Blackajack Soft 17 Explained

A soft 17 in blackjack is a key hand that can work in a player’s favor and enable more winning opportunities at the tables. Knowing how to play soft 17 vs hard 17 is critical and each of these hands comes with their own basic strategy considerations.
Keep reading to learn more about soft 17 – including whether to hit or stand and other key scenarios and situations.
What is a Soft 17?
When playing blackjack, numbered cards count for that number, face cards count as 10, and aces count as either 1 or 11. Knowing the difference between a “soft” hand versus a “hard” hand is very important and here’s a look at each of these concepts.
- Soft hand – A hand containing an ace. Therefore a hand like A-6, is said to be a soft 17 because it can also be counted as a 7 as well. These hands offer players more flexibility as they can hit a soft 17 without busting.
- Hard hand – A hand that is set and doesn’t contain an ace. These hands don’t allow for flexibility and a player with a 10-7 is said to have a hard 17. Hitting this hand has the likely potential of busting.
Soft 17 Blackjack Rules
Ready to get in the action, but want to know more about how to play this hand? Here are some soft 17 strategies to remember.
When to Stand on Soft 17
Players of course have the option to hit or stand on a soft 17. But when using basic strategy, players should never stand on this hand. Whether you start with A-6 or draw to something A-2-4 or A-5-A, players will always want ro at least take a hit – and sometimes double down (more on that below).
When to Hit on Soft 17
As noted, players will always want to take a bit as adding another card won’t put a player in jeopardy of busting with an additional card. A 17 is often a losing hand and adding another card gives you the chance of building a better hand with higher odds of winning.
When to Double Down on Soft 17
When considering basic strategy, some hands offer players the chance to cash in even more when doubling down. With a soft 17, a basic strategy blackjack chart will show players that it’s mathematically favorable to double down with A-6 against the dealer’s 3, 4, 5, or 6. The player should hit this hand against all other dealer upcards.
Multi-Card Soft 17
Players may not necessarily have a soft 17 on their first two cards, but reach that total with additional hits. For example, when a player is dealt 3-3 and takes a hit, this becomes a soft 17 when dealt an ace. Players should treat these multi-card soft 17 hands the same – always hit as you won’t bust by taking an additional card.
Blackjack Soft 17 Dealer Rules
Considerations for a soft 17 vs hard 17 are different for the dealer. Varying casinos’ house rules will vary on whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17.
- Stand on soft 17 – This is a favorable rule for players as the dealer will simply stay on soft 17, meaning the dealer can’t draw a higher hand.
- Hits on soft 17 – This is unfavorable for players as the dealer can draw to a higher total. Those with a 17 have less chance of winning or at least getting a push. This adds to the house edge about 0.2% versus standing on soft 17.
Soft 17 Blackjack Odds
Blackjack is already a game with a low house edge, below 1% for those who find favorable games and use perfect basic strategy. This means the casino has one of the lowest house edges in blackjack compared to other games.
Hitting a soft 17 offers a better chance for players to gain a winning hand as you won’t have to worry about busting. For example, a player dealt A-6 can receive a large combination of hands to improve their chances of winning. If the player is dealt a 2, the player then has a 19 instead of a 17.
If you have A-6 and receive a 3 or 4 can also make an even better 20 or 21. Even if you don’t get one of those favorable cards, you often have the option of hitting again.
Counting Cards
While the game already has a low house edge, blackjack is also one of the few games where players can actually flip the odds in their favor. Counting cards allows players to actually gain a small edge on the house.
Players aren’t actually counting every card that comes out of the dealer shoe, but instead keeping a running count of high cards versus low cards as they play. When the count is heavily in the dealer’s favor, meaning there are numerous high-value cards left in the deck, the player then raises his bets in hopes of being dealt more of those high cards for solid winning hands, such as blackjack or 20.
However, counting cards isn’t easy and requires plenty of practice. A player must be able to count all the cards on the table in the middle of a busy and noisy casino without getting caught. Casinos can bar players who are caught counting. Changing bet amounts can be a giveaway for casinos that a player may be counting, and some counters work in teams to limit attention (often known as “heat”) from casino management.
When playing online blackjack at sites like Lucky Block Casino, counting cards isn’t possible as the cards are dealt using a random number generator and are reshuffled after each hand. However, for those interested in giving card counting a shot, there are numerous resources available online.
Conclusion – Play Blackjack at Lucky Block Casino
Knowing how to play blackjack soft 17 is critical in helping to build a hand that can beat the dealer’s hand. A “soft” hand implies one with an ace, which counts as 1 or 11. A player with A-6 versus 10-7 has a more flexible hand that won’t bust when taking a hit on soft 17.
Hitting a hard 17 means a high probability of busting and players are advised against this approach. While a 17 isn’t a great total, hitting a soft 17 at least gives a player a chance to improve upon this and sometimes hit a much better total with better odds of beating the dealer.
Ready to put those blackjack skills and strategies to the test? Check out the blackjack tables at Lucky Block Casino for a chance to have some fun and win some real money.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hard 17 and soft 17?
A hard 17 is a hand without an ace. The total of 17 is set and the player will want to stand as there is a high probability of busting when taking a hit. A soft 17 is more flexible and allows players to hit without having to worry about busting.
Do dealers hit on soft 17?
This depends on the casino’s rules. Some properties state that the dealer will stand on soft 17, which works in the player’s favor. Other properties may call for the dealer to hit a soft 17, which allows for a better chance of making an even higher hand. This would mean players with a 17 would lose more often and also have a lower chance at possibly at least getting a push.
Do you double down on soft 17?
There are times players should double down on soft 17 based on basic strategy. You will want to double against any dealer upcard of 3, 4, 5, or 6 and hit against any other total.
Why is it called soft 17?
“Soft” hands contain an ace, which can act as either 1 or 11. So a player with A-6 has either 7 or 17 and isn’t in jeopardy of busting by simply taking a hit.