Should you hit 16 against an ace?
Surrender if the table offers it. If it doesn't, 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 an ace ends on 17 or better 79.9% of the time, after checking for blackjack. Your 16 beats none of those hands, so standing wins only when the dealer goes over 21: 20.1%.
Hitting breaks 16 with 8 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
Surrender is the only rule that moves it. Wherever late surrender is offered, every rule set the chart covers surrenders 16 against an ace: one, two, six or eight decks, the dealer hitting or standing on soft 17. Where it isn't, the book hits.
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 10?
No. Against a 10 the book surrenders 16. 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 where surrender isn't offered?
Yes. At the app's table with no surrender, the book hits 16 against an ace.
More hands
- Should you hit 16 against a dealer's 10?
- Should you hit 15 against an ace?
- Should you stand on 17 against an ace?
- Should you hit 16 against a 9?
- Should you hit 16 against a 7?
- Blackjack hands, one at a time
Guides
Know the book before you sit down.
