How To Play A Hard 12 In Blackjack
One of the most troublesome hands in a game of blackjack is the hard 12. The reason this hand poses a problem to players is due to the fact that it is a hand that lessens the odds of winning considerably. If a player hits on a hard 12, they will end up with a card valued to 10 approximately 30% of the times. Most players, therefore, especially newer ones, will often stand on a hard 12 and simply hope for the best.
This strategy may work some of the time, if you’re lucky, but it’s not always the best way to go. The blackjack strategy chart clearly lays out the rules for how to play a hard 12, and we’re going to talk you through it right now to ensure that you’re playing your hard 12 to its best advantage.
Best Casinos in New Zealand
100% up to €123 with 10% cashback
Fun Casino is of course the fun casino you have ever dreamt of. Enjoy a big section of fun casino games and don't forget to claim the generous welcome offer.
100% up to €/$/£200 with Wager Free Spins
Videoslots casino comes with over 3000 games and a wide horde of online slots. Treat yourself to some exciting casino action, all in one place. With so many games, it means more jackpots and more fun!
You have 7 days to activate the bonus, once activated welcome spins must be used within 24 hours.
Welcome Spins are free from any wagering requirement. No maximum withdrawal limits. A first deposit is required to play these spins. Bonus will be paid out in 10% increments to your cash account. Casino Videoslots gives you a chance to win up to 4,200 Extra Spins on Battle of slots. Full Bonus T&C Apply
100% up to €/£300
New players only, min deposit £10, wagering 45x, max bet £5 with bonus funds, 100% up to £100 bonus on 1st deposit, 50% up to £200 on 2nd deposit. No max cash out on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Full T&C’s apply
Hyper Casino is fairly new in the industry but it boasts of really speedy transactions and responsive a website. Even more interesting is that in the first few months after launching, a Swedish player won a mega jackpot at Hypercasino!
The welcome bonus is available to players from the following countries: United Kingdom, Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Norway, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland. Unless other rules are specified, bonuses are valid for 30 days and are subject to the X45 wager requirement.
Slots and Other Games apply towards the wagering requirement. Table games, Video Poker and Live Casino do not count towards the wagering requirements. Bonuses cannot be used in the Live Casino. Bonus Terms Apply
100% up to €/£300 with Free Spins
This hilarious casino is one of the best known casino brands on the Internet. It's winning awards left and right and has a massive selection of games available from all the leading developers.
100% up to €/£200 + 200 Free Spins
Betsafe has managed to offer customer satisfaction with a variety of gameplay from their vast selection of casino games, poker, sports and horse race betting.
100 % up to €200 +100 free spins
Betsson casino is without a doubt one, if not the one, leaders within the online casino. No other casino brand offers this large range of slots, table games together with massive promotions. With Betsson - you can't go wrong!
100% up to €100 with Free Spins
MrGreen is one of the most popular casino brands on the market. It offers a large range of slot games as well table games.
Combinations for a Hard 12
A hard 12 is made from a combination of the following cards:
- 2 + 10 = 12
- 3 + 9 = 12
- 4 + 8 = 12
- 5 + 7 = 12
- 6 + 6 = 12 (this hand is usually splitted)
Keep in mind that a 12 can also come in the form of an Ace + 2 (soft 12) and 6 + 6 (a 12 that can be split), but the blackjack strategy chart has different rules on how to play these two combinations. If you’re landed with a hard 12, you don’t have many options regarding how to play it. And the options that you do have are totally dependent on the dealer’s face up card.
The Best Moves to Make
If the dealer is showing any of the following cards you stand:
- 4
- 5
- 6
The reason for this is because the dealer’s likelihood of going bust with these cards is actually quite high. The dealer, unlike the player, must keep hitting until they reach 17. The dealer’s likelihood of going bust while trying to get to 17 is approximately 40%. This puts the odds in your favour, if only by a small margin.
If the dealer has any of the following cards you hit:
- 2
- 3
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- J
- Q
- K
- A
Most players instinctively decided against doing this out of fear that they will draw a 10 or picture card. However, it’s better to hit at this stage because the dealer is already in a much stronger position that you are; the dealer is likely to reach 17 or higher without going bust. In this case, you should take the chance that you’ll draw a 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
Good and Bad Scenarios
So, let’s say you draw a hard 12 and the dealer is showing a 6. Your move, according to the blackjack chart, is to stand. The dealer must hit, because the dealer must keep hitting until they reach 17, and even if the dealer’s face down card (or hole card) is a 10, their current total is a maximum of 16. If all goes well for you, the dealer will draw a 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, taking their total over 22 (if their original total was 16). In this scenario, you win.
But what happens if you decide to hit even though the dealer is showing a 4, 5, or 6? Well, as we mentioned earlier, there is a chance that you could get a decent card that would take your total to 19 or over. But the chance of you going bust is much more likely -just as likely as the chance of the dealer going bust. But you have to hit first. In this scenario, you could go bust before the dealer even has a chance to make a move, meaning that in this scenario, the dealer wins simply because you took an unnecessary risk.
Keep the Chart Close to Your Heart
When it comes to a hard 12, do your self a favour and play by the rules of the chart. It’s an unfortunate hand, but at least the rules for playing the hard 12 are the same whether the dealer is playing by hard 17 or soft 17 rules. Next time you visit one of the excellent online casinos that we recommend here, keep the chart next to you and be sure to follow the rules for playing a hard 12 in order to give yourself the best possible chance of winning the hand.
Learn how you play optimal blackjack by checking our other guides
There is much to learn in order to play optimal blackjack. You will come a great way by reading our guides on how to play your hand in blackjack below.
Relevant news
Game reviews with RTP in focus
If there's one thing we enjoy more than thrilling slot games, it's slot games that…
Live Blackjack
[table id=LiveBlackjackProscons /] About the game Live Blackjack is the category: Evolution’s modern and live…
Introduction to e-wallets for fast online casino withdrawals
E-wallets, also known as digital wallets or online wallets, are electronic payment systems that allow…
When is the best time to play slot machines at a casino?
Most experienced slot fanatics believe that the outcome of online slot machines is merely based…
How to play slot machines: a step by step guide
Not too long ago slot machines weren’t even that interesting. Jackpots weren’t very alluring, no…
5 ways to tell if a slot machine is ready to pay + 2 bonus tips
Only in a perfect world would it be possible to exactly identify when a slot…