The Soft 17 rule in blackjack is a topic of interest to many players, especially those just starting out in the game. Often they hear that they should never stand on soft 17 no matter what the dealer’s up card is, and they assume that this means that doubling on these hands is a poor play. But the truth is that the opposite is true, and that it’s actually better to hit a soft hand than it is to stand on one.
This article will discuss the reasons why, and the implications for how to best play a blackjack hand when the dealer has a Soft 17. It will also explore the other reasons why a player should double on these hands, including a few situations that are particularly difficult to deal with in real-world casino games, and explain why the choice between hitting or standing is not as stark a decision as some may think.
A soft 17 is a hand that contains an Ace and any other card other than a Ten or a Seven, and is therefore more flexible than a hard hand. For example, a hand made of Ace-2 and Four is soft 17, because it can total either 7 or 17. In this case, the player would want to hit in the hopes of drawing a higher card that will allow them to break the dealer’s hard-17, and they can then choose whether to keep hitting or double.
When a dealer hits on soft 17, the house edge increases by about 0.22%. While this may seem negligible, it can make a difference for advantage players who are aware of this rule and adjust their strategy accordingly.
However, a dealer’s requirement to hit soft 17 has other consequences that should not be ignored by advantage players. It also increases the dealer’s chances of busting, which means that their odds of making a decent total go up too. This can be exploited by players who know how to count cards, and a skilled player will be able to alter their betting and hand strategy in order to take advantage of these changes.
If a player is faced with the option of choosing between a game where the dealer hits on soft 17 or a game where they stand, it makes more sense to play the latter, because hitting on this hand increases the dealer’s chance of breaking, which will reduce their overall profit potential. It is important to understand these subtle differences, and why they exist, so that you can be a smarter player when you are at the table. With that knowledge, you can find the best casinos for playing blackjack online and in Las Vegas or elsewhere. With the right rules in place, you can even find a casino that allows dealers to stand on soft 17, but still has a lower overall house edge thanks to other rules that benefit the player. This will make for a more lucrative blackjack experience.
