Hard 16 vs Dealer 9

Basic strategy says hit. Here's what the math looks like across common rule sets.

Why Hit Is Correct

Hard 16 against dealer 9 looks like a trap — hitting busts a lot, but standing is worse. Dealer 9 only busts 23.1% of the time, which means the other ~77% of outcomes you'd lose outright by standing. Hitting and bettering to 17+ is the less bad option.

How the Play Changes Under Different Rules

The correct play changes across rule sets for this hand. The rows below show each distinct play — starting with the canonical 6-deck · H17 · no-surrender baseline.