So You Think You're a Pretty Decent Blackjack Player

Every day, blackjack players come to the casinos in droves to test their luck and skill. What about you? Think you know the game pretty well?

Here's a 13 question blackjack I.Q. test for you. From what I've seen, few players, even experienced ones, can score as many as half of the 34 possible points. I'll print the correct answers and explanations on this site in my next article.

1) A "soft" hand is (1 point):

a) a hand containing an Ace counted as 11.
b) a hand containing an Ace counted as 1.
c) a hand with a total of 11 or less.

2) The house has the edge in blackjack because (1 point):

a) hitting all 16s is superior to wavering back and forth.
b) the player must play his hand first.
c) the player has a limited bankroll.

3) Playing 2 hands at a time will (1 point):

a) improve your overall odds by spreading out your risk.
b) make no difference overall.
c) worsen your odds by doubling your risk.

4) The dealer will have a 10 in the hole (2 points):

a) just about 30% of the time.
b) just about 50% of the time.
c) just about 70% of the time.

5) When the dealer has a 6 up, she will bust (2 points)

a) 3 times out of 7.
b) 4 times out of 7.
c) 5 times out of 7.
d) 6 times out of 7.

6) You've just doubled down with 11 against a dealer's 3 and caught a deuce. Your mother at third base has 12. How can she play to best help you win with your 13 (2 points)?

a) stand and save the bust card for the dealer.
b) nothing she does can affect your chances.
c) hit because that's correct basic strategy.

7) When you have A/7 against a dealer's 3, odds are you'll win 58 times out of 100 if you stand, or 55 times if you double down. Therefore, the best mathematical play is to (3 points):

a) stand
b) double down
c) hit

8) All four hands below should be hit. With which hand would it be the most serious mistake to stand (3 points):

a) 12 against a 2
b) 12 against a 3
c) 16 against a 7
d) 16 against a 10

9) You're alone against the dealer and your first hand off the top of the shoe is 8/5/3 against her 10 up. The right play is to (3 points):

a) stand
b) hit

10) Playing two spots, you're dealt a blackjack and a 17. The dealer's got an Ace up. You should (3 points):

a) insure the 17 and do nothing with your blackjack.
b) take even money on blackjack and do nothing on the 17.
c) refuse both insurance and even money.
d) take both insurance and even money.

11) You have a pair of 7s against the dealer's 3 up. Your best percentage move is to (4 points):

a) hit.
b) stand.
c) ask the player next to you if he wants to play one of your 7's.
d) split the pair yourself.

12) The player next to you has 8 against the dealer's 6 and decides to double down for half his bet. You should (4 points):

a) fill in the other half with your money.
b) just let him go ahead and make a bad double.
c) try to talk him out of his mistake.

13) You've just had 11 three hands in a row, doubled down and caught a 4 or 5 every time. The dealer promptly blistered you on all three hands with five card 21s. It's time to (5 points):

a) change tables.
b) increase your bets.
c) sit out the rest of the shoe.