In Blackjack, which starting hands are considered the "worst" combinations?

Hey there, friend! When playing Blackjack, everyone dreams of getting a natural Blackjack or a strong hand like 20. But the reality is, we often find ourselves with hands that put us in a difficult spot. These are what we commonly refer to as the "worst starting hands" – no matter what decision you make with them, it just doesn't feel right.

So, based on my experience as a seasoned player, I'm going to break down some of the most frustrating starting hands you can get in Blackjack.

👑 King of the Worst: Hard 16

This is universally recognized as the worst hand in Blackjack, bar none.

What is a Hard 16? It's a 16-point hand that doesn't contain an Ace, for example, a 10 and a 6, or a 9 and a 7.
Why is it the worst? Because you're stuck in an incredibly awkward position:
- Hit? The risk is enormous. There are so many cards valued higher than 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K) in the deck, so drawing almost any one of them will easily lead to a "bust" (going over 21). The probability of busting is over 60%.
- Stand? You're very likely to lose. The dealer typically hits until they reach 17 or more. Your 16 points is probably not enough to win; as long as the dealer doesn't bust and gets 17-21 points, you lose.

Essentially, getting a Hard 16 is like standing on the edge of a cliff – both moving forward and retreating are dangerous.

🥈 Close Second: 15 Points (15)

15 points is a close sibling to 16, with a very similar situation. It's only marginally better than a 16, but still quite awful.

Why is it bad? For the same reasons as 16. If you hit, the risk of busting is still very high (over 50%); if you stand, 15 points is simply too low to consistently beat the dealer. You're essentially just praying for the dealer to bust.

🥉 The Awkward Zone: 12, 13, 14 Points

While this group of hands isn't as deadly as 15 or 16, they are definitely frustrating "stiff hands".

Why are they awkward? Especially when the dealer's face-up card (upcard) is a relatively strong one (like a 7, 8, 9, or 10), you're in a real dilemma.
- Your total isn't high, so you're unlikely to beat the dealer.
- However, if you hit, drawing any 10-value card (10, J, Q, K) will lead to an immediate bust, and 10-value cards are the most common in the deck.

At this point, you need to decide whether to risk hitting or stand and hope the dealer busts, all based on the dealer's upcard.

Special Cases: Tricky Pairs

Some pairs, while forming a poor total, offer a chance to change your fortune: Splitting.

Pair of 8s (8, 8):
- As a single hand: They add up to 16 points, which is our "King of the Worst" as discussed earlier.
- As a pair: This gives you an excellent opportunity to "split"! You turn one bad hand (16 points) into two more promising hands (both starting with 8 points). According to basic strategy, you should almost always split a pair of 8s, regardless of the dealer's upcard. So, while the total value is terrible, it's inherently a combination full of opportunity.
Pair of 5s (5, 5):
- As a single hand: They add up to 10 points. This is an excellent total! You should strongly consider doubling down, as there's a high probability of drawing a 10-value card or an Ace, which would give you a strong 20 or 21.
- Never split them! If you split them, you'd end up with two weak starting hands of 5 points each.

To Summarize

In simple terms, the most frustrating hands in Blackjack are those in-between hands that leave you "caught between a rock and a hard place".

King of the Worst: Hard 16
Close Second: 15 points
Awkward Zone: 12, 13, 14 points (especially when the dealer shows a strong upcard)

Remember, don't get discouraged when you get these hands; they're part of the game. The key is knowing how to make the mathematically most advantageous decision in these bad situations (what we call "basic strategy"). Good luck at the tables!