Blackjack is a popular and exciting card game that combines chance with a small degree of strategy. As you explore the game, understanding the decision-making involved is key to improving your skills, increasing your chances of winning slightly, and potentially furthering your enjoyment of the game.
One of these crucial decisions is knowing when to 'stand'. But what does it actually mean to 'stand' in Blackjack? And more importantly, when should you make this choice?
In this post, we are going to break down the term 'stand' in simple terms, helping you to understand its significance in the game. We are also going to provide some helpful tips on how to recognise when it might be a good idea to stand based on your hand and what the dealer shows.
Grab a cup of tea and get ready to learn all you need to know about standing in Blackjack.
What Does Stand Mean In Blackjack?
In Blackjack, 'stand' is a basic option available to players during the game. If you choose to stand, you are effectively deciding not to take any more cards from the dealer and end your turn. This means you are happy with the total value of your current hand and are ready to pit that value against whatever hand the dealer ends up displaying on their turn.
Standing is an important part of the game because it shows you are making a strategic choice based on the cards you have and the situation on the table. By understanding when it is appropriate to stand, you can make better-informed decisions on your hand's potential for success and how it might impact the outcome.
If you decide to stand, you simply need to signal this choice to the dealer. In most games, you can do this by saying "stand" or making a similar simple hand gesture, like waving your hand over your cards.
When Should You Stand In Blackjack?
Knowing when to stand in Blackjack can make a real difference to your game. There is something known as ‘basic strategy’ in Blackjack that many players use to guide them in deciding the move to make, given the circumstances.
Basic Blackjack strategy helps you decide what to do by offering the most statistically advantageous move based on the total of your initial two cards and the value of the dealer's upcard.
Basic Blackjack strategy offers advice on whether it is generally best to hit, stand, double down, or split pairs in different situations. For instance, if your hand totals between 13 and 17 and the dealer shows a card between 2 and 6, standing is the recommended move - this is because the dealer is more likely to go over 21 based on the different possible hand values they might have.
However, it is important to remember that while basic strategy can improve your odds, it can't guarantee a win every time. The house edge, which is the casino's advantage over the players, can never be fully eliminated. Effectively implementing basic strategy can lower it slightly compared to playing without a strategy, but it can never be eliminated entirely.
The house edge in Blackjack sits at around 2-4% if you play without any sort of strategy. Using basic strategy well can lower this to around 0.5-1%. However, there is always an element of chance in the game, and the way the rules are set out ensures the house retains at least some advantage.
Blackjack still has an element of chance due to the randomness stemming from shuffling the cards and not knowing the value of the dealer’s hole card until your turn has already passed. A good thing you can do is learn how basic strategy works and the implications of the different decisions to give yourself the best possible chance of success.
Remember, winning is never guaranteed, even if you implement basic strategy into your gameplay. So, it is crucial that you always play responsibly and within your means.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.