The Fred Ogletree "Standing 16 Blackjack rule"

The game of blackjack has been around for a very long time. The object of the game is to get cards totaling 21, or as close as possible without going over and to get a better total than the dealer.  There are some people that believe that it is a game based solely on luck.  When playing blackjack there is a very small percentage of the game that requires skill.  Almost every casino has at least four different versions of the game of blackjack.  The different types of games are: single deck, double deck, lucky ladies, and twenty one plus three.  The basic rules of the game of blackjack are for players to get as close to the number twenty one beating the dealer without going over that number. There are rules that say that aces and eights should always be split into new hands.  One rule in particular that is questionable is always taking a mandatory hit on your hand when the dealer is showing ten on the up card.  There is an exception to this rule.  I call it the standing 16 rule.  Whenever a player gets dealt a card totaling 16 there are only four cards that he/she will be safe with. If the dealer up card is a 2, 3, 4, and 5 there is a strong possibility that the dealer will bust out the hand.  Be careful though because sometimes although the dealer up card may be a 2 it is called a dealer ace and a hand can be made out of that 2 without busting.  In most cases that is exactly what will happen. Now it is not mandatory for a player to take a hit becoming a sacrificial lamb for the rest of the players at the table.

In my experience using the standing 16 rule I have at least 3 times in a shoe that contained 8 to nine decks of cards when I did not take the hit on the 16. In some cases it can even save the other players on the table by not hitting the 16 which may lead to the dealer busting his/her hand. The standing 16 rule will work in every blackjack game regardless if it has a side bet or not. Always remember to play at your own pace. Don't worry about the comments of other players. Playing blackjack is a social task. Nobody can tell you how to play with your own money.

Blackjack is a card game that is more than luck. It requires a little skill, especially when using the standing 16 rule. There is no guarantee that it will work every time it is used, but it will reduce the house edge slightly considering the fact that it is expected for you to take a hit on 16. A great maxim is to play smarter and not harder in the game of blackjack.