Blackjack Standing
by
Henry
Tamburin
This lesson deals with Blackjack Standing on 17-21,
strategy
and the chances of winning at
Learn to
Play Blackjack.
Playing blackjack, your final hand can be one of these
possibilities:
a blackjack, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16 or less,
or you could bust
(total exceeds 21).
However, what about winning when you stand on
17 – 21?
Example, blackjack standing on 17 in a six-deck game where the dealer
stands on soft 17.
Most
players are happy
to have a 17 and stand.
But, you will lose more money than
win when the dealer
has any face card except the 6. You will lose the most money when the
dealer
shows a 9 and the least when he shows a 4 or 5.
It’s only
when the dealer has a
6 showing that you stand a fighting chance of winning some money in the
long
run.
So what’s a player to do? Actually, there is nothing you can
do. Hitting a hard 17 would result in even greater losses, so you
should be
standing. Often times you will stand on 17 and win a hand but over
time, you
will end up losing more then you win except against the dealer’s 6.
Standing on
17 is definitely not the best way.
Because 17 is not a good hand for players, this is the
reason you should never stand on soft 17 such as Ace-6 (you should hit
or
double down on soft 17 but never stand).
Blackjack Standing on 18:
Surely, we must fair better
then
standing on 17. And we do but not as much as you think. You’ll make
money on
that 18 in the long run when the dealer shows a 2 through 8 face card
but
you’ll lose money against the dealer’s 9, 10 or ace.
This is
the reason why you
should hit soft 18 when the dealer shows a 9, 10, or ace rather than
stand.
Here’s a casino scenario. You
would be permitted to bet as
much as you want and the casino would give you an
automatic 18 on
every hand for blackjack.
Would you take that bet? If you did, you would wind up
losing about 60 cents for every $100 you wagered. Like it or not, 18
won’t make
us a winner when we play blackjack.
Blackjack Standing on 19:
Surely, this must be a
winning hand. Well almost except when the dealer shows a 10 or ace.
Then, our
19 still isn’t good enough and in the long run we
will lose more then we win against these dealer’s upcards.
Blackjack Standing on 20:
Lastly, it’s only when we have a 20 do we really have a
strong hand. Against any dealer’s upcard included an ace, we will make
money in
the long run. Since 20 is such a strong hand this is the reason why
10-10
should never be split and A-9 should never be doubled.
You’ve
got a winning
hand with 20 so it’s best to leave it alone.
Additionally, 70% of your total winnings arise
from being dealt these two hands: A-10 and 10-10.
Nearly all the rest of your winnings are won by
these 5 hands: 11, 10-9, 10, A-9, and A-8. It’s important to know the
correct
blackjack playing strategy for them because they count so much toward
your
overall
chances of winning.
In multiple deck blackjack games always double down on 11 when the
dealer shows 10 or less and double 10 when dealer shows 9 or
less.
You should always stand on hard and soft 19 and with a soft
18; you double down when the dealer shows a 3 through 6, hit when he
shows a 9,
10 or ace and stand on 2, 7, and 8. This assumes the dealer stands on
soft 17.
If the dealer hits soft 17 in a 6 or 8 deck game,
you need change
two rules: double 11 against dealer ace and double soft 19 against
dealer’s 6.
Alternatively, the following hands will account for about
85% of our financial losses – hard 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. We
already
covered the 17 and the stiff 12 through 16 hands are overall losers
even when
we follow the basic playing strategy.
Statistics are interesting, but it won’t put money in your
pocket. What will is knowing the basic playing strategy and betting
more when
the undealt cards are rich in tens and aces.
That’s how you can turn the odds in your
favor
when you
play blackjack.
Blackjack
Standing on 17-21 is followed by Blackjack Control
OR
Return
to Learn to Play Blackjack Program
Gambling
Teachers Home
GT is attentive about getting the word out about our free
programs, lessons and add-ons offered, however, we ask your assistance
and consideration in promoting us.
Click link below that reads, "Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward.
Here's how..." to add a link to your site, blog or personal page.