In blackjack, a stiff hand refers to any hand with a total card value of 12 to 16. This range is tricky because it is too low to stand confidently, yet hitting runs the risk of going over 21 and busting. Players often face difficult decisions with a stiff hand, particularly when the dealer has a strong upcard, as the risk of losing the hand increases significantly.
Stiff Hand Example
For example, if a player has a 10 and a 6 (total of 16), they have a stiff hand. If they hit and receive a 7 or higher, they will bust.