The Most Misplayed Blackjack Hands
Why we get these wrong
Most mistakes come from fear of busting or from a hunch about the dealer's hole card. Basic strategy ignores both. It plays the numbers. The plays below are for a standard 6 or 8 deck game, and we note where the soft 17 rule matters. Check them against the full chart.
1. Hard 12 against a 2 or 3
Many players stand, because 12 is a bad hand and the dealer 2 and 3 look weak. The chart says hit. A dealer 2 or 3 does not bust often enough to justify standing on 12. You only stand on 12 against a 4, 5 or 6.
2. Hard 16 against a 10
Hitting feels awful, because it busts about 62% of the time. But standing loses more. Hit it, or surrender if the table allows. Hard 15 against a 10 follows the same pattern, though it busts a little less (about 54%). See surrender.
3. 5,5
Some players split fives. Don't. Two fives are a hard 10, one of the best doubling hands. Double against a 2 through 9, and hit against a 10 or ace.
4. 10,10
Splitting tens turns a strong 20 into two hands that are each worth less. Stand, every time. It looks cautious, but it is the correct play.
5. 9,9 against a 7
You usually split nines, so people split here too. Against a dealer 7, your 18 already beats the likely dealer 17. Stand. You also stand against a 10 and an ace, and split against everything else.
6. 8,8 against a 10
A pair of eights makes 16, the worst hand in the game, so players hesitate to split into two hands against a 10. But 16 as a hard total is worse. Always split eights. Against an ace in an H17 game, surrender if allowed, and split if not.
7. A,7 (soft 18)
Soft 18 looks good, and players stand on it. That is right against a 7 or 8, but wrong against a 9, 10 or ace, where you should hit. Against weak cards, double against 3 through 6 (and 2 as well at H17), or stand if you cannot double.
8. Soft hands against a 5 or 6
A,2 through A,6 are weak hands that you hit and often double. Players hit and don't double. Against a dealer 5 or 6, soft 13 to 17 are doubles, because you cannot bust on one card, and the dealer is likely to. See the strategy chart for the exact cells.
9. Hard 11 against an ace
Against a dealer ace, players hesitate to put more money out. The chart depends on the soft 17 rule: at H17, double. At S17 in a shoe game, hit. See dealer hits soft 17.
10. Hard 9 against a 3 to 6
A hard 9 is not a strong total, so many players just hit. Against a 3, 4, 5 or 6, double. The dealer is weak, and one good card turns your 9 into 19. Against a 2, hit in a shoe game. Single deck and double deck games double against a 2 as well.
Honorable mention: insurance
It does not fit a hand, but it is the most common mistake. See should you take insurance. Never take it unless you are counting.
How to fix your game
Pick three hands from this list that you miss, and drill them in the trainer. When you can answer each one without thinking, add three more. The Coach mode explains each mistake as it happens.
Common questions
Why does hitting 16 against a 10 feel wrong?
You see the bust and remember it. The cost of standing is quieter, but larger over time.
Do these plays change by deck count?
A few do, such as hard 9 against a 2. The hub page lists single deck and double deck differences.
What if I have a feeling about the next card?
Ignore it. Without a count, the next card is random.
Which mistake costs the most?
Standing on stiff hands against strong cards and taking insurance, since those happen often.