Could You be a Blackjack Star? Quiz

Answer: hit (take a card)

You have nothing to lose by taking a hit (being dealt another card). The object is to get a total of 21 or very close to it without going over. Because the dealer has a powerful card showing (possible 18 or 19 depending on her hole [face down] card) if you are dealt a 7 or less you should take another card. Yes, draw a card when you have 16!

Answer: double down

The proper basic strategy here is to double down; make another bet the same size as the original one. You could double down for less than the original bet but that's usually a strategy for tournament play. The basic strategy is based on long-term projections but keep in mind that in a situation like this there's some room for the dealer to draw out to 20 or 21, so this hand can be a nail-biter.

Answer: smile nicely because you're a winner

Smile big because you won this game. There's no reason to take another card, especially since the dealer has a 10 for a possible 20. Sometimes in tournament play you will see a player, desperate to catch up or to gain a big chip lead, double down on a 21 (counting the ace as 11 in that case) but for regular play just take your winnings.

Answer: double down

Basic strategy says with an 11 you must double down against any hand the dealer has. Since she's showing a 10 she could have 20 but the strategy is correct so hold your breath and double down for the full amount.

Answer: hit

This is one of the most hated hands in blackjack. Since the rules don't allow surrender and the dealer hits on soft 17 your best strategy is to take another card; if you stand you are likely to lose anyway. The dealer may have a small-value card as a hole card and end up busting by drawing a total over 21 but that's often a player's daydream. If surrender was allowed, surrendering would be the proper move. Surrendering costs you half your bet ($5 in our $10 example).

Answer: hit

For this hand you would hit. Remember, if you split the 5s you would only get one card to add to each 5 so your maximum for each hand would be 16 (if you were dealt aces). The dealer's 10 puts her in a strong position so just hit and hope for the best.

Answer: no

Insurance costs $5, half the amount of your original bet (although you can insure for a lesser amount). It pays 2 to 1 so if you took insurance and the dealer has a blackjack you would lose your original $10 bet but make $10 on your insurance bet, thereby breaking even. It's considered a poor bet because a blackjack is dealt once in 21 hands on average, so save the $5 and tell her no.

Answer: no

An even money payout when you have a blackjack is just another form of insurance. The dealer has about a 1 in 3 chance of having a 10-value card in the hole to make a blackjack for herself so, again, basic strategy says to refuse it and hold out for the better payout.

Most blackjack games pay 3:2 for a blackjack, meaning you would get $15 for your $10 bet. Some casinos have started offering single-deck games which have a 6:5 payout. Some players jump at the chance to play a single deck game without realizing that they would only be paid $12 for their $10 bet in a 6:5 game; that's 20% less. The hardcore blackjack players stay away from 6:5 games.

Answer: split

One of the never-changing rules of blackjack it to always split aces, regardless of what the dealer has for an upcard. Likewise, always split a pair of 8s.

Answer: split

This is a hand that blackjack players wish they had bet $100 on instead of $10. A 6 is a weak card and it's likely that the dealer will have to draw at least one more card; there is a strong chance that she'll total over 21 and bust. It doesn't always turn out that way but it does often enough that it's worth following the strategy and putting the money on the table.