What Is A Hard and Soft 17 In Blackjack & How To Play It

Knowing how to play a soft 17 vs. hard 17 in blackjack can be a critical skill that can help players collect more winnings in the long run. But what is a hard 17 in blackjack? What is a soft 17 and how do you play these hands at the table?

This article looks at what constitutes a hard hand vs. a soft hand and offers some guidance on how to play them in situations where a player has a 17.

What is a Soft 17 in Blackjack?

A close-up view of a blackjack table featuring a hand with playing cards, including an 8 of diamonds and a King of diamonds, along with some poker chips in the background.

When considering how to play a soft 17 in blackjack versus a hard 17, it’s first important to know the difference between a “soft” and “hard” hand. Here’s a quick look at these popular blackjack terms.

Soft – A hand that has an ace in it. An ace counts as 1 or 11, so a player with A-6 or A-1-5 has a soft 17.
Hard – This is any hand that doesn’t have an ace. The cards simply add up to 17 and that’s it.

Examples of Soft 17 Hands

Soft 17 of a hand that contains an ace and adds up to 17. This can be a quality hand and can help players accumulate some winnings if played correctly utilizing basic strategy (more on that below). There are several ways a player could be dealt this hand either on the first two cards or when receiving subsequent cards.

An ace counts as 1 or 11 so players can quickly do the math to determine the value of their hand.

Here’s a look at a few possible hands a player might receive to total soft 17, remembering that face cards also count as 10 and numbered cards count as that number.

A-6
A-J-5
A-2-3
A-A-5
A-2-3-A

There are other possible combinations and the point to remember here is that these hands wouldn’t bust when taking a hit.

What is a Hard 17 in Blackjack?

In contrast to soft hands, hard hands do not have an ace in them and the total is clearly defined. These hands do not have the flexibility of a soft 17 and a player with hard 17 is in great jeopardy of busting when hitting.

In fact, basic strategy recommends that a player never hit a hard 17 because the blackjack odds are stacked against the player when adding another card to this hand. A hard 17 has a chance at winning, but is often beaten when the dealer draws another card.

Examples of Hard 17 Hands

There are numerous ways a player could make a hard 17, whether with the first two or when hitting for more. Here’s a look at a few possible combinations that make up a hard 17. These are not some of the best blackjack hands and are considered “hard” due to the fixed values.

10-7
J-5-2
K-4-3
8-7-2

There are any number of ways that a player could receive a hard 17, but it’s important to remember that basic blackjack strategy says to stand any time you receive this hand.

Dealer Rules for Soft 17 vs Hard 17

While players must make use of basic strategy when determining how to play these hands, dealers’ rules when dealt soft 17 and hard 17 vary by casino. Dealers must always stand on 17, but whether they hit a soft 17 depends on the house rules and the blackjack tournament.

Dealer Hits on Soft 17

The house has rules on whether the dealer hits a soft 17. This is a favorable rule for the house and reduces the house edge by about a quarter of a percent.

This doesn’t necessarily affect player strategy and following the decisions available on a blackjack basic strategy chart should still be used.

Dealer Stands on Hard 17

Some casinos (especially in Europe) have dealers standing on soft 17. This is a rule that works in the player’s favor and cuts down on the house edge in a game where the house already has only a small advantage (when players use perfect basic strategy).

Players who draw to a 17 in these cases at least get a push and don’t lose any of your blackjack bankroll. Those with an 18 or higher then have a better chance to win their hands as well.

Player Strategies for Soft 17 vs Hard 17

A blackjack game in progress with two playing cards, a Queen of hearts and a 7 of spades, laid out on a red felt table with blurred background lighting.

There are some key things to remember when it comes to playing soft 17 and hard 17 hands. Here’s a look at how to play these two hands.

How to Play a Soft 17 in Blackjack

One thing to remember when you have a soft 17 is that taking a card won’t bust your hand. Therefore, you always at least hit in the hopes of making a better hand. While 17 may win at times, it’s still not a great hand and loses fairly frequently (as most players have experienced).

Beyond hitting, players may also want to double with a soft 17, based on the dealer’s upcard and the correct play via basic strategy. For example, when a player has a soft 17 the correct play is to double down against any dealer 3, 4, 5, or 6. A player has a good shot at winning with a dealer bust in these scenarios. Against all other dealer upcards, the correct play is simply to hit.

Having that ace in your hand for a soft 17 offers some real flexibility that can be advantageous. It’s important to remember to simply stand with soft 17.

How to Play a Hard 17 in Blackjack

When a player has a hard 17, there’s not a lot a player can do. Hitting this hand means you would bust about 69% of the time – so never take a hit when you reach hard 17. Standing at least gives you the chance to win with a dealer bust – or at least a push.

Other hands may require different decisions based on basic strategy, but when you have a hard 17 the options are pretty limited and taking a hit is ill-advised.

Conclusion

Knowing how to play soft 17 vs. hard 17 in blackjack is critical to give yourself a chance to win over the long term. Hard 17 offers limited options and a “hard” hand refers to one without an ace. A “soft” 17, one with an ace, offers players more flexibility. Players should always at least hit this hand and be ready to double down against the dealer’s 3, 4, 5, or 6.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is soft 17 different from hard 17?

A soft 17 has an ace and won’t bust when taking a hit. This hand offers more flexibility than a hard 17, which is fixed and doesn’t contain an ace.

Should I always hit on a soft 17?

Yes, players should always hit as another card won’t bust your hand and a 17 is often a loser. Also, players should double against the dealer’s 3, 4, 5, or 6 if this option is available.

What should I do with a hard 17?

You should always stand as this hand has a high likelihood, about 69%, of busting when taking a hit.

How does the dealer’s strategy affect my play?

Not really, you should be following basic strategy to base your play on the dealer’s upcard. However, the dealer standing on soft 17 rather than hitting lowers the house edge by about 0.21%

Can house rules on soft 17 vs hard 17 change the game odds?

Yes, hitting on hard 17 increases the house edge while standing on soft 17 reduces the house edge by about a quarter of a percent.

Does the dealer hit on soft 17?

This depends on the casino rules but hitting has become more common. Standing on soft 17 can be found more in Europe and at higher stakes in the U.S.