Playing blackjack online when you are dealt thirteen can often be tricky. Some blackjack players are not comfortable hitting the thirteen, fearing a bust, while other blackjack players hit their thirteen religiously in fear of the dealer having them beat. Whether you habitually hit or stand with thirteen, it is important to consider the situation before making a blanket decision on how to play thirteen in the game of blackjack. Blackjack players should consider whether the thirteen is a hard or soft thirteen and act on information from the dealer’s up card before making a decision on how to play the thirteen.
Playing a Soft Thirteen in Blackjack
When playing a soft thirteen, there are two decisions one can profitably make – hit or double down. A blackjack player is never mathematically correct standing with a soft thirteen. When the dealer’s up card ranges between two and four, the blackjack player should take a hit for their soft thirteen. The same can be said with instances where the dealer is showing a seven, eight, nine, ten, face card, or an ace. However, if the dealer shows a five or six, the blackjack player is best served doubling down if they are able to. The likelihood that the dealer will bust while showing a five or six is great. Combine the chance of the dealer busting with the probability that the player outdraws the dealer and doubling down is the most profitable decision. In instances when the dealer has an up card of five or six and doubling down is not an option, the blackjack player should take a hit. After hitting the soft thirteen, the player should reassess their situation and act accordingly.
Playing Blackjack with a Hard Thirteen
When a blackjack player has a hard thirteen, they will be best served standing when the dealer shows an up card between two and six. When the dealer has an up card between two and six, standing with the hard thirteen is the most profitable decision to make. However, should the dealer have an up card of a seven, eight, nine, ten, face card, or an ace, the hard thirteen is going to need a little help. The player must hit their hard thirteen in hopes of drawing on the dealer without going bust.
When playing thirteen in blackjack, a player must check the dealer’s up card and act accordingly. Players should avoid always standing or hitting with a thirteen without first checking the up card otherwise the player leaves money on the table.