Blackjack Hard Hand: Beating House Edge

To reduce house edge when playing blackjack, playing strategically is essential. The game begins after the players are dealt with pairs of cards. One of the possible card combination that a player can get is known as Blackjack hard hand. How does one increase chances of winning with a blackjack hard hand?

Blackjack hard hand refers to the first pair of cards that doesn't have an Ace. In blackjack, winning means two ways. One is having a natural. This means luckily getting an Ace and a ten on the first pair. Another is by having cards whose sum is higher than the dealer's. The sum must not be over 21, or the player gets a bust.

In short, blackjack is a card game where a player acts individually against the dealer. Other players on the betting table are not part of the challenge.

To play blackjack hard hand, first, one has to compare his card combination and the singular face-up card of the dealer's. The player then rests his judgment on ratio and proportion of ten-valued cards to the total number of cards in a deck. There are sixteen 10-valued cards in a 52-card deck.

The player who relies on this statistic assumes that the dealer's face-down card is a 10. The question that the player considers then is: What is the likelihood of the dealer having a 10-value face-down card?

The odds are always two: the dealer's face-up card will give him a bust, or will give him a win.

What cards are likely to give the dealer a bust? Computer simulation show that cards between two and six will likely be unfavorable to the reader. House rule declares that the dealer has to continue making a hit unless his cards total 17 or higher.

Now, you also have to consider your cards. If you have blackjack hard hand less than 11, you may hit. For cards less than eight, you always hit. Double on 9 if the dealer has 3 to 6. Otherwise, draw another card. Double on 10 as well if dealer has 2 to 9. Otherwise, you hit. Double on 11 if dealer has 9 or 10. If dealer has an ace, make a hit. Hit on 12 if dealer has 2 or 3; stand on 12 if dealer has card between 4 and 6. If you have a card total ranging from 13 to 16, stand if dealer has up card of 2 to six. If not, hit.

Always stand on card total between 17 and 21.

If your first pair of cards doesn't have an Ace, that means you have a blackjack hard hand. Increasing your probability of winning if you have a blackjack involves strategy and calculation. You have to consider the dealer's up card, and the total of your cards. Then you decide on whether making a stand or making a hit based on your cards and the dealer's.