Blackjack has long been a favourite among casino enthusiasts, both in traditional venues and at online platforms. The appeal lies in its blend of chance and strategy, offering players the opportunity to influence outcomes with smart decisions. One of the most important aspects of mastering blackjack is understanding which hands put you in the strongest position to win. This article explores the best hands in blackjack, why they matter, and how you can make the most of them when playing at casinos or even at no GamStop gambling sites.
What Makes a Hand “Best” in Blackjack?
In blackjack, the goal is to beat the dealer by having a hand value as close to 21 as possible without going over. The “best” hands are those that either give you an immediate win or place you in a strong position to make strategic decisions. While luck plays a role, understanding which hands offer the highest probability of success can improve your overall results.
The Value of Cards
Before diving into specific hands, it’s important to recall how card values work in blackjack:
- Number cards (2-10) are worth their face value.
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are each worth 10.
- Aces can be worth either 1 or 11, depending on what benefits the hand most.
This flexibility, especially with the Ace, is central to creating the best possible hands.
The Most Powerful Hand: Blackjack (Natural 21)
The ultimate hand in blackjack is known as a “natural” or simply “blackjack.” This occurs when your first two cards are an Ace and a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King). This hand totals exactly 21 and, in most games, pays out at 3:2 odds unless the dealer also has blackjack, in which case it’s a push (tie).
Why Blackjack Is So Strong
- It’s unbeatable unless the dealer also has a natural blackjack.
- It usually pays out at higher odds than a standard win.
- It cannot be improved upon, so there’s no risk of busting.
Landing a natural blackjack is the ideal scenario for any player, but it’s relatively rare, occurring in about 4.8% of initial deals.
Strong Starting Hands: Soft and Hard Totals
Not every hand will be a natural blackjack, so understanding other strong starting hands is essential. Blackjack hands are commonly divided into “soft” and “hard” totals, each with its own strategic implications.
Soft Hands
A “soft” hand contains an Ace counted as 11, which provides flexibility because the Ace can also be counted as 1 if needed. This makes soft hands less likely to bust and gives players more options.
Examples of strong soft hands:
- Soft 20 (Ace + 9): This is the second-best starting hand after a natural blackjack. Most strategies recommend standing on soft 20, regardless of the dealer’s card.
- Soft 19 (Ace + 8): Another strong hand, though slightly less powerful than soft 20. The right move may depend on the dealer’s upcard, but standing is usually best.
Hard Hands
A “hard” hand contains no Ace, or the Ace must be counted as 1 to avoid busting. Hard hands offer less flexibility but can still be strong, especially with higher totals.
Examples of strong hard hands:
- Hard 20 (10 + 10 or face cards): This is a very strong hand, only beaten by a natural blackjack. Standing is always the best option.
- Hard 19 (10 + 9): Also a strong hand, though slightly more vulnerable to a dealer’s high upcard.
Pairs and Splitting: When Two of a Kind Becomes an Advantage
Another aspect of blackjack strategy involves pairs. When you’re dealt two cards of the same value, you have the option to “split” them into two separate hands, each with its own bet. Knowing when to split can turn a mediocre hand into a winning opportunity.
The Best Pairs to Split
- Aces: Always split Aces. Each new hand starts with an Ace, giving you a strong chance to hit 21 or a high total.
- Eights: Always split eights. Two eights (16) is a weak hand, but splitting gives you two chances to build a stronger total.
Other pairs, such as tens, should not be split. Two tens (20) is already a strong hand, and splitting would likely lead to weaker outcomes.
Hands to Avoid and How to Play Them
While this article focuses on the best hands, it’s also important to recognise hands that put players at a disadvantage. For example, Hard 16 (without the option to split) is considered one of the weakest hands because it’s easy to bust if you hit, but standing leaves you vulnerable to the dealer’s higher totals.
Knowing how to play these hands-whether to hit, stand, or surrender-can minimise your losses and improve your long-term results.
How Dealer Upcards Affect Your Best Hands
The strength of your hand in blackjack is always relative to the dealer’s visible card, known as the “upcard.” For instance, a hard 17 might be strong if the dealer shows a 6 (a weak card for the dealer), but less so if the dealer has a 10 or Ace.
Dealer Upcard Scenarios
- Dealer shows 2-6: These are considered weak upcards. If you have a strong hand (17 or higher), standing is usually the best move.
- Dealer shows 7-Ace: These are strong upcards. You may need to be more aggressive, especially with soft hands, to improve your total.
Adjusting your play based on the dealer’s upcard is a key component of basic blackjack strategy.
Basic Blackjack Strategy and Best Hands
Many experienced players use a basic strategy chart to optimise their decisions. These charts are based on mathematical probabilities and outline the best moves for every possible hand combination against every dealer upcard.
Why Use Basic Strategy?
- Reduces the house edge to its lowest possible level.
- Provides clear guidance on how to play both strong and weak hands.
- Helps you make the most of your best hands and minimise losses with weaker ones.
While memorising a full chart can be daunting, focusing on the best hands and understanding when to stand, hit, double down, or split is a great starting point.
Doubling Down: Making the Most of Strong Hands
Doubling down is an option that allows you to double your initial bet in exchange for committing to receive only one more card. This move is best used when you have a strong hand and the dealer is in a weak position.
Common doubling down scenarios:
- Player has 11: Double down against any dealer upcard except an Ace.
- Player has 10: Double down if the dealer shows 9 or lower.
- Player has 9: Double down if the dealer shows 3-6.
Doubling down can maximise your winnings with the right hands, but it’s important to use this option selectively.
Effects of Game Variations on Best Hands
It’s worth noting that different blackjack variants can affect the value and strategy around the best hands. For example, Some online casinos and no GamStop gambling sites may offer games with unique rules, such as different numbers of decks, payout ratios, or restrictions on splitting and doubling down.
Common Rule Variations
- Number of decks: More decks slightly decrease the chance of getting a natural blackjack.
- Payouts: Some games pay 6:5 for blackjack instead of the traditional 3:2, reducing the value of the best hand.
- Dealer stands or hits on soft 17: If the dealer hits on soft 17, the house edge increases, making strong hands slightly less valuable.
Always review the rules of the specific game you’re playing to understand how they might impact your strategy.
Best Hands for Online and Mobile Blackjack
With the rise of online and mobile casinos, players now have access to a wide variety of blackjack games. The fundamentals of the best hands remain the same, but digital platforms often provide additional tools, such as strategy charts and hand history, to help you refine your play