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

Soft 16 vs dealer 3

What should I do with soft 16 against a dealer 3 in blackjack?

Ace of spades5 of heartsDealer3shows3 of clubs
The move
Hit.

Soft 16 is not a hand to protect. The ace keeps the hand safe for one more card, so drawing improves it more often than standing keeps a winner.

Why basic strategy says hit

Soft 16 is not a hand to protect. The ace keeps the hand safe for one more card, so drawing improves it more often than standing keeps a winner.

Engine explanation: Hit with soft 16 against 3. Take another card under the selected rules. This is a long-run basic-strategy decision, not a prediction of the next card.

Soft 16 against every upcard

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

Nearby soft totals against a 3

HandMove
Soft 13HitWhy →
Soft 14HitWhy →
Soft 15HitWhy →
Soft 16HitWhy →
Soft 17DoubleWhy →
Soft 18DoubleWhy →
Soft 19StandWhy →
Soft 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.