How do you play a "16" in most sitauations?

[2deal2]

Everytime I'm playing Blackjack, it seems when I get a "16" I always seem to lose! If I Hit I get a 6 or more and bust OR if I Stand the dealer pulls out a 17 or more!

What your strategy for playing a "16" in most situations, especially against Dealer's 9 or 10?

[tedloc]

The order of play is: Surrender vs 9/10/A Hit vs 7/8/ Stay vs 2-6. There is only a VERY SLIGHT edge for hitting over staying, with your 16. Your going to bust about 65% of the time with 16 if you hit. One thing you might want to consider is that if there are a number of 4/5 on the table you might want to stay. After all, those are the cards you need and they are no longer in the deck.

[Mikeaber]

Try this again and hope it doesn't double post.

2Deal2: I intend NO disrespect with this! This is probably the most posted question that comes up around here. Interesting to note how many different forms it can take <LOL>

Tedloc pretty well covered it. However, since most brick and mortar casinos no longer offer surrender in straight Blackjack, your options boil down to what are you going to do that result in you losing the fewest times. You're going to lose that play the vast majority of the time no matter what you do, but hitting it will result in losing slightly fewer of the plays (about 1 in every 100 played!)

The positive way to insure the most enjoyment when hitting hard 16's is to always play in the last position (3rd base). At least that way, when you hit and bust, the rest of the table can rant and rave about you taking the dealer's bust card! That keeps things exciting and is some reward for the virtually enevitable BUST! <LOL> However, if you are shy, "stand" on the hard 16. That way when the dealer hasn't made a hand until hitting the card you should have taken, the table can rant and rave about how you never hit when you're supposed to hit! It's a win-win!

[2deal2]

The advice is useful but I'm playing Internet Blackjack on two sites where I'm not allowed to surrender. What do I do?

[E-town-guy]

I don't understand why this question comes up so much as the answer is quite simple. Follow basic strategy! There should be no need to continue discussing this issue as its like kicking a dead dog. The only time you would vary from basic strategy is if you're counting and you know the indices for your counting system.

[Mikeaber]

It makes no difference whether you are playing on-line or in a brick and mortar casino....hit the 16's.

BTW...my private mail box was full. I've emptied it so can now receive your PM. Sorry.

Originally Posted by 2deal2

The advice is useful but I'm playing Internet Blackjack on two sites where I'm not allowed to surrender. What do I do?

[newyorkbear]

BS is for your first two cards. How do you handle three and four card 16s? I'm curious because I've gotten different answers from different people,some who claim to be experts.

[Mikeaber]

Originally Posted by newyorkbear

BS is for your first two cards. How do you handle three and four card 16s? I'm curious because I've gotten different answers from different people,some who claim to be experts.

Strategy is the same for four cards as it is for the first two. That's the way I play it.

With that said, a 16 is such a tight hand to play percentage-wise, that any minute edge you can get is worthy of consideration. A lot of folks I know will play a 16 differently with more than two just as you mention, especially if the dealer is showing a "10". With that card showing, the scare is that the dealer will have a 20 and to take a card is to try to beat him. If your multi-card 16 is made up of any 4's or 5's or if other players have 4's and 5's showig, they will stand. The reasoning is that you will have to have a 4 to push and a 5 to win and with you or others holding them in play, they are "out of action" making your chances of drawing one more slim. This is called the "rule of 45". Cute, and I guess of strange plays, it has more logic behind it than most.

[tedloc]

Originally Posted by newyorkbear

BS is for your first two cards. How do you handle three and four card 16s? I'm curious because I've gotten different answers from different people,some who claim to be experts.

Mikeaber has it right. Even if you are not a card counter, think of this situation as being a mini card counter. You will look at the board and count the number of 4-5 on the board and make you decision based on what you see. If a card counter finds the count very positive or negative, he will vary his play from BS on some hands.