How to Play Blackjack Hands Correctly

Question

What is the proper way to play a hand of 12 against a dealer's 2 or 3 in blackjack?

Answer 1

The proper way to play a hand of 12 against a dealer's 2 or 3 in blackjack is to hit, rather than stand or double down. While it's a negative expectation hand either way, hitting will result in losing less money over time compared to standing.

Comments

Hitting 12v2 and 12v3 and Soft 18 vs 9,10,A = instant verbal abuse from other ploppies. Gotta have a thick skin for this game!

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I'm a dealer and people get upset when another player asks what they're supposed to do and I tell them they should hit a 12 against a 3 or hit a soft 18 against a 10. Those are definitely the two most common ones experienced players have very strong and wrong opinions about.

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Collin, nice to see you. Hope Thanksgiving with the family was nice for you. Anyone that is afraid to bust when the right move is to hit, needs to understand this fact. Math doesn’t lie. When dealt a stiff hand it’s always better to go down trying. Blackjack is a game of math and hitting when we may not want to but I agree with you 100% in every example you showed today. Typically when I sat on third base, I usually let the table know. I hit 12’s to dealers 2 & 3. You may want to leave if you can’t stomach that. No one ever did however, they were quick to throw it in my face when I took a bust card. Not so much when I saved the table but I always answered, That’s why the cards have backs on them. This was good info to share today.
Thanks!!

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I don’t give a damn what other players say. If I have a 12 vs 2 or 12 vs 3 I’m hitting that all day long because it comes down to probability. You have a better chance of getting a higher hand than actually busting

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For a Long time I stayed on 12 but now I know thanks for the help

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I get kinda conservative on my 12s vs 2 or 3, or soft 18's. But I've seen players split 10's, and I happened to sit in that same table and my turn was approaching and dealt a 12 against 3. I just hit my 12. Everyone else got pissed that I ruined the cards, but the guy who split the 10s already killed it.

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At pretty much every table I've ever played at, I'm the only person that hits a 12 against a 2 or 3.  It's a little maddening. :)

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with a 12, you hit it always and keep hitting it seeing more cards to help your  count unless you are near the shuffle card, insurance- only take it when count is high, always split nines except 7, 11 versus ten is double when count is high, if count is really low you keep hitting get more of low cards out of way, only hit 15 or 16 when count is really low, or better yet throw them in and take 1/2 bet off if casino surrounds, soft 18 - double down when count is really really low - or hit it to get low cards out. If you hold your cards in hand, and count goes low, keep hitting to get low cards out even if you go over 21. Just to get the low cards out of way. Then throw cards away so dealer can't see them.

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i just gotta say that when me and my friend play blackjack, we got a rule that says: no matter the dealer's hand, if you got 12 double. It's been effective and idk why.

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Hit a 12 against a dealer's 2 and you will more than likely pull a 10-valued card and bust. The dealer flips over his cards and he has 12 too. The dealer pulls an 8. The table is pissed at you. The rest of the shoe is crap because of that 1 hand. It's best just to leave it be because that stress of the table hating you will cause you to play irrational and lose more money.

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on 12v2 and 12v3, I always played it as, one person at the table needed to take a hit for the team.  Does that strategy hold water?  For example, if the first person also has a 12 or 13 and they take a hit, I normally hold.  That has worked a majority of the time.