Blackjack
← Every handHard total · six decks · S17 · DAS · no surrender

Hard 11 vs dealer 8

What should I do with hard 11 against a dealer 8 in blackjack?

2 of spades9 of heartsDealer8shows8 of clubs
The move
Double.

Hard 11 is the best doubling hand in the game: one card makes 21 with any ten-value card. Against a 8 the doubled bet is clearly profitable.

Why basic strategy says double

Hard 11 is the best doubling hand in the game: one card makes 21 with any ten-value card. Against a 8 the doubled bet is clearly profitable.

Doubling ends the hand after one card. Add a bet equal to the original wager.

If the table restricts you: If doubling is not allowed, hit.

Engine explanation: Double with hard 11 against 8. This is a doubling situation: add an equal wager and receive exactly one card. This is a long-run basic-strategy decision, not a prediction of the next card.

Hard 11 against every upcard

H hit · S stand · D double · P split. Select a cell for its page.

Nearby hard totals against a 8

HandMove
Hard 5HitWhy →
Hard 6HitWhy →
Hard 7HitWhy →
Hard 8HitWhy →
Hard 9HitWhy →
Hard 10DoubleWhy →
Hard 11DoubleWhy →
Hard 12HitWhy →
Hard 13HitWhy →
Hard 14HitWhy →
Hard 15HitWhy →
Hard 16HitWhy →
Hard 17StandWhy →
Hard 18StandWhy →
Hard 19StandWhy →
Hard 20StandWhy →
Training rules: six decks · dealer stands on soft 17 · no surrender

This is a separate educational profile. Rules can differ between app tables and other games.

  • Six decks. Dealer stands on all 17s, including soft 17.
  • US hole card and peek: decisions assume the dealer has checked and does not have blackjack.
  • Double any first two cards, including after splitting. Doubling ends the hand after one extra card.
  • Split equal card values into at most four hands. Split aces receive one card each; no resplitting aces.
  • No surrender. A natural blackjack pays 3:2; 21 after splitting is not a natural.
  • Total-dependent strategy. No card counting or expected-value estimates.

Profile six-deck-s17-das · rules 1.0.0 · strategy 1.0.0. The trainer asks for one decision per hand; it does not simulate wagers or settlement.