The short answer
- Surrender if the table allows it.
- Otherwise hit a two-card 16 (10 + 6, 9 + 7).
- Stand if your 16 has three or more cards (say 5 + 4 + 7).
- With 8 + 8: split (see when to split).
What each choice costs
| Choice | Average loss per hand |
|---|---|
| Surrender | 50% of the bet (fixed) |
| Hit | about 54.0% |
| Stand | about 54.0% (a hair more than hitting) |
Exact calculation: infinite shoe, dealer stands on soft 17 and has checked for blackjack. Hitting and standing are almost tied; with a real 6-deck shoe and a 10 + 6, hitting is slightly better because you removed a 10 that could have helped the dealer.
Over 100 hands of 16 vs 10 at $10: surrendering costs $500, hitting or standing about $540. It's not the play that wins, it's the one that loses least.
Exceptions
- Three-card 16 or more: stand. Your hand already holds several small cards, so fewer are left to save you.
- Card counters: stand when the Hi-Lo true count is zero or higher. The most famous deviation (see card counting). A 10-rich shoe would bust you more often.
- European blackjack (no hole card): same answer, but surrender is rarely offered.
Why it's so bad
With a 10 showing, the dealer ends on 17 or more 77% of the time (full table). If you stand you only win when he busts: 23%. If you hit you bust 62% of the time, but when you draw an ace to a 5 you finally have a hand that can win. The two options balance out almost perfectly.
You get this hand about once every 50 hands. Learn to play it without hesitating.
Take the quizFAQ
Should you hit 16 against a 10?
If surrender is allowed, surrender. Otherwise hit a two-card 16, stand on a 16 of three or more cards.
What about 16 against a 9 or an ace?
Same idea: surrender if you can, otherwise hit. Against a 7 or 8, always hit (no surrender).
And 15 against 10?
Surrender if you can, otherwise hit. 15 against 9 or ace: hit.