Should you double soft 16 against a 3?
Hit. The book doubles soft 16 against a 4, 5 or 6 and hits against the rest.
Why
Soft 16 isn't a hand to stand on: the dealer never stops below 17, so standing wins only when the dealer goes over 21, which with a 3 showing is 37.7% of the time.
A 3 is weak, but not weak enough to double soft 16 into. The book doubles it against a 4, 5 or 6, where the dealer goes over 21 more often. Here, take a card: it can't break a soft hand.
When the answer changes
This one doesn't change. Every rule set the chart covers hits soft 16 against a 3: 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 double soft 16 against a 4?
Yes. Against a 4 the book doubles soft 16. A dealer showing a 4 goes over 21 39.8% 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 double soft 17 against a 3?
- Should you double soft 15 against a 4?
- Should you double soft 17 against a 2?
- Should you double soft 14 against a 4?
- Should you stand on soft 18 against a 2?
- Blackjack hands, one at a time
Guides
Know the book before you sit down.
