Soft 16 To 18 Against the Dealer's Low Cards If you have A-8 (a soft 9), it's best to stand, regardless of what the dealer shows.
This must be a hard 9 meaning there is no Ace in your hand - so the combinations could be 2-7, 3-6 or 4-5.
When you are dealt a total of 9, double down when the dealer's upcard shows something between 2 and 6 (any card below 7, not including the Ace). In all of these situations, you can't go bust and are in the most likely position to finish with a high hand, while statistics indicate that the dealer is in the most likely position to lose the hand. There are three situations when it's best to double down, explained below.
Fortunately, basic strategies for blackjack have been meticulously mapped using mathematical probability, designed to tell you exactly when it is best (in the long run) to double down.
