Decision Library
Soft 18 vs dealer 8 · six decks · dealer stands on soft 17 · double after split allowed
Correct play
StandYou keep a positive expectation of +0.108 per unit here, and standing beats hitting by 0.067 per unit.
Deals soft 18 (Ace-7) against a dealer 8 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 | +0.108 | — |
| Hit | +0.041 | -0.067 |
| Double | -0.028 | -0.136 |
| Surrender | -0.500 | -0.608 |
With soft 18 (Ace-7) you already hold a total the dealer has to beat, and the 8 is weak enough that letting the dealer draw is better than risking your own hand. The dealer busts 24.4% of the time showing a 8, while hitting would bust you 0.0% of the time.
Standing is worth +0.108 per unit; the closest alternative, hitting, comes in at +0.041. That 0.067 gap is the price of taking an unnecessary card.
Players hit soft 18 (Ace-7) out of fear of the dealer's 8, but the 8 is exactly why you stand. Hitting costs 0.067 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 | Stand |
| Single deck, stands soft 17 | Stand |
| Double deck, stands soft 17 | Stand |
| No surrender offered | Stand |
The play is stable: stand is correct across deck counts, the soft-17 rule, and whether or not surrender is offered.
Strategy and expected values from a combinatorial engine validated against Wizard of Odds.