If you want to be successful at blackjack then it is incredibly important to understand odds and probabilities in the game. You need to understand your odds of busting or winning in any situation, depending on the hand you are dealt.
First things first-understand your odds of busting in any situation if you hit. The following chart shows your odds of busting depending on the hand you are dealt. Keep in mind that you cannot bust on any hand valued at 11 or under. For hands 12 and over, here are your odds:
| Hand Value |
Bust-Out Rate |
| 12 | 31% |
| 13 | 39% |
| 14 | 56% |
| 15 | 58% |
| 16 | 62% |
| 17 | 69% |
| 18 | 77% |
| 19 | 85% |
| 20 | 92% |
As you can see, the higher your hand's value is the more likely it is that you will bust. Therefore, it is advisable never to hit on a hand of 17 or higher, unless you hold a soft 17 (an Ace and a 6) in which case you should hit. On the other hand, you should always stand on soft 18 through 21 and always hit on any soft hand worth less than 17.
If you hold a hand with a value of 12 through 16 then you should stand when the dealer's upcard is 2 through 6, as he is likely to bust. However, if the dealer holds 7 or higher then hit. If the dealer doesn't bust then you definitely can't win with a hand under 17.
With a basic understanding of blackjack odds you will see that, based on your bust-out odds, these are the best moves in each of these situations. Now get ready to win!