When the dealer shows a 10 or face card, which is considered a strong upcard, the strategy should be designed to minimize losses and increase the chances of winning. If you have a total of 12 to 16, which are considered "stiff" hands, the best approach is usually to stand, as hitting carries a high risk of busting. However, with a total of 16, the situation is more precarious, and hitting might still be the best choice to improve your hand, even though there’s a risk of busting. The dealer’s 10 gives them a strong chance of making a total of 20, so being cautious is important.
When you have a soft total—meaning your hand includes an Ace counted as 11, such as Ace-2 or Ace-3—the recommended strategy is generally to hit, as the Ace allows you to avoid busting. For a soft 18 (Ace-7), doubling down becomes a favorable move, since it maximizes your potential gain while mitigating risk against the dealer's strong upcard.
If you are dealt a pair of 9s, the best move is to split them, as this gives you a chance to form two strong hands (both with a total of 18), which has a reasonable chance of winning against the dealer’s 10. Similarly, if you have a pair of Aces, splitting them is optimal because it gives you the flexibility of creating two potentially strong hands, each with the chance to become a total of 20, which is a solid hand against a dealer’s 10.
In general, when the dealer shows a 10 or face card, you should play conservatively but also remain strategic, knowing when to stand, hit, or double down. The goal is to avoid busting and take advantage of opportunities to improve your hand, while always keeping in mind the dealer’s favorable position.
When you have a soft total—meaning your hand includes an Ace counted as 11, such as Ace-2 or Ace-3—the recommended strategy is generally to hit, as the Ace allows you to avoid busting. For a soft 18 (Ace-7), doubling down becomes a favorable move, since it maximizes your potential gain while mitigating risk against the dealer's strong upcard.
If you are dealt a pair of 9s, the best move is to split them, as this gives you a chance to form two strong hands (both with a total of 18), which has a reasonable chance of winning against the dealer’s 10. Similarly, if you have a pair of Aces, splitting them is optimal because it gives you the flexibility of creating two potentially strong hands, each with the chance to become a total of 20, which is a solid hand against a dealer’s 10.
In general, when the dealer shows a 10 or face card, you should play conservatively but also remain strategic, knowing when to stand, hit, or double down. The goal is to avoid busting and take advantage of opportunities to improve your hand, while always keeping in mind the dealer’s favorable position.
