The 21-card game (blackjack) blends skill and luck. Cards are played strategically to reach the crucial mark of having a hand total of 21 or close enough to beat the dealer. While every hand formed during gameplay is essential, the soft 17 blackjack is unique.
Soft 17 blackjack is a hand that can either make you win a round or lose it, depending on your or the dealer’s action. Today’s casino guide explains what a soft 17 is and how best to play it to increase your chances of winning.
Soft 17 Blackjack: Dealer Rules & Player Strategy
A soft 17 blackjack is a sought-after hand total of 17 with an ace. Example: ace card + a 6. The presence of an ace card, an adaptable card used as a one or an 11, earns this hand the term “soft.”
Blackjack soft 17 can be calculated as 7: the ace card taken as a 1 plus a 6 card to form 7. This is useful when you have a soft 17 and get an extra card (6) because you hit. Six plus the soft 17 becomes a 23-card hand, which is a bust. To avoid this, you have to make the ace a one, making a total of 13, and you can add more cards when you play blackjack online for real money.
Soft 17 vs hard 17 blackjack is a widespread discussion. Unlike soft 17, hard 17 is a 17-card hand formed without an ace. An example is a 10 and a 7. If you hit in this case and get a 6, you automatically bust. Learn how to play blackjack with 2 players.
How Dealers Play Soft 17
The blackjack dealer soft 17 rule in many casinos is to stand compulsorily. The most viable explanation for the rule is to maintain a consistent house edge and improve their chances of winning. Nevertheless, blackjack is one of the best casino card games for online players.
Without a strict rule on what the dealers must do, they can hit or double down depending on what the player has at the time. If the dealers hit, it is better for the players. Check out our online blackjack guide at Slots Paradise Casino.
How To Play A Soft 17 as a Player
Blackjack is one of the best casino games with the lowest house edge. Most players stand on a blackjack soft 17 as they feel it unsafe to go further. However, understand that you only beat the dealer with a soft 17 if the dealer goes beyond the 21-hand total. It becomes a draw in games where dealers stand on soft 17. And if they hit, they could eventually win the round. Here is what to do with soft 17 blackjack:
1. Always hit on soft 17. Statistically, standing on soft seventeen is a losing hand. By hitting, you can improve your hand and can eventually win. Eight of 13 card ranks can make your hand, and only five can mar it. Use the blackjack bankroll calculator for smart money management.
2. Double down if you are confident you can whip up a better hand. This is a good option where the dealer has a bust-prone card ( 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6). Learn how to win at electronic blackjack.
Play It Like You Mean It!
At Slots Paradise Casino, we have the knack to give our players what they need, and we know that soft 17 blackjack is an amendable hand because of the ace card. When the dealer has a soft 17, they often stand. However, when you have a soft 17, it is usually better to hit or double down, depending on the dealer’s upcard.
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