Here's the situation:
You're playing in a multiple deck game and the rules are more or less standard. You are dealt a nine and a seven for a two card total of 16, while the dealer shows a ten as his upcard.
If the strategy says to double, but you have three or more cards, or table rules don't allow soft doubling, then hit, except stand with a soft 18. If the strategy says to surrender (16 vs. 10), but you can't for whatever reason, then hit. For hard 16 vs a 10, we're given a Weird rule: 'Hit a two card hard 16, but Stand a three card hard 16.' Hmmm, Ok, so we're supposed to Hit a hard 16 into 10 when our hand's made up of only two cards (10-6 or 9-7 only; 8-8's a split), but Stand a hard 16 into 10 when our hand's made up of 3 or more cards (say, 7-6-3, or whatever).
Will you stand on this hand, considering that in all likelihood you're going to bust if you hit it, or will you hit, figuring you'll have no chance at all if you don't?
Well, the correct play to make is to hit this hand.
Needless to say, you are in one of the tougher spots a blackjack player can be in. Having a 16 puts you into a 'no man's land' of sorts because whatever you do, it can seem like the losing move.
You have, in point of fact, a very slim chance to win the hand. Now what you have to do is start thinking about how you're going to LOSE LESS on the hand. And indeed, this is a VERY close call.
- Taking the posture where you're going to always stand on this hand will bring you a defeat 77% of the time, which constitutes the number of times the dealer is going to be pat (in a 'standing' position) with a ten showing.
- Hitting the hand will obviously have you busting out quite a bit, and you will win 2.7% less. But you will also lose 3.1% less, making it a slightly better decision to hit the 16 here.
Don't forget a very strong rule of thumb: when you're in a losing situation, at least position yourself to minimize your losses when you can.
US vs. THEM Blackjack Strategy Series
An Analysis
By Charles Jay
An Analysis
By Charles Jay
Blackjack Hit Or Stand On 16 Volt
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More on How to play Blackjack
I was reading on Wizard of Odds that their are a few exception to basic strategy with 2-8 decks. One that stood out at me was standing a 3 or more card 16 vs a dealer 10. After learning this I always utilized this exception.
But I have found that this Basic Strategy play is unknown among casino patrons, even players who otherwise play perfect BS. And at higher limits I almost always get yelled at for not hitting my 3 card 16 vs a dealer 10. How come this easy to remember play is nonexistent among BS players?
But I have found that this Basic Strategy play is unknown among casino patrons, even players who otherwise play perfect BS. And at higher limits I almost always get yelled at for not hitting my 3 card 16 vs a dealer 10. How come this easy to remember play is nonexistent among BS players?