Updated 2026-07-30 · 8 decks · S17 · DAS · methodology

Hard 8 vs dealer 6: the verdict

Q: Hit or stand on hard 8 against a dealer 6?

Basic strategy says Hit. A genuine coin-flip — the gap is under half a cent per $1. Your chance of winning with the best play is about 52.6% (push 6.4%). Full EV math for every action is in the table above.

HIT

Basic strategy says hit. Against a dealer 6, drawing another card carries the best expectation for hard 8.

The numbers

Action	Win	Push	Lose	EV per $1
Hit	52.6%	6.4%	41.1%	+0.115
Double	49.5%	5.4%	45.1%	+0.087
Stand	42.3%	0.0%	57.7%	−0.154

Why hit is correct

Standing here wins only when the dealer busts, and a dealer showing 6 busts just 42.3% of the time — the other 57.7% they make a hand and your total loses on its own. Hitting risks going over, but the math nets out ahead: 52.6% wins versus 42.3% for standing, and a better expected value overall.

For context, a dealer 6 finishes on 17–20 about 48.0% of the time, on 21 9.7%, and busts 42.3%. Those dealer outcomes are the same no matter what you hold — the whole game is choosing the action whose distribution fits them best.

What the mistake costs

Choosing double instead of hit costs about $70 per 100 such hands at $25 a hand (−0.028 EV per dollar). The genuinely expensive error here is stand: −0.269 per dollar, or roughly $672 per 100 hands at the same stakes.

Does the rule set change it?

No — hit holds across every common configuration: Vegas Strip, Atlantic City with late surrender, H17 games and European no-hole-card tables all agree here.

Get this verdict at the table in one tap.Free Telegram mini-app: instant verdicts, drill trainer and rule-aware charts — no install, opens right in chat.

Related spots

8 against other dealer cards:

vs 2 vs 3 vs 4 vs 5 vs 7 vs 8 vs 9 vs 10 vs Ace

Other key hands vs a dealer 6:

16 vs 6 12 vs 6 15 vs 6 soft 18 vs 6 8,8 vs 6

Frequently asked

Do you hit on 8 against a dealer 6?

Yes — hit is the basic-strategy play for Hard 8 vs 6 (EV +0.115 per $1). Double is the second-best option at +0.087.

What are the odds of winning with 8 vs 6?

Playing it correctly (hit), you win 52.6% of hands, push 6.4% and lose 41.1%.

Is it the same if the dealer hits soft 17?

Yes — under H17 rules the verdict is still hit.

Hit or stand on hard 8 against a dealer 6?

Basic strategy says Hit. A genuine coin-flip — the gap is under half a cent per $1. Your chance of winning with the best play is about 52.6% (push 6.4%). Full EV math for every action is in the table above.