Should you hit 15 against an ace?
Surrender if the table offers it. If it doesn't, hit. Against a 2 through 6 the book stands on 15. Against a 7, 8 or 9 it hits, and against a 10 or ace it surrenders.
Why
A dealer showing an ace ends on 17 or better 79.9% of the time, after checking for blackjack. Your 15 beats none of those hands, so standing wins only when the dealer goes over 21: 20.1%.
Hitting breaks 15 with 7 of the 13 ranks. Surrender is the way out: you give up half your bet and keep the other half. Against an ace, playing the hand out, by hitting or by standing, loses more than that over time. Where surrender isn't offered, the book hits.
When the answer changes
At the app's table (six decks, the dealer hitting soft 17, double after split and late surrender) the book surrenders 15 against an ace. Where surrender isn't offered, it hits. With the dealer standing on soft 17, the book hits instead. Every other rule set plays it the way the app's table does.
The full basic strategy chart for six decks, dealer hits soft 17, with every other rule set a tap away.
Questions
Should you hit 15 against a 10?
No. Against a 10 the book surrenders 15. Where surrender isn't offered, it hits. A dealer showing a 10 goes over 21 23.0% of the time, after checking for blackjack.
Does the answer change if the dealer stands on soft 17?
Yes. At the app's table with the dealer standing on soft 17, the book hits 15 against an ace.
More hands
- Should you hit 15 against a 10?
- Should you hit 16 against an ace?
- Should you stand on 17 against an ace?
- Should you double 11 against an ace?
- Should you hit 14 against a 10?
- Blackjack hands, one at a time
Guides
Know the book before you sit down.
