The Philosophy of Decision-Making at a Live Blackjack Table

It’s time to hit, stand, or double down! Live blackjack is a casino game filled with twists, turns, and unexpected wins depending on the luck of the card draw. Each decision you make is paramount and affects what happens to your hand value. 

Try live blackjack offered by Novibet from the comfort of wherever you are. It’s not as fast paced as blackjack games with random number generator (RNG) software. You can carefully take 10 to 30 seconds to make your decision on your next move. Remember that every requested hit should be carefully thought out because it could be the difference between a win and a loss. 

Every Hit Requires Careful Thinking

Before asking the dealer for a hit, you must evaluate your hand carefully. What is the current value? What cards are left in the deck after you, the dealer, and other players have received the cards you already have?

If you are at a low hand value of 5 to 10, it’s best to take another hit to get as close to 21 as possible. A hand value of 17 to 20 requires more cautious evaluation. If the dealer’s hand value is much lower than yours, it may be safer to stand instead of asking for another hit. 

Risk Versus Reward

Every player must balance their idea of risk versus reward when playing live blackjack. Even though it’s not recommended to take another hit when a hand value is in the high teens, a player may do it anyway if someone is at 19 or 20 and they want to attempt to outvalue them. More cautious players may accept fate at this point in the game and let the other player win. 

Of course, taking more risk, like asking for a hit in this situation, could lead to a greater reward if you outvalue another player or the dealer. 

Logic Versus Emotions

There’s logic in evaluating the probability of the value of the next card dealt to your hand. If most high-value cards are already in the dealer’s and other players’ hands, you may have a chance of slowly creeping to 21 with extra hits without going over. Vice versa, it’s more realistic to be careful with how many hits you request as your hand value goes higher. 

Then there’s the emotional side of the coin. You may ask for another hit to attempt to outvalue a dealer or another player you developed beef with a few rounds ago. Keeping irrational emotions low and logical thinking high should be the best strategy for carefully playing live blackjack. 

Instinct Versus Analysis

Card counting for live blackjack is more of the analytical side of this argument. While you can continue to analyze the current cards in people’s hands versus what could come next from the deck, it doesn’t change what card is truly next. This analysis only covers possible cards that may come on the next hit. That doesn’t mean the next card you receive will be low enough to ensure you don’t bust. 

Your instincts may take over and make you believe that your next hit will get you closer to 21 without busting. However, you never know if the next hit will also make you bust. Incorporating too much instinct into your blackjack strategy might be less successful. 

The Biggest Decision: When to Double Down

Doubling down can happen when a special circumstance occurs in your hand. If you have two of the same cards, like two 8s or two Aces, you can separate them into two hands to double your initial bet. Separating two of the same card with too low a value, such as 5s, could set you back. Carefully analyze the current situation at the table before making this decision.