The 12 dilemma

12. The flip-side of 21, the unsure spot to be for many newcomers to the game of blackjack. Basic strategy tells you to hit against low dealer up-cards like a 2 or 3, but should that always be the case? Basic strategy? We don’t need no basic strategy. Well, actually, most of us do. But anyway…

Basic strategy (i.e. the chart cards) does a fine job of telling you what you should do against a particular dealer hand off the deal. But what about deeper into the hands. In the aforementioned case, would you still hit a 12 if it were a 4-card 12? You’re taking a couple more smaller cards out of play here. Does that shift the count enough to affect your routine decision in that scenario?

Of course, being a card counter and being a basic strategy player are two different things, but the principle is the same. And even with a multi-deck game (which most casinos and Web sites are), statistically you don’t have to worry much about busting. Even if you’re paying attention to the other players’ hands and see a growing number of smaller cards, the odds are in your favor.

Now, if you do count cards, a few general blackjack rules are to stand on a 12 vs. a dealer’s deuce if the true count is +3 or more, and stand against a 3 if the true count is one or more. Be careful how much you adhere to this, though, even if you’re a veteran card-counter, as this is a big area where dealers or pit bosses who can spot counters will watch out for. It’s definitely not all about how much you’re betting hand to hand if they see you start standing on certain 12 hands and hitting on others when the dealer’s up-card is the same each time.

When all else fails, if you’re still unsure, make a decisions early on to either go with your gut or go with the card. If you keep flipping back and forth you’ll drive yourself crazy. If you’re going to lose, you might as well lose with some conviction.