Hitting in Blackjack: Making the Right Decision

When the blackjack dealer deals the first of two cards, the player makes the first of several crucial decisions about the game. They need to decide about hitting in blackjack or standing. Hitting in blackjack essentially means requesting another card from the dealer to bring you closer to 21, while standing in blackjack means sticking with the cards you have.

While there exist many strategies for the game of blackjack, the general rule of thumb is for players to consider hitting in blackjack when they think they have a higher chance of reaching a closer hand to 21. This can be indicated by a special sign at land-based casinos or simply by hitting the ‘hit’ button at online casinos. The deciding factor for standing in blackjack is if players are almost sure that they will go bust if they ask for another card.

Blackjack players should consider other things, over and above their two cards, when making a decision about hitting in blackjack. Determining factors include the dealer’s up card and calculations regarding the probability of winning the game. Also to be taken into account is the fact that certain gambling establishments have hard and fast rules about when the dealer should hit. These facts also determine when the player should hit or stand.