Blackjack is an incredibly popular game of chance that can be enjoyed by players of all levels. However, it’s important to know how to play the game properly and win money when playing. Having a good understanding of the best hands in blackjack is one of the ways to do this, as well as learning when it’s time to double down or split your cards.

The Best Hands in Blackjack

The best hand in blackjack is a natural or blackjack, which consists of an ace and a card with a value of 10. This hand beats all other hands, so you have a very high chance of winning if you receive this hand. It has a 4.75% chance of happening once in every 21 hands with a six-deck shoe.

A hard ten is another excellent blackjack hand, and it has a very good chance of beating the dealer’s hand. This is because a hard ten is a combination of a ten-value card and a picture card. This gives you a 80% chance of winning when you get a hard ten.

You can also get a hard twenty, which is a combination of a ten-value and a picture card. This is a great starting blackjack hand, as it has an 80% chance of winning.

Some people might think that splitting a pair of aces or eights is bad in blackjack, but they’re actually not. A lot of 10-value cards are in the deck and statistically, if you’re dealt two pairs of aces or eights, it’s better to split them rather than risk losing one hand.

It’s also important to understand that most blackjack hands are hard. This means that they have no room for error. Unless you hold an ace, these hands can bust on the next card.

The worst blackjack hand is 16 versus an ace, and it is very unlikely that you will make 21 with this hand. This is because you will be stuck facing a dealer card that is a 10. If you have a hard sixteen, it’s a good idea to stand.

A soft 16 is also a poor hand, and it’s unlikely you will make 21 with this hand. This hand is also very likely to bust, so it’s a poor choice to stand.

Most Blackjack Strategy Charts Are Based on Hard Hands

The best thing you can do to improve your chances of winning at blackjack is to learn a few basic strategies and remember them. Using these techniques will help you avoid mistakes and maximize your profits.

When to Hit or Stand

It is always better to hit in blackjack if you have a hand of 10 or 12-16. This is because you have a good chance of making 21 with a hit, but it’s important to remember that the dealer can also get a better hand of 17 or over.

When to Double Down or Split

You should always double down after receiving the first two cards in blackjack. This increases your chances of winning a large amount of money by giving you a higher chance of drawing a third card that will help you reach a 21. The reason for this is because the odds of drawing a third card are much higher with a ten-value hand than with any other type of hand.