If you have 8 or less, always hit. Cards with 8 or less in total can improve substantially if you add a good card to the equation. Any face card or an Ace can turn an 8 to 18 or even a soft 19, which are quite strong and solid most of the time. If you have a 9, however, the decision can be a bit trickier. See the dealer’s open card to get started. If it shows 3 to 6, you can opt for a double to increase the amount of money you can win. Otherwise, just hit and pray for the best. The same thing goes if you have a total of 10; double when the dealer’s open card is between 2 to 9, otherwise just hit for an additional card.

As your starting hand total gets higher with no Ace, decisions do get a bit tougher. Of course, you should never hit if you get a total of 17 or higher; it is just too risky. With 13 to 16, you should stand if you see the dealer’s open card is between 2 to 6, otherwise hit. You will be breaking the hard hands in no time with these tips.