There are so many strategies and tips to take into account when playing Blackjack that it can seem overwhelming at times, but once you get to know the basic strategies it all starts to come pretty naturally. In this article we explore what to do in the scenario that the dealer’s hand shows a face-up six. Considering the general odds of Blackjack, the dealer’s chance of busting after showing a first up card of six is 46%. Read through our guide of what to do when the dealer shows a six and then put the strategies to use.
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When the player has a soft hand
A soft hand is any hand that contains an Ace, with the Ace counting for either one or 11 points (the choice is yours based on the other cards in your hand). The basic strategies of poker is to advise players to play on a soft hand, as your hand is probably not strong enough to win, but you also won’t bust if you hit.
If you have a soft hand and the dealer’s face up card shows a six it is recommended that you make the next move based on the value of your hand as follows:
13 to 15 = Hit
16 to 18 = Double
19 to 21 = Stand
When the player has a hard hand
A hard hand is any hand that doesn’t contain an Ace, or a hand where an Ace is only counted as one point (this occurs when an Ace is dealt after your first two cards in the situation where it would bust your hand if it was played at the standard 11 points). The basic strategies of poker advise players to stand on a hard hand with a value of 17 or higher. Playing on a hand of more than 17 would significantly increase your chances of a bust and as you stand, your chances are already high of winning over the dealer.
If you have a hard hand and the dealer’s face up card shows a six, it is recommended that you make the next move based on the value of your hand as follows:
4 to 8 = Hit
9 = Double
10 to 11 = Double, but only if your hand is higher than the dealer’s
12 to 16 = Stand
17 to 21 = Stand
When the player has pairs
When dealt a pair of matching cards, you have the option to Split Pairs. This means that you can separate your two cards into two separate hands and now play both hands against the dealer.
If you have a pair and the dealer’s face up card shows a six it is recommended that you make the next move based on the pairs in your hand as follows:
Split: Pair of twos, pair of threes, pair of sixes, pair of sevens, pair of nines, Pair of eights, pair of Aces.
Don’t Split: Pair of fours, pair of fives, pair of tens.
When the dealer has a soft 17
It is also worth noting that in some cases the dealer may deal a Soft 17, which is a hand made up of an Ace and any number of cards equalling six. Each game variation will advertise whether the dealer landing a Soft 17 requires the dealer to hit or not. The above play strategies are relevant to a dealer hitting on a Soft 17 hand, but for the really serious players, the following variations can be taken into consideration:
• Double on 11 against a dealer Ace
• Double on a Soft 18 against a dealer Two
• Double on a Soft 19 against a dealer Six
Blackjack strategy and where to play
The strategies of how to play Blackjack are not an exact science, but if you learn them properly knowing when to stand, hit, double or split can certainly increase your chances of winning. The above guide gives players a better understanding of how to play to increase their chances of winning when the dealer’s face up card is a six.
Our favourite online casinos allow players to play in practice mode for free, so why not head over to All Slots Casino or Royal Vegas Casino and put these strategies to the test before taking the plunge to play for real money wagers.