Hard 16 vs Dealer Ace: Surrender, Hit, or Stand?

With a hard 16 (10-6) against a dealer Ace, basic strategy says to surrender. This is the mathematically correct play over the long run — it's exactly what the Blackjack Trainer grades your decisions against.

A dealer showing Ace busts about 12% of the time. That's a strong up-card, so the dealer will usually make a made hand. You have to improve your own total rather than hope the dealer breaks.

If surrender isn't offered at your table, hit instead — surrender is only the best play because it lets you cut your loss in half on a hand that loses more often than it wins.

What the dealer does with a Ace

Assuming the dealer stands on all 17s, here is how a Ace up-card finishes over the long run:

Hard 16 vs every dealer up-card

H = Hit · S = Stand · D = Double · Sp = Split · Su = Surrender. Tap any card to see that matchup.

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