Hitting Hard 15 or 16 in Blackjack

Question

Should I hit a hard 15 or 16 against a dealer's seven through ace in blackjack?

Answer 1

Yes, you should hit a hard 15 or 16 against a dealer's seven through ace in blackjack. While there's a high chance of busting, standing is even worse as the dealer has a good chance of making their hand. Following the math and hitting in this situation is the correct strategy.

Comments

with a 12, you hit it always and keep hitting it seeing more cards to help your  count unless you are near the shuffle card, insurance- only take it when count is high, always split nines except 7, 11 versus ten is double when count is high, if count is really low you keep hitting get more of low cards out of way, only hit 15 or 16 when count is really low, or better yet throw them in and take 1/2 bet off if casino surrounds, soft 18 - double down when count is really really low - or hit it to get low cards out. If you hold your cards in hand, and count goes low, keep hitting to get low cards out even if you go over 21. Just to get the low cards out of way. Then throw cards away so dealer can't see them.

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Excellent explanations on the common mistakes. I wish everyone in my casino can watch this. I simply cannot enjoy blackjack in casino tables because of these exact mistakes mentioned in this video that I did not commit. I always follow the basic strategy perfectly but when I did the opposite of those mistakes, I will get chastised left and right and getting blamed for causing everyone to lose, especially when I hit on 15,16 against 7 to 9 (but I will surrender against 10). And I'm tired of trying to explain the logic behind the correct decisions. Even the dealer would join them against me. Good thing the casino has the electronic table game for blackjack where there is a real person dealing the card with a 'live' cam, and there is a machine for each player to place bet etc. So one dealer can serve countless number of players depending on the number of machines and we cannot see what other players are doing. It's not the same as those online blackjack but it is difficult to show how this is done in words.

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can you go over what to do with a player’s 16 when you reach that 16 with four or more cards, against a dealer’s 7-A but particularly against a 10?  Do you play the hand any differently than if you were dealt a 16 vs a dealer’s 7-A?

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I understand the math about hitting hard 16 against dealer's 10. Dealer could have 7 cards under out of 12 that make him pat, and just 5 would make a player's hand better, while 8(of 13) cards would break player. A player's choices are bad or worse. But staying on hard 16 against dealer's 7 isn't the same odds as if the dealer showing a 10. Only 5 cards under(out of13) make dealer pat, and of the 8 left, some would break him or put him nearer a likely break total; while 8 cards still would break the player. Isn't that much closer to a 50-50 risk for the player to hit or stay? Or even SLIGHTLY in players favor to stay then?

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I have two questions about hitting a hard 16, first, does the count change if you would hit it or not? second, i heard that hitting a 3 card 16 is worse than a 2 card 16?