What is a soft hand in blackjack?

Understanding soft hands is what separates casual players from confident ones. The word 'soft' means your hand has a flexible Ace worth 11, giving you a cushion that lets you take chances a hard hand never could.

Quick answer: A soft hand is any hand that contains an Ace being counted as 11, which means one more card can never bust you. Ace-6 is a 'soft 17,' and Ace-7 is a 'soft 18.' Because you have a built-in safety net, you can hit and double soft hands far more aggressively than the same-looking hard totals.

How to spot a soft hand

If your hand has an Ace still counting as 11, it is soft. Ace-3 is a soft 14, Ace-6 is a soft 17. Draw a card that would bust the 11, and the Ace quietly drops to 1, turning it into a hard hand instead. That switch is automatic.

Why soft hands are safe to hit

Because a single card cannot bust a soft hand, you can hit or double without risk of an instant loss. A soft 17, for example, should almost always be hit or doubled, never stood on - the worst that happens is it becomes a hard hand you keep improving.

Soft-hand strategy in short

Basic strategy treats soft hands on their own row: double soft 13 through 18 against weak dealer cards, hit soft 17 or less otherwise, and stand on soft 19 and 20. Learning these separately from hard totals is one of the fastest ways to improve. Practice on Classic Blackjack.

Practice soft hands

Related questions

What is a hard hand in blackjack?

A hard hand is any hand with no Ace, or with an Ace that must count as 1 to avoid busting. Because there is no flexible 11 to protect you, one wrong card can push you over 21. Ten-6 is a hard 16, and hard 12 through 16 are the trickiest totals in the game to play correctly.

How much is an Ace worth in blackjack?

An Ace is worth either 1 or 11, whichever is better for your hand at that moment. It counts as 11 unless that would push you over 21, in which case it automatically drops to 1. This flexibility is what makes the Ace the most powerful card in the deck and the reason 'soft' hands exist.

Does the dealer hit soft 17?

It depends on the table. Under 'stand on soft 17' (S17), the dealer stops on any 17. Under 'hit soft 17' (H17), the dealer draws again on a soft 17 like Ace-6. H17 is worse for the player, adding about 0.2% to the house edge, so S17 games are the better choice when you can find them.