What is soft 17 vs hard?

In literal terms, Soft 17 is another way of describing a blackjack hand worth 17 which includes an Ace, where the Ace counted either as 1 or 11. A Soft hand cannot bust if you take one card more. In contrast, a hard hand is simply one without an Ace, or which includes an Ace but it can bust if another card is taken.

Is soft 17 or hard 17 better?

Dealers do not bust more often when standing on soft 17. After all, there is no risk of busting when they stand on the hand. When the dealer stands on all 17s, he busts about 29.1 percent of the time, and that increases to 29.6 if he hits soft 17. However, a dealer who stands on soft 17 can't improve the hand.

What does soft 17 mean?

In most casino blackjack games, a dealer must take a card if he hits 16 or below and stand at 17 or above. Some tables, though, say the dealer must hit soft 17, meaning he has a chance to increase his score up to 21.

Is it better for dealer to hit soft 17?

The rule of thumb in most games of casino blackjack is that the dealer always hits a total of 16 or fewer. This means that they always stand on a total of 17 or more. This is the best possible situation for the player regarding the soft 17 rule. And this rule doesn't consider whether the total is soft or hard.

Do you double down on soft 17?

In fact, the basic playing strategy for doubling down soft 17 is this: In double- and multi-deck games, always double down when the dealer's upcard is 3 through 6. In a single-deck game, always double down when the dealer's upcard is 2 through 6.

Dealer Reaches 17 Rule in Blackjack

What is the basic strategy for soft 17?

But if the dealer hits soft 17, basic strategy players go ahead and double against the Ace, too. With Ace-7 — a two-card soft 18 — we double down against 3 through 6 if the dealer stands on all 17s. If the dealer hits soft 17, we double against all those up cards, and also double against a 2.

Is it better to hit or stay at 17 in blackjack?

It is best to hit when holding a hand of 10 or 12-16, and stand on anything 17 and over. An ace gives you a good chance of making 21 with a hit. When a dealer has a seven, eight or nine card it is impossible for them to make a blackjack, so your chances increase.

Should I hit 16 when the dealer has 7?

On all your two-card hard 16s, you gain by hitting whenever the dealer has 7 or higher, but the gain is biggest when the dealer has a 7 up. There are some hands of three or more cards where it's a better play to stand on 16 vs. 10, but that gets us into composition-dependent strategies — a topic for another time.

What numbers should you split in blackjack?

Does a dealer stay on soft 17?

The Dealer must draw on 16 or under and must stand on 17 or over. The Dealer's first ace counts as 11 unless it busts the hand. Subsequent aces count as one. If the player's total is closer to 21 than the Dealer's, the player wins even money (1 – 1).

Can you make a living playing blackjack?

It's definitely possible to play blackjack for a living. It takes hard work, determination, and self control, but we are living proof that you can make a living counting cards at blackjack (not to mention the 100 people we hang out with at the blackjack ball, half of which are millionaires thanks to the casinos).

When should you surrender in blackjack?

Surrender is simply an optional rule in blackjack that allows you to give up half your bet after you have seen your first two cards and the dealer up card. If your hand has less than a 50 percent chance of winning against the dealer, then it's time to consider surrender.

Do you hit a 13 against a 6?

14 stands against dealer 2 through 6, otherwise hit. 13 stands against dealer 2 through 6, otherwise hit. 12 stands against dealer 4 through 6, otherwise hit. 11 always doubles.

Do you hit a 12 against a 3?

That may be true for most stiff hands (meaning, a hard 12 through 16) but it's not the case when you are holding a 12 against a 3. There are only four cards that could bust your 12 — a ten, jack, queen, or king. On the other hand, five cards will get you to 17–21 (a five, six, seven, eight, or nine).

What is an example of a soft 17?

Soft 17 can be made in various ways. The Ace-6 hand is the most common Soft 17 hand that most blackjack players will know, but you can also make Soft 17 with 3 or more cards, so long as the Ace is counted as 11 or 1. Examples include the Ace-3-3 hand and Ace-Ace-2-4.

What is the max bet on a $5 blackjack table?

To begin a Blackjack hand, players must bet at least the table minimum. For example, at a $5 to $500 table, the minimum bet to play is $5. The player may bet any amount up to the maximum of $500.

Is it better to play blackjack at a full table?

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Given this fact, you are better off playing at a full table rather than a table with fewer players, or worse, heads up against the dealer. The reason is you'll get fewer hands dealt to you at a full table, which will reduce the exposure of your bankroll to the house edge.

Is it good to take even money in blackjack?

Unless you're a card counter and know that more than a third of the remaining cards are 10s or face cards, don't take even money. That “sure thing” costs you money in the long run.

Do you always double down on 11?

If the dealer is showing a lower card than a 10, it is good strategy to double down. If the casino rules dictate the dealer must hit soft 17, you should always double down on 11 no matter what the dealers up card.

Do you double 11 against 10?

When you double down, you risk losing double your original bet, but with 11 vs. 10, you win double your bet more often, giving you a higher average profit.

Do you hit on 15 against a 10?

In a double- or multi-deck game, if your 15 consists of an 8-7, hit against a dealer 10 upcard (rather than surrender). In all games, if your 16 is multi-card or the result of a pair split, stand against a dealer's 10 upcard instead of hit.

Should I stick on 15 at blackjack?

Sam says: “Always hit a hard 15 when the dealer's up-card is a 7 through an ace. If you stand on that 15, you will win 25.36 percent of the time and lose 74.64 percent of the time. That makes a net loss of 49.28 percent.

Can you hit as many times in blackjack?

The player can 'HIT' as many times as they wish, but have to aim not to 'bust' (exceed a total of 21). If the player busts, they immediately lose their bet. After each player has played and either stood or busted, the dealer takes their turn. They can, again, either 'HIT' or 'STAND'.

Will you always lose in blackjack?

They typically win about 48% of the hands they play. That's just the nature of the game; you're going to lose more hands than you win. But on average the winning players will bet more money on the 48% of winning hands than they will on the 52% of losing hands.