- Stand when your hand is 12-16, and the dealer has 2-6.
If my cards add up between 12 and 16 and the dealer shows a weak upcard (2 through 6), I prefer to stand. This approach gives me the best shot since the dealer is more likely to bust with a weak hand.
- Hit when your hand is 12-16, and the dealer has 7-Ace.
When the dealer has a strong upcard like 7 or higher, I tend to hit if my hand totals between 12 and 16. This way, I’m playing risking to bust, but I’m also looking to build a stronger hand that can compete with the dealer’s likely higher score.
It’s actually quite simple - if you stand on 16 and the dealer gets 10 on 7 or 8, you’re gone. So there’s no reason to ‘’play it safe’’ here.
- Always split Aces and 8s.
Splitting Aces and 8s is a no-brainer for me. Splitting Aces lets me start two new hands with a strong 11 while splitting 8s avoids that tough spot of having 16 - a hand that rarely wins.
Plus, with an 8 in your hand, you can hope for so many cards here - from 2 to 4 and from 8 to 10 - everything’s welcome.
- Double down on 11 versus the dealer’s 2-10.
Whenever I have an 11, and the dealer’s upcard is between 2 and 10, I always double down. This move is about maximizing the odds of hitting a 10-value card. This gives me a strong total with just one extra bet.
I know it sucks when you get 2 or 3 on 11, but if the dealer goes overboard with 7 as a starting hand, I still win.
- Hit or double down on Ace-6
When I’ve got an Ace and a 6, I usually go for a hit or a double down. The flexibility of the Ace acting as 1 or 11 keeps me adaptable and gives me a better shot at landing a winning hand.