Soft Hand

In blackjack, a soft hand is any hand that includes an Ace counted as 11 without going over 21. Because the Ace can also be counted as 1, soft hands give you extra flexibility. You can hit without fear of an immediate bust, which means soft hands are powerful tools for building winning positions—if played correctly.

For example, a hand of A♠ and 6♣ is a soft 17. If you hit and draw a 10♦, the Ace automatically drops to 1, making a hard 17 instead of a busted hand. This dynamic makes soft hands safer to hit and ideal for doubling down when the dealer is weak.

The opposite of a soft hand is a hard hand, where no Ace is present or the Ace must be counted as 1 to avoid busting.

Key Details of the Soft Hand (including odds, house edge, payout if relevant)

Soft hands play an important role in reducing risk and maximizing your advantage when the dealer is showing a weak card. Here’s how they influence the odds:

Soft hands allow you to hit safely once without the risk of busting.
Playing soft hands aggressively (e.g. doubling down) is key to basic strategy.
When played correctly, soft hands contribute to lowering the house edge to around 0.5%.
Soft hands are best used against dealer upcards of 4, 5, or 6 cards that suggest the dealer may bust.
Soft 18 (A-7) is often misplayed but can be one of the most profitable hands with correct decisions.

How to Bet Based on a Soft Hand in Blackjack

You don’t place a specific bet on a soft hand, but when you’re dealt one, it opens up more aggressive options like doubling down. These bets increase your stake mid-hand when the odds are in your favor.

For example:

With a soft 16 (A-5) and the dealer showing 6, the right move is to double down.
With a soft 18 (A-7), you might hit against a dealer 9, stand against a 2, and double against a 6.

Soft hands are about pressuring weak dealer cards, and basic strategy is built around maximizing value from these flexible hands.

How Does a Soft Hand Work?

The Ace gives the hand two potential values. If the total stays under 21, the Ace counts as 11. If you draw a card that would push the hand over 21, the Ace “converts” to 1.

Let’s say you start with:

A♥ + 6♦ (soft 17)
You hit and get a 5♣ → Now you have A♥ + 6♦ + 5♣ = 12 (Ace counts as 1 now)

This built-in flexibility is why soft hands are advantageous. They allow you to play more aggressively without a high risk of busting on the next hit.

Examples of Soft Hands in Action

Example 1:

Player is dealt Ace + 7 (soft 18)
Dealer shows a 9
Basic strategy says hit
Player hits and gets a 3
Now total is Ace (1) + 7 + 3 = 11
Hit again, gets a 9 → Total = 20

Example 2:

Player gets Ace + 5 (soft 16)
Dealer shows a 4
Player doubles down, draws a 4
Final hand = Ace (11) + 5 + 4 = 20
If dealer busts, player wins double their bet

Tips for Betting on Soft Hands

Know when to double down: Soft 13 to 18 are ideal candidates when the dealer shows 4, 5, or 6.
Don’t stand too early: A soft 17 or 18 might feel “safe,” but you often need to hit or double.
Use strategy charts: Blackjack basic strategy charts are your best friend when it comes to soft hands.
Watch for table rules: Some casinos may restrict doubling down on soft hands or treat soft 17 differently for the dealer.
Practice makes perfect: Use free blackjack apps to test soft hand scenarios and memorize proper responses.

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