Decision Library
Hard 17 vs dealer Ace · six decks · dealer stands on soft 17 · double after split allowed
Correct play
StandThe best you can do is hold the loss to -0.475 per unit, and standing beats surrendering by 0.025 per unit.
Deals a hard 17 against a dealer ace in the trainer, graded live.
Per unit bet, six decks, dealer stands on soft 17, computed by the engine.
| Option | EV / unit | vs. best |
|---|---|---|
| StandBest | -0.475 | — |
| Surrender | -0.500 | -0.025 |
| Hit | -0.554 | -0.080 |
| Double | -1.109 | -0.634 |
With a hard 17 you already hold a total the dealer has to beat, and the Ace is weak enough that letting the dealer draw is better than risking your own hand. The dealer busts 16.7% of the time showing a ace, while hitting would bust you 69.3% of the time.
Standing is worth -0.475 per unit; the closest alternative, surrendering, comes in at -0.500. That 0.025 gap is the price of taking an unnecessary card.
Players hit a hard 17 out of fear of the dealer's ace, but the ace is exactly why you stand. Hitting costs 0.080 per unit versus the correct standing. Over a few hundred of these hands, that is real money handed back.
Same hand, different table conditions. The correct play holds unless noted.
| Table condition | Correct play |
|---|---|
| 6 decks, stands soft 17 (baseline) | Stand |
| 6 decks, hits soft 17 | Surrender changes |
| Single deck, stands soft 17 | Stand |
| Double deck, stands soft 17 | Stand |
| No surrender offered | Stand |
The correct play changes under: 6 decks, hits soft 17. Everywhere else, stand holds. Use the row that matches your table.
Strategy and expected values from a combinatorial engine validated against Wizard of Odds.