Should you stand on 17 against an ace?
Surrender if the table offers it. If it doesn't, stand. The book surrenders 17 against an ace and stands against the rest.
Why
A dealer showing an ace ends on 18 or better 71.6% of the time, after checking for blackjack, and ties your 17 another 8.3%. Your 17 comes out ahead only when the dealer goes over 21: 20.1%.
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, stand. Never hit 17.
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 17 against an ace. Where surrender isn't offered, it stands. With the dealer standing on soft 17, the book stands 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 stand on 17 against a 10?
Yes. Against a 10 the book stands on 17. 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 stands on 17 against an ace.
More hands
- Should you hit 16 against an ace?
- Should you hit 15 against an ace?
- Should you hit 16 against a dealer's 10?
- Should you hit 15 against a 10?
- Should you hit 16 against a 9?
- Blackjack hands, one at a time
Guides
Know the book before you sit down.
