Top 10 blackjack plays not everyone will agree with

“Play by the rules.” “Follow the instructions.” We have definitely all heard these commands at some point in our lives whether it was during school or from our parents when we were growing up
These can also be true when you make your way to the blackjack table.

Learning basic strategy is something I think everyone should do before they take a seat at a blackjack table. Get familiar with how you should play and what to expect. However, you will run into players that may not always follow the strategy down to the letter and I am definitely guilty of doing that in some instances. It is suggested to not sit down and play one-on-one against a dealer because the amounts of hands increase, but I have found myself playing heads up against a dealer before. This can change how you play and rely on basic strategy.

Here are 10 hands against just the dealer that may not be traditional plays according to basic strategy.

10. Never take insurance
I have followed this “rule” of mine no matter what table I am at. I never take insurance. When the dealer’s up card is an ace, they will give you an option to take insurance that you can bet up to half of your original bet. If the dealer completes a blackjack, your insurance bet pays 2-to-1.

I always assume the dealer’s under card is a 10, but in this case, it is a little different for me. If the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, not only do I lose my insurance bet, but I also have to make sure I win the hand or else I will lose 1.5x my bet.

Even though a 10 might be the dealer’s under card, according to some of our gurus, you will win more money in the long run by trying to only win the hand and leave the insurance alone.

Dealer with an ace. (photo by Wikimedia Commons)

9. Never surrender
If you are playing at a high-limit table, then surrendering once in awhile to save half of your bet might not be the worst idea. But if you find yourself at a $10 or $15 table like myself often then I don’t see surrendering as the best option.

Maybe I am dealt a 15 and the dealer’s up card is a 10 or face. Sure, my chances of winning the hand aren’t great, but if I surrender, I am getting, let’s say $5 back and now have a chip to tip the waiter or waitress bringing my Johnny Walker Black. However, I’d rather take my chances to try and get a five or less on my hit to make a hand and try to win the hand, while still of course tipping whoever brings my drink.

8. Standing 16 against a 7
This is definitely a play where I would only do it when I am the only one at the table. A 16 versus a dealer’s 7 causes a lot of headaches for players because, according to the book, everyone knows it is a hit and you are most likely going to bust.

When playing against only the dealer, you tend to notice what is coming out of the shoe a little more than when there are five other players with you. Have there been a ton of face cards? Have small cards been flying all over the table? These are the questions you need to think about for this play.

When I have seen a plethora of cards five and under and I am staring at my 16 with a dealer showing 7, I am probably going to stay because I think there are a good number of high cards waiting to come out of the shoe. It could bite me in the ass or the dealer could flip something like an 8 and then bust on the next card.

Again, don’t do this when there are other players because you won’t be the most popular person there if you do.

7. Doubling 10 against an ace
After the players at the table make their choice on insurance, the dealer will check the under card to see if they have a blackjack, and if they do not, the hand continues.

Now I can eliminate a 10 or a face card being under there. If I have a 10, I am most likely doubling against an ace. I am anticipating a 10 to follow to bring my hand to 20, a very difficult hand to beat.

Only a 9 as the under card for the dealer will cause a push, but a 7 or 8 would result in a win for me, assuming a 10 does come for me and I make a 20.

6. Playing a 12 against a 2
You will see this hand played different ways. According to the basic strategy chart, when a player has a 12 against a 2, the play is for you to hit. This ties into my 16 vs. 7 debate, as well. What cards have been on the felt in the last few hands? A lot of small cards? Are we “due” for a face card to come? One of the most frustrating things to happen is busting from a 12 when the dealer has a 2.

I might not always play this hand the same consistently but more often than not, when I am heads up against the dealer, I am probably standing on the 12 and letting the dealer bust rather than kicking myself later for breaking with 22.

5. Not splitting 9s against a 2
I never really like the idea of breaking up an already made hand. Many consider a made hand to be a hard 17 or higher. If you are dealt two 9s, you are already looking at a solid hand. Why split these against a low card like a 2? If the dealer has a bust card like a 4, 5 or 6, sure I am all for splitting here, but a dealer is more likely to make a hand with a 2 than they are with those bust cards.

On top of that, you could end up with a couple of 14s or 15s after you split leaving yourself in a much more vulnerable position than you were with your 18.

4. Not doubling a 9 against a 3
Continuing this idea, a 3 is another hand I have seen dealers make work too many times in my “career” at the tables. Not only that, I have lost count on the number of times that I have doubled a 9 and my one and only card shows to be a 2 and puts me at 11, but now I can’t hit that 11 and I am in for double my bet.

Yes, the book says double, but if it is just myself and the dealer, I am not changing anyone else’s cards but my own. I’d rather be in for the amount of my original bet and avoid those horrifying 11s while hoping the dealer busts.

3. Always take even money
If you guessed the result of a coin flip and won $10, but you were offered to do it against for an extra $5; however, if you got it wrong you lost everything, would you do it? My answer is no because it is based purely on luck.

Well, in blackjack, it is obviously out of your control if you are dealt a blackjack or not. If you are given one, but the dealer’s up card is an ace, take even money. This means, rather than getting 3-to-2, or more commonly now 6-to-5 payout on your hand, you will get a 1-to-1 payout.

Why do this? Well, if you do not take even money and the dealer also has a blackjack, you don’t win anything and you push. Pushing on a blackjack is one of the more frustrating things because they aren’t a common hand to get. Take your profit on the hand and move on to the next.

2. Not splitting 8s against a 10
I can’t stress this enough for this item, this is definitely only for playing against just the dealer because you will get some looks from other players if you do it at a full table.

Assume the dealer’s under card is a 10, right? Keep that in mind in a moment. I get dealt two 8s, first thought is obviously to split as the book says, but then the dealer flips his up card and it’s a 10 or face. Now, I am hesitant.

If I split them, I have to double my original wager and let’s say I do get two 10s and now I have two 18s, both good hands, but if I am assuming the under card is a 10, I am losing both hands still.

If I decide not to split, I am looking at a 16 against a 10, which most likely I am going to hit and bust. Maybe I get a low card to make a hand but I am probably losing; however, I am not doubling my bet by splitting and I’m still in trouble against a 10. It is somewhat cutting your losses here with keeping a slim chance of making a hand.

1. Always double an 11
This play is actually by the book, but many players may be questioning the decision. You are dealt an 11, before I even see the dealer’s up card, I am reaching for chips to signal that I am doubling down. For me, it doesn’t matter what the dealer has, I am doubling no matter what when I have an 11.

Some players might see a dealer with a 10 and assume, which they should, that they will have a 20. But the same can go for the card that the player will be dealt next, assume that card is a 10 or face which is why we double it in the first place. We are assuming that our 11 will become the unbeatable 21.

When you see the 11 in front of you, don’t think, double it and hopefully see your chip stack rise a bit.