Simple Blackjack Strategy for Hard Counts under Ten

When playing blackjack, every move matters. Blackjack games favor the house, casino, or online blackjack site that they are played at, so a blackjack player has to do everything they can in order to make as much money as possible. In the game of blackjack, the players at the table each compete individually against the dealer. If the player outdraws the dealer, then the player wins. The player also wins in the event the dealer goes bust – providing that the player in question has not busted prior to the dealer taking a turn. Additionally, the player emerges victorious if they stand and the dealer fails to outdraw them.

In addition to beating the dealer in a hand, the player must make prudent decisions when playing blackjack. Players must decide when to hit, split, stand, or double down. As blackjack players, we make decisions based on the information available to us. This information comes in the form of knowing our card count and knowing what the dealer’s visible up card is. When we have these two important bits of information, we can decide how we want to play our hand.

In blackjack, there is often more than one “correct” or profitable decision a player can make. Likewise, there may be multiple “bad” or unprofitable decisions a player can make when playing their hand. The goal of any blackjack player should be to make the best or most profitable decision they can, as doing so results in the most profit. When a player makes a decision at the blackjack table that was not the most profitable of all decisions, money is left on the table. Hence, the player loses opportunity because they had the ability to act in a manner that was more profitable than the course of action they chose. One area where players struggle to make the best of all possible decisions is when the player holds a hand that is valued lower than ten. Sure, everyone knows to hit these hands. However, in some instances, doubling down is the best and most profitable decision that one can make.

When holding a hand valued at under ten, a player should first determine whether doubling down is the best course of action. To do so, one must consider their own card count, as well as the dealer’s up card. When holding a hard four through a hard eight – the player should simply take a hit and then reassess their hand after the card comes. When holding a nine, players are most profitable doubling down if the dealer shows a two, three, four, five, or six. If the dealer shows a seven or higher – the most profitable decision is to merely hit the nine. By following these guidelines, you will play your hands valued at under ten in the most profitable manner possible.