The answer: split 8,8

Basic strategy says to split 8s against every dealer upcard in ordinary S17 or H17 games without a special surrender override. The reason is simple: hard 16 is terrible, and two hands starting at 8 perform better than one hand stuck on 16.

Why not stand on 16?

Standing on 16 hopes the dealer busts. That works against weak cards sometimes, but against 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace it performs badly. Hitting 16 is also ugly because many draws bust. Splitting turns the hand into two playable starts.

Is splitting 8s always profitable?

No. Against a dealer 10 or Ace, splitting 8s can still be negative expected value. The point is that it loses less than hitting or standing. Correct blackjack strategy is not always about finding a winning play; sometimes it is about choosing the smallest loss.

When surrender changes 8,8

Some H17 charts with late surrender allow surrendering 8,8 against a dealer Ace. If surrender is unavailable, split. In most simple casino rules and most beginner charts, "always split 8s" is the right memory rule.