Bust in Blackjack
To bust in blackjack means your hand total exceeds 21. When you bust, you lose immediately—even if the dealer later busts too. This is the fundamental disadvantage players face and the primary source of the house edge.
Why Busting Costs You
Here's the key rule: whoever busts first loses. Since players act before the dealer, you can bust and lose before the dealer even plays their hand.
If both you and the dealer would have busted, you still lose because you busted first. This is the house's primary advantage.
Bust Probability by Hand Total
The higher your hand, the more likely you'll bust if you hit:
| Hand Total | Bust Chance on Hit |
|---|---|
| 11 or less | 0% |
| 12 | 31% |
| 13 | 39% |
| 14 | 56% |
| 15 | 58% |
| 16 | 62% |
| 17+ | 69%+ |
This is why you never hit on 17 or higher—the bust risk is too great.
Dealer Bust Rates
The dealer's upcard predicts how often they'll bust:
| Dealer Upcard | Bust Probability |
|---|---|
| 2 | 35% |
| 3 | 37% |
| 4 | 40% |
| 5 | 42% |
| 6 | 42% |
| 7 | 26% |
| 8 | 24% |
| 9 | 23% |
| 10 | 23% |
| Ace | 17% |
When the dealer shows 5 or 6, they bust over 40% of the time. This is why you stand on weaker hands against these cards—let the dealer take the bust risk.
Avoiding Unnecessary Busts
Basic strategy minimizes your bust rate while maximizing wins:
- Stand on 12-16 against dealer 2-6 — let them bust
- Use soft hands to your advantage — you can't bust with one card
- Never hit hard 17+ — the bust risk is catastrophic