one has a value of 16 in his or her hand, there is a 62 percent chance that the player will bust. Unless the player has an Ace in the combo that can be used as a one and thereby converts the value of the hand into seven, the player should stay and refrain from requesting additional cards. The player might also consider splitting pairs into two separate hands to shoot for higher values. | Both of the playing cards from the deck dealt to the player are equivalent to 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, or 3. | Any hand with such values is a definite hit hand in Blackjack. If pairs are identified, the player may want to consider doing a split to increase winning chances in the game. | |
