Play the Blackjack Hands Rank Correctly to Win

Learning how to make up a blackjack hand is relatively easy. Players need to obtain cards that will give them a total that is as close to 21 as possible without exceeding this amount. If your total is over 21, you have gone bust and forfeit the wager on your hand. This is why it is worthwhile learning how the blackjack hands rank and memorizing which actions you should take in a game based on your cards.

The blackjack hands rank is based on the standard value of all the cards with the exception of the Ace. An Ace can be played as part of a hard hand or a soft hand. In a soft hand, the Ace is valued as eleven instead of one. This is why blackjack strategy differs depending on whether you're playing a hard or soft blackjack hand.

If you're playing a hard hand in which the Ace is counted as one according to the blackjack hands rank, you should study the following actions. With eight or less, you should hit. If you have nine and the dealer has a total of three to six, double. If the blackjack doubling rule is not allowed, hit.

With ten in your hand and two to nine in the dealer's hand, you should double or hit. If you have eleven and the dealer has two to ten, hit if the dealer holds an Ace. With twelve, hit if the dealer has two or three, stand if he has four to six, then hit for all other totals. Stand on thirteen to sixteen but if the dealer has over six, hit. And if you have seventeen to twenty-one, always stand. By learning these actions you will be able to play the blackjack hands rank correctly and minimize the house edge in a blackjack game.