Should you hit 16 against a 7?
Hit. Against a 2 through 6 the book stands on 16. Against a 7 or 8 it hits, and against a 9, 10 or ace it surrenders.
Why
A dealer showing a 7 ends on 17 or better 73.8% of the time. Your 16 beats none of those hands, so standing wins only when the dealer goes over 21: 26.2%.
Hitting is no bargain: 8 of the 13 ranks break 16. But 5 others land you on 17 to 21 in one card. Standing does worse, so the book hits.
When the answer changes
This one doesn't change. Every rule set the chart covers hits 16 against a 7: one, two, six or eight decks, the dealer hitting or standing on soft 17, with or without double after split and surrender.
The full basic strategy chart for six decks, dealer hits soft 17, with every other rule set a tap away.
Questions
Should you hit 16 against a 6?
No. Against a 6 the book stands on 16. A dealer showing a 6 goes over 21 43.9% of the time.
Is it different at a single-deck table?
No. At the app's table with a single deck, the book still hits. So does every rule set the chart covers.
More hands
- Should you hit 16 against a 9?
- Should you hit 16 against a dealer's 10?
- Should you hit 16 against an ace?
- Should you hit 15 against a 10?
- Should you double 9 against a 7?
- Blackjack hands, one at a time
Guides
Know the book before you sit down.
