Do You Stay on 17 in Blackjack?

There are a lot of different opinions out there about whether or not you should stay on 17 in blackjack. Some people say that you should always stay on 17, regardless of what the dealer is showing, because the odds are in your favor.

Others say that you should only stay on 17 if the dealer is showing a 7 or higher, because otherwise the dealer is more likely to beat you.

So which is it? Should you stay on 17 in blackjack, or not?

The answer, as with so many things in life, is it depends. It depends on a number of factors, including what version of blackjack you’re playing, what the dealer’s up-card is, and what your own hand looks like.

If you’re playing a version of blackjack where the dealer hits on soft 17 (meaning they can take another card even if their first two cards add up to 17), then you should always stay on 17. The odds are very much in your favor when the dealer has to hit on soft 17, and you should take advantage of that.

If you’re playing a version of blackjack where the dealer stands on soft 17 (meaning they can’t take another card if their first two cards add up to 17), then it’s a little more complicated. If the dealer’s up-card is a 7 or higher, then you should stay on 17.

But if the dealer’s up-card is a 6 or lower, then you should hit, because the odds are now in favor of the dealer.

Ultimately, whether or not you stay on 17 in blackjack comes down to understanding the odds and making the right decision based on those odds. If you can do that, then you’ll be well on your way to success at the blackjack table.