Updated 2026-07-22 · 8 decks · S17 · DAS · methodology
Soft 16 (A,5) vs dealer 6: the verdict
The math is in: double. Against a dealer 6, this hand is strong enough to put double the money on the table.
The numbers
| Action | Win | Push | Lose | EV per $1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double | 52.3% | 4.4% | 43.3% | +0.180 |
| Hit | 53.0% | 3.8% | 43.2% | +0.099 |
| Stand | 42.3% | 0.0% | 57.7% | −0.154 |
Why double is correct
Doubling wins almost exactly as often as hitting (52.3% vs 53.0%) — the difference is you have twice the money riding on a favorable spot. Against a dealer 6 (bust chance 42.3%), that extra bet is the whole point: EV +0.180 doubled beats +0.099 hit.
For context, a dealer 6 finishes on 17–20 about 48.0% of the time, on 21 9.7%, and busts 42.3%. Those dealer outcomes are the same no matter what you hold — the whole game is choosing the action whose distribution fits them best.
What the mistake costs
Choosing hit instead of double costs about $202 per 100 such hands at $25 a hand (−0.081 EV per dollar). The genuinely expensive error here is stand: −0.333 per dollar, or roughly $834 per 100 hands at the same stakes.
Does the rule set change it?
No — double holds across every common configuration: Vegas Strip, Atlantic City with late surrender, H17 games and European no-hole-card tables all agree here.
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soft 16 against other dealer cards:
Other key hands vs a dealer 6: