11 vs an ace
Hard 11 versus a dealer ace is one of the cells that actually changes when the dealer hits soft 17, and when you leave a six-deck shoe for a one- or two-deck game. The default PlayCorrect chips (six-deck S17) say hit, not double. Educational, 21+, not gambling advice. Insurance, if offered, is still declined; see insurance.
| Rules | Play | Expected values (units) |
|---|---|---|
| 6-deck S17 DAS, no surrender (default) | Hit (do not double) | Hit +0.147345, double +0.125509, stand −0.663731 |
| 8-deck S17 DAS, no surrender | Hit | Hit +0.146247, double +0.121359 |
| 6-deck H17 DAS, no surrender | Double, otherwise hit | Double +0.120174, hit +0.107773, stand −0.595379 |
| 2-deck S17 DAS, no surrender | Double, otherwise hit | Double +0.159651, hit +0.156440 — a close double |
| 1-deck S17 DAS, no surrender | Double, otherwise hit | Double +0.214227, hit +0.171204 |
Why six-deck S17 does not double
Eleven is usually a doubling total. Against an ace in a six-deck S17 game, the extra unit you put out on a double has a worse expected value than simply hitting (+0.1255 vs +0.1473). You still want a card; you just do not want to double the bet. Exact 6,5 EVs from this engine (hit +0.147596, double +0.129710, stand −0.661883) matched the Wizard of Odds hand calculator, and the weighted cell matched both chart sources in the 30-cell and 350/350 checks on 10 Nov 2026.
When it becomes a double
If the dealer hits soft 17, the hole card is a little more dangerous when it is not a ten, and doubling edges ahead in six-deck H17 (double +0.1202, hit +0.1078). That flip also matched Wizard of Odds 350/350. In one- and two-deck S17 games, doubling is ahead even when the dealer stands on soft 17 (comfortably in one deck; by only 0.0032 units in two decks). Those one- and two-deck tables matched 350/350 as well.
Late surrender does not change this cell under six-deck S17: you are not surrendering an 11. After a third card you will only be hitting or standing on the new total. Enter the cards on the calculator if the holding is no longer a two-card 11.