4 of the Best and Worst Starting Hands to look out for in Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic casino games. But if we take a closer look and delve a little deeper it becomes more than that.

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If we strip back the croupiers and the hustle and bustle of the tables, it’s really a game of percentages. So, what are the best and worst starting hands in Blackjack?

Continue reading for our blackjack hand guide.

 

Best starting blackjack hands

 

Blackjack (21) vs any none 10 or ace card

If you’ve played Blackjack before, you’ll know that 21 is the best hand in blackjack. This consists of an ace and a 10-value card. So, if the dealer doesn’t have 10 or ace up card, there is no chance of the push. If you’re dealt this, you’ve pretty much hit the jackpot.

 

The hard 20

This is without a doubt the next best hand in blackjack and consists of two 10-value cards. And, although the likelihood of winning is not quite as high as Blackjack, it’s still an extremely good hand.

This hand is most valuable against a dealers’ eight. And, of course, the only hand which can beat a hard 20 is, you guessed it, Blackjack.

 

 

Worst starting blackjack hands

 

16 v 10

When at the table, this is the worst hand in blackjack to start with, a hand you want to avoid. The negative yield on this hand is 0.5398%. So, when a player is dealt a 16 v the dealer’s 10 up card, they will lose on average £53.98 over the long term.

But don’t worry, there’s still the chance that you could draw a five, or that the dealer is dealt a weak card or busts. So, it’s by no means game over if you’re dealt a hand of 16.

 

16 v ace

Another hand you won’t want to see is a 16 v an ace. A 16 gives the player the fewest possible cards to make a hand, while the ace gives the dealer the most. This hand gives the player a negative expectation of 0.5171%, just slightly lower than the 16 v 10.

Of course, these are just a few of the many starting hands in Blackjack. And, although some offer a higher chance of success, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be walking away with the chips.

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