Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games, requiring both skill and luck to win. However, not all players are familiar with the concept of soft 17 blackjack or understand the rule and why it’s important.
So, what is a soft 17 in blackjack? The soft 17 rule is a rule that requires the dealer to hit on soft 17. How does that affect the house edge and your strategy? By the end of this article you’ll know everything about soft 17 in blackjack.
What Does a Soft 17 Mean in Blackjack?
Any blackjack hand that contains an Ace counted as an 11 is a soft hand. Opposite to it, a hard hand doesn’t have an Ace, or it has it, but it’s immediately counted as one.
Therefore, a “soft 17” refers to a hand that totals 17 and includes an Ace counted as an 11, most commonly being an Ace and a 6. For comparison, a 10-7 hand is a hard hand where players must always stand. Variations of soft 17 hands include:
- A, 4, 2
- A, 3, 3
- A, A, 5
- A, 2, 2, 2
All of these hands are counted as 17s or as 7s. As a player, you have a hand that totals 17, which is a fairly high value and very close to 21. However, you can easily draw another card without the fear of going over because the Ace automatically takes its alternate value (1), making it impossible to have a total that exceeds 21.
Soft 17 vs Hard 17 Blackjack
A soft 17 in blackjack adds up to 17 points, and it’s called soft because the Ace is counted as 11, but it becomes 1 if the next card you draw takes you over 21.
In fact, any hand that contains an Ace valued at 11 is considered a soft hand, which means there are soft hands ranging from soft 12 to soft 20. Because they include an Ace, these hands are flexible, allowing players to draw another card without the risk of busting (going over 21).
For example, in cases like the one shown in the image above, we’d be talking about soft hands, since the Ace would be counted as 11 (6 + 11 = soft 17).
On the other hand, a hard hand in blackjack is one that does not contain an Ace, or where the Ace is already counted as 1. In other words, with hard hands, there is a real risk of going over 21 when drawing another card.
How to Play a Soft 17 in Blackjack
If you’re just learning how to play blackjack, you should know that rules can vary when it comes to what the dealer must do upon receiving a soft 17. In all cases, the dealer is always required to hit on 16 and stand on a hard 17 or higher. But when it comes to a soft 17, there are two possible rule variations:
- Hit on soft 17
- Stand on soft 17
This might seem like a minor detail to inexperienced players, but it’s not. In fact, it’s one of the most important rules in blackjack.
The hit on soft 17 rule is more common in land-based casinos than the stand on soft 17 rule, because it increases the house edge. In contrast, in online casinos, it’s common to find games with both rule variants, and some online blackjack games even allow players to configure this rule according to their preferences.
What Effect Does the Soft 17 Rule Have on the House Edge?
If the dealer is following the "hit on soft 17" rule, it means they must draw another card if their hand includes, for example, an Ace and a 6. This slightly increases the house edge, because the dealer has the chance to improve their hand to 18, 19, 20, or even 21 without the risk of busting!
On the other hand, if the dealer follows the "stand on soft 17" rule, they cannot draw another card. In this case, the dealer must stand on a hand worth 17. This rule slightly reduces the house edge, because the dealer misses the opportunity to improve their hand with an extra card. More precisely, the house edge is reduced by 0.22% when the stand on soft 17 rule is in place, making the game more favourable to players.
Counting Cards and Soft 17 Blackjack
Card counting in blackjack is a fascinating topic. Many people think you need to be a math genius to do it, but that’s not true. Of course, being good with numbers helps, but with some practice, anyone can learn to do it.
The card counting strategy is based on tracking the cards that have already been dealt and using that information to make smarter decisions about your next hand. This basic strategy works best at single-deck tables, though it can still be applied to multi-deck blackjack.
Card counting can reduce the house edge by 1% to 2%, especially at single-deck tables. However, it’s far from a guaranteed way to win. Additionally, casinos can take steps to detect and prevent this practice, like using multiple decks, shuffling frequently, or banning players suspected of counting cards.
In general, while both card counting and soft 17 rules can impact the house edge, they are still minor factors in the grand scheme of the game. Blackjack remains a game of chance, and the house will always retain an edge in the long run, even when these strategies are used.
How to Adjust Your Strategy for the Soft 17 Blackjack Rule
Blackjack may be a table game with simple rules, but that hasn’t stopped entire books from being written about tips and basic strategies to win. A lot of these rules are connected to soft 17 and what you should do to increase your chances to win.
The main question is: “Does a blackjack dealer have to hit a soft 17?” An answer to this will form your strategy. However, some strategies apply to all versions of the game, whether the dealer is required to stand or hit on a soft 17. Let’s look at some of them:
It’s advisable to hit, depending on the dealer’s upcard, in the following situations:
- You have between 4 and 8.
- You have 9 against the dealer’s A, 2 or 7-10.
- You have 10 against an A or 10.
- You have 12 against an A, 2, 3 and 7-10.
- You have 13 or 14 against an A, 7, 8, 9 or 10.
You should stand when:
- You have a hard 17 or higher.
- Surrender a hard 16 against the dealer’s A, 9 or 10 (if surrender isn’t allowed, hit instead).
- Surrender a hard 15 against the dealer’s 10 (or hit if surrender isn’t an option).
Double 9 against the dealer’s 3, 4, 5, or 6.
- Double 10 or 11 (hard) against the dealer’s 2 through 9 (hit if doubling is not allowed).
- Double 11 (hard) against the dealer’s 10 (hit if doubling isn’t allowed).
If the dealer is required to hit, blackjack soft 17 strategies are nearly the same, with a few exceptions:
- If you have a hard 11 and the dealer shows an A, it’s better to double down, or hit if doubling isn’t allowed.
- With a hard 15 vs. a dealer’s A, it’s best to surrender, or hit if surrender isn’t an option.
Lastly, it’s important to know how to play a soft 17 in blackjack. If you’re dealt this hand, what you should do is very simple:
- If the dealer’s upcard is between 3 and 6 and doubling down in blackjack is allowed, double down.
- Otherwise, always hit.
As you can see, there’s no reason to stand on a soft 17 in blackjack, since it’s impossible to bust and an extra card can only improve your hand.
When playing online blackjack, it’s helpful to keep these guidelines handy. However, it’s also important to remember that the main goal of the game is to have fun, and no basic strategy can completely eliminate the house edge.
