A hit refers to the action of requesting an additional card from the dealer after the initial two cards have been dealt. This decision is made with the intention of improving the player’s hand total without exceeding 21, which would result in a bust and an automatic loss.
The primary goal of hitting is to increase the total value of your hand to get closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand. Players can hit on any hand totaling 20 or less, but it’s generally advised against hitting when very close to 21 due to the risk of busting.
The best time to call a hit is when the total is less than 12, as you cannot bust with such a low total. Also, if you have a total of 12 or 13 and the dealer shows a card valued at 2, it’s advisable to hit. You should also call a hit during soft hands. A soft hand includes an ace counted as 11. For example, if you have ace-6 (totaling either 7 or 17), hitting can be beneficial since you cannot bust on that draw.
In physical casinos, players can signal they want to hit by lightly scratching their cards on the table or tapping the table with their fingers. In online games, players simply click the “hit” button.
However, the main risk associated with hitting is the potential to exceed a total of 21, which results in busting. Players must weigh this risk against the likelihood of improving their hand. Strategic decisions about when to hit can significantly affect overall success in blackjack, as understanding probabilities and dealer tendencies plays a crucial role in gameplay.
