Hard total · Dealer shows A
Hard 11 vs a dealer ace
Basic strategyDouble when the dealer hits soft 17. Just hit when the dealer stands on soft 17 (6–8 decks).
Why
Eleven is normally the best doubling hand in the game, because any 10-value card gives you 21. Against an ace, the dealer's hand is strong enough that doubling is only marginal.
The soft-17 rule tips it. When the dealer must hit soft 17, they sometimes draw out of a hand that would have stopped, and that slightly weakens their ace. That's enough to make doubling worth it. When the dealer stands on soft 17, hitting is better in a shoe game.
Either way, the difference is small. Getting the soft-17 rule right matters more than this one hand.
By the numbers
Average result per $100 initial bet, after the dealer checks for blackjack. A negative number is an average loss; the best play is the one that loses least or wins most.
| Play | Dealer hits soft 17 | Dealer stands on soft 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Hit | +$10.27 | +$14.30Best |
| Stand | −$59.87 | −$66.70 |
| Double (2× bet) | +$10.34Best | +$10.91 |
| Surrender (if offered) | −$50.00 | −$50.00 |
Dealer hits soft 17: double beats hit by $0.07 per $100. Dealer stands on soft 17: hit beats double by $3.39 per $100. Close call
Infinite-deck model, which tracks a 6–8 deck shoe closely. Double after split allowed, no resplits. How we calculate.
How the table rules change it
| Table rules (4–8 decks, double after split unless noted) | Play |
|---|---|
| Dealer hits soft 17, no surrender Most Florida and Las Vegas tables | Double (hit if you can’t) |
| Dealer hits soft 17, surrender allowed Some higher-limit tables | Double (hit if you can’t) |
| Dealer stands on soft 17, no surrender Felt says “stands on all 17s” | Hit |
| Dealer stands on soft 17, surrender allowed Best common shoe game | Hit |
The rules change this play. Read the felt before you sit down.
Common mistake
Doubling 11 vs an ace by reflex at a stand-on-17 table. Read the felt first: it says either "Dealer must hit soft 17" or "Dealer stands on all 17s."
Going further
At stand-on-17 shoe games, Hi-Lo counters double 11 vs an ace at a true count of +1 or higher. In single and double deck, it's a double under either rule.
Drill it
This hand first, then the spots people mix it up with. The switches match your table’s rules and carry over to the full trainer.
Questions
What does the felt say at Hard Rock Hollywood?
Player reports say most tables hit soft 17, which makes this a double. Check the printing on the felt under the payout line.
What about 10 vs an ace?
Hit. Double 10 only against 2 through 9.