Updated 2026-07-22 · 8 decks · S17 · DAS · methodology
Soft 17 (A,6) vs dealer 6: the verdict
The verdict is 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% | 8.3% | 39.5% | +0.256 |
| Hit | 52.3% | 8.3% | 39.5% | +0.128 |
| Stand | 42.3% | 16.5% | 41.1% | +0.012 |
Why double is correct
Doubling wins almost exactly as often as hitting (52.3% vs 52.3%) — 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 +0.256 doubled beats +0.128 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 $320 per 100 such hands at $25 a hand (−0.128 EV per dollar). The genuinely expensive error here is stand: −0.244 per dollar, or roughly $611 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 17 against other dealer cards:
Other key hands vs a dealer 6: