Correct play when the dealer shows a seven

Unlike many other casino games, blackjack is a table game that is skill-based. There are strategies you can learn and utilise to better your chances against the house odds, and the great part about playing blackjack online is you can access info and advice on what your best move is while playing.

Although there’s no guaranteed winning strategy in blackjack, you can increase the likelihood of a win. Here’s a straightforward guide to what you should do when a dealer shows a 7 card.

Best strategy when the dealer has a face-up 7

It can be tricky knowing what to do when a dealer turns up a 7 for their first card. It’s not a bad place for the dealer to be. Statistically speaking, the dealer bust percentage after turning up a 7 is only 26 per cent. However, by abiding by the following recommendations you can increase your chances of ending up on top.

If you have a soft hand

In standard blackjack, and most other blackjack variants, an Ace can be worth one point or 11 points at the discretion of the player. This gives you greater flexibility to make a winning hand, or to avoid busting out. A soft hand means one of your cards is an Ace.

When you have only two cards you take the ace as an 11, until you see what your third card is and then you may need to alter this value. When you have a soft hand it’s usually best to hit, as this let’s you get closer to the coveted 21 but you can make your ace worth one point as well so you don’t have to bust out. If a dealer has a 7 card their odds are good but all you can really do is focus on what will, most likely, be best for your hand.

Here are the next moves you should make based on your first two cards when you have a soft hand:

• If the total value of your hand is 13-15 then it is best to hit.
• If your hand is worth 16-18 points then you should double your bet and take a final card to finish the game. If your blackjack variant doesn’t let you double then just hit.
• If your hand is worth 19-21 then stand. Your odds are already good for a win and taking a hit would be far too risky.

If you have a hard hand

A hard hand is when you don’t have an Ace. This means you have fewer options and your hand isn’t as malleable. As a result a hard hand means you have to play a little more conservatively. Remember, if you’re playing against a dealer who has a 7 the chances the dealer will bust are relatively low, so you need to minimise the possibility you will bust as well.

Here are the next moves you should make based on the scores you have from your first two cards when you have a hard hand:

• If your hand is valued at four-eight then you should hit.
• If your hand is worth nine-11 then you should double your wager if this is an option, otherwise you should just hit.
• If your hand total is from 12-21 then you should stand. When you have a hard hand there is a bigger range of totals where you should just stand.

If you are dealt a pair

When the first two cards you are dealt are in a pair then you have the option of splitting pairs. This gives you two hands to play against the dealer. The following recommendations are for when the dealer has a 7 card:

• If you have a pair of 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s or Aces then you should split your pair and play two hands.
• If you have a pair of fours, fives or 10s then you shouldn’t split pairs.

What to do when a dealer must hit on soft 17

In some blackjack variants when a dealer has a soft 17 hand they are required to take a hit, in others they don’t have to do this. The following recommendations are for when dealers must hit on a soft 17:

• Double your bets when you have 11 against a dealer’s Ace.
• Double when you have a soft 18 against a dealer’s 2.
• If you have a soft 19 hand against a dealer 6 then you should also double.

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