Imagine this: you have an Ace-6, and the dealer shows a strong card, and you are left wondering whether to hit or stand. This is a situation that confuses both newbies and veteran blackjack players. To clear the confusion, you must understand that a soft 17 is simply any total of 17 where an Ace is counted as 11, making it more flexible than hard hands. In this article, we break down everything about soft 17 in blackjack, including the rules of play, strategies, tips for winning, and more.
When playing blackjack, a soft 17 strategy simply refers to a hand that sums to 17, whereby an Ace has built-in flexibility since it counts as 11. Ace-6 is the most common example of a soft 17, with other combinations including Ace-2-4 and Ace-3-3. Since the ace has the ability to shift from 11 to 1, a soft 17 can get an extra hit without busting. In this case, you can not bust if a new card pushes the hand above 21; instead, the Ace automatically ‘softens’ or drops to 1, thus maintaining a playable amount.
This term is referred to as such because the total is malleable, meaning that it can soften or reduce from 17 to a smaller value whenever there is a need. Many blackjack players opt for this hand because they can make aggressive decisions, such as doubling without worrying about the risks linked to hard hands. On the contrary, a hard 17 is a fixed total, where an Ace isn’t included or must count as 1 to avoid busting. A hard 17 is riskier because hitting a high-value card can push the total to exceed 21.
Here is a simple visual comparison of the two blackjack hands:
| Hand Type | Example | Ace Value | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft 17 | Ace-6 | 11 | Yes (reverts to 1) |
| Hard 17 | 10-7 | None/1 | No |
The Soft 17 rule in blackjack plays a vital role in determining the house edge and the game’s overall complexity. You will find casinos with one of the two common variations–the H17 that requires the dealer to hit on soft 17 or the S17 that requires the dealer to stand on all 17s. When playing the H17 game, the dealer must draw an extra card when holding a soft 17 since the ace can shift from 11 to 1.
Consider this example: A dealer with an Ace to 6 must hit in H17 games to enjoy stronger totals, ranging from 18 to 20. Although the rule may be small, it pushes the house edge up by 0.2%, making it difficult for long-term gains.
On the other hand, the S17 games are more player-friendly because the dealer stops drawing cards at soft 17, missing out on future potentials to improve hands. This explains why smart blackjack players review table signage, casino game info, and rules before placing bets. For instance, the number of decks influences the rules of hand, with multideck games using the H17 rule to maintain the huge house advantage and single deck games sticking to S17.
Understanding and playing soft 17 correctly is crucial for lowering the house edge of your game. A standard blackjack strategy requires you to double down on a soft 17 against the dealer’s 2-6. This action takes advantage of the dealer’s weaker starting total and your ability to improve the hand.
Always remember to hit if you are playing a soft 17 against the dealer’s 7-Ace because it is too weak to stand, especially when the dealer has chances for an upper hand like 18-20. The Ace’s flexibility protects you from potential penalties for trying to improve your hand.
Many blackjack players often make one common mistake of standing on soft 17. However, premature standing can lead to long-term losses, because the chances of hitting are much higher. Some also ignore the dealer’s upcard, which determines if the dealer’s position is favorable or not.
Whether you are a beginner or seasoned blackjack player, understanding the flexibility that comes with soft 17 in blackjack will elevate your gaming experience. Start with learning how they work, the dealer variations, and use an optimal strategy to significantly lower the house edge and maximize your potential for big wins in any blackjack variant.
Any blackjack hand adding up to 17 and where the Ace is equivalent to 11, is a soft 17, and a hard 17 is a fixed total like 10-7.
Whether the dealer hits a soft 17 or not depends on the casino rules–some sites require the dealer to hit on soft 17 in H17 games and stand on S17 games to give players better odds to win.
Always double down against the dealer’s 2-6 and hit when the dealer has 7-Ace to improve your hand.
