Blackjack Strategies That Don’t Work

Blackjack stands out in the casino world as a game where skill significantly influences the outcome, alongside an element of luck. Unlike pure chance games, your decisions at the table can genuinely impact your winning potential. This is why mastering basic strategy is crucial for any player looking to improve their odds at online casinos in Canada.

While many strategies aim to boost your chances, there are also common misconceptions and plays that can actually hurt your game. Understanding these pitfalls is just as important as knowing the correct moves. Let's explore three prevalent blackjack strategies that Canadian players should avoid to optimize their gameplay.

Why You Should Never Stand on a Soft 17

A “soft 17” is a hand totalling 17 that includes an Ace counted as 11 (e.g., Ace-6). Many players, seeing a total of 17, instinctively decide to stand, believing it's a strong enough hand and fearing a bust. However, this is a common and costly mistake in blackjack.

The primary reason to always hit on a soft 17 is that you cannot bust. If you draw a 10-value card, your Ace simply converts to a 1, giving you a hard 17. Any other card (2-9) will improve your hand or keep it at a non-busting total. By hitting, you have a chance to improve your hand to a higher total (like 18, 19, 20, or 21) without the risk of busting.

Furthermore, consider the dealer's rules. In many live casinos and online blackjack variants, the dealer is required to hit on a soft 17. This rule increases the house edge against players. By applying the same principle and hitting your soft 17, you are essentially giving yourself the same opportunity to improve your hand, thereby increasing your winning chances against the dealer. Always remember: never stand on a soft 17.

The Misconception of Standing on a Hard 11

A hard 11 (e.g., 9-2, 7-4, 6-5) is one of the strongest starting hands in blackjack, yet some players mistakenly stand on it. This is a critical error. With a hard 11, you have an excellent opportunity to significantly improve your hand, often to a winning total, by taking one more card.

The optimal strategy for a hard 11 is almost always to double down. When you double down, you double your initial bet and receive exactly one more card. The probability of drawing a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, King) is very high, which would give you a powerful 21. Even drawing an 8 or 9 would give you a strong 19 or 20.

The only exception to doubling down on 11 is if the dealer shows an Ace. In this scenario, some basic strategy charts recommend hitting instead of doubling down, due to the dealer's higher probability of also getting a strong hand or blackjack. However, the core principle remains: you should never stand on a hard 11. Always aim to improve this strong starting position, typically by doubling down, to maximize your potential payout at Canadian online casinos, including those like Bitcoin casinos.

Reconsidering Standing on a Soft 18 Against a Dealer's 9 or 10

A soft 18 (e.g., Ace-7) is often considered a decent hand, and many players are tempted to stand, especially when they are close to 21. However, when the dealer shows a strong upcard like a 9, 10, or Ace, standing on a soft 18 can be a losing proposition. This is another common blackjack strategy that does not work in your favour.

While 18 is a good total, your chances of winning against a dealer who is likely to have a strong hand are slim if you stand. Mathematically, if the dealer shows a 9 or a 10, there's a significant probability (around 38% for a 10-value card) that their hidden card will give them a total of 19, 20, or 21. In such scenarios, your soft 18 is often not enough to win.

Basic strategy dictates that when the dealer shows a 9, 10, or Ace, you should hit on a soft 18. By hitting, you give yourself a chance to improve your hand to a higher total without the risk of busting (as it's a soft hand, the Ace can convert to 1). For instance, drawing a 2 or 3 would give you a 20 or 21. Even drawing a 10-value card would result in a hard 18, which is no worse than your starting position, and you still have a chance to draw a small card to improve. Don't stand; hit to give yourself the best mathematical chance against a strong dealer upcard.