When to Hit or Stand with Joe Fortune Online Blackjack

No other game out there has better odds than Blackjack. It’s a classic game for a reason. In order to get the great odds, though, you have to know how to play online Blackjack. And I don’t just mean “hitting” and “Standing” all willy-nilly as you’re pleading with the money gods to get lucky.

I mean, knowing for sure why you take every step that you do. Without a doubt. The precise moments when you know under what game conditions to Hit and when to Stand. Just think: you could be at the table playing online Blackjack for real money. Totally cool. Knowing you’ve got the best odds. Why? Because you read my bestseller, Joe Fortune’s Online Blackjack Guide. That’s Why.

Let’s start with when to Hit while playing casino Blackjack.

When to Hit in Online Blackjack

To “Hit” in online Blackjack for real money means to take another card during your turn. You can keep Hitting as many times as you want as long as you don’t shoot past 21 (Bust).

Generally speaking, you want to Hit whenever you have a low total in your hand. Anything 8 or below is a good time to Hit.

If, however, the Dealer seems likely to make 21 because they have a high card (Ace, 7, 8, 9, 10, or Face Card) it’s not a bad idea for you to Hit on a sum over 8 as well. In this case, keep Hitting until you reach 17. Sorry if I just described your teenager.

In the case that the Dealer has a 2 or 3, only Hit until you reach 13.

If the Dealer has 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, Hit until you reach 12.

When to Stand in Online Blackjack

To “Stand” in Blackjack is to stay with the cards you have.

The rule is that you always Stand on a Hand that has 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21. In this case, you’re almost guaranteed to Bust if you take another card.

You should also Stand if:

• You have a 12 and the Dealer shows a 4, 5, or 6.
• You have 13, 14, 15, or 16 and the Dealer shows a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6

When to Hit or Stand also depends a lot on the type of total you have. Remember that the Ace can either serve as a 1 or an 11, depending on the convenience.

Hands that contain an A are called Soft Totals.

Hands that do not contain an A are called Hard Totals.

With this in mind, whether or not you Stand will depend on if your Hand is Hard or Soft.

For example, before I mentioned you should always Stand when you have 17-21. But let’s say you have a Soft 18 (A-7), and the Dealer’s face-up card shows something like a 6 or lower. That might be a good time to Hit. That’s because if you get a High card, like, say, a J, Q, or K, you’d have a strong hand because of the A.

Optimal Online Blackjack Strategy

Now. As for how to play online Blackjack the “optimal” way, that goes beyond knowing when to Hit or Stand. Which is precisely why you have this amazing online Blackjack guide. You also have to know when to Split and when to Double Down.

To Split your hand means to make two separate Hands out of two cards with the same value (i.e. you have a 6-6).

It’s always a good idea to Split with 8-8.

• For 2-2, 3-3, and 7-7, you should Split if the Dealer has 8, 9, 10, or A.
• If you have a 6-6, Split only if the Dealer has a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.
• For all other Pairs, don’t Split.

To Double Down means to double your bet. It means you’re smugly confident you’ve got a money Hand.

As a rule, you should always Double Down when you have an 11. Otherwise, this is when you Double Down:

• If the Dealer has a 9 or lower and you have a Hard 10.
• The Dealer has 6 or lower and you have a Hard 9
• The Dealer has 3, 4, 5, or 6 and you have a Soft 17 (A-6)
• The Dealer has 4, 5, or 6 and you have a Soft 15 (A-4) or Soft 16 (A-5)
• The Dealer has 5 or 6 and you have a Soft 14 (A-3) or Soft 13 (A-2)

And finally, to tie the strategy together, you should… wait for it… practice. That’s why we have Practice Play mode. It’s kind of like your own personal, interactive Online Blackjack Guide. And it’s the best way to figure out how to play online Blackjack without needlessly emptying your wallet.

Once you’re done having a few rounds with training wheels, it’s time to deposit and play now with online Blackjack for real money. You’ll be the best player at the table at Joe Fortune. Hands down.