To request another card in blackjack.
Hitting means requesting an additional card from the dealer in blackjack. You can hit as many times as you want as long as your total stays under 21. If your total exceeds 21 after hitting, you bust and lose the hand immediately.
Basic strategy tells you exactly when to hit based on your hand total and the dealer's upcard. The most common situations where beginners make mistakes: not hitting a 12 against a dealer's 2 or 3 (you should hit), and not hitting soft 17 (you should hit).
In most casinos, you signal a hit by tapping the table or making a beckoning motion. In face-up games, you don't touch the cards.
You are dealt 9-3 (total 12) against a dealer 2 at an Aria blackjack table. Basic strategy says hit: the dealer 2 busts only 35% of the time, and standing on 12 loses 65% of the time. Hitting 12 vs 2 is roughly a -25 cent EV play; standing is -29 cents.
Hitting rules of thumb: always hit hard 11 or below, always hit soft 17 or below, never hit hard 17 or above. The tough spots are 12-16 against dealer 2-6, where you generally stand, versus 12-16 against dealer 7-Ace, where you hit. Miscuing those decisions leaks nearly 1% of EV — twice the entire house edge on a perfect game. Hand signal the hit by tapping the felt; verbal calls are not honored in surveillance footage.
<p>You are dealt <strong>9-3 (total 12) against a dealer 2</strong> at an Aria blackjack table. Basic strategy says hit: the dealer 2 busts only 35% of the time, and standing on 12 loses 65% of the time. Hitting 12 vs 2 is roughly a <strong>-25 cent EV</strong> play; standing is -29 cents.</p><p>Hitting rules of thumb: always hit hard 11 or below, always hit soft 17 or below, never hit hard 17 or above. The tough spots are <strong>12-16 against dealer 2-6</strong>, where you generally stand, versus <strong>12-16 against dealer 7-Ace</strong>, where you hit. Miscuing those decisions leaks nearly 1% of EV — twice the entire house edge on a perfect game. Hand signal the hit by tapping the felt; verbal calls are not honored in surveillance footage.</p>
Use a free practice game to see how the concept behaves before risking money.
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Continue learningTo request another card in blackjack.
<p>You are dealt <strong>9-3 (total 12) against a dealer 2</strong> at an Aria blackjack table. Basic strategy says hit: the dealer 2 busts only 35% of the time, and standing on 12 loses 65% of the time. Hitting 12 vs 2 is roughly a <strong>-25 cent EV</strong> play; standing is -29 cents.</p><p>Hitting rules of thumb: always hit hard 11 or below, always hit soft 17 or below, never hit hard 17 or above. The tough spots are <strong>12-16 against dealer 2-6</strong>, where you generally stand, versus <strong>12-16 against dealer 7-Ace</strong>, where you hit. Miscuing those decisions leaks nearly 1% of EV — twice the entire house edge on a perfect game. Hand signal the hit by tapping the felt; verbal calls are not honored in surveillance footage.</p>
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