If you’re a serious blackjack player, you know that the most important decision to make in the game is whether to hit or stand on a hand. But, there are also different variations in blackjack rules and rules for the dealer that can affect your decision. One of the biggest variations is whether the dealer must hit or stand on a soft 17 in a particular table.
In a basic strategy blackjack game, players should always hit soft hands of 16 and 17. These hands are considered to be ‘soft’ because they contain an Ace that can be counted as either a 1 or an 11. These types of blackjack hands cannot bust. They can also be improved by taking another card, which makes them more valuable than a hard 17. In contrast to this, a hard total such as 17, 18, or even 20 is considered to be poor and should be stood on.
However, some casinos and games enlist the rule that dealers must hit on soft 17s instead of standing, increasing the house edge against players by two-tenths of a percent. This is a big enough difference to change the course of your game plan.
Some dealers will hit a soft 17 even when the table layout states that they must stand, which is an advantage for the player. It is best to check the rules of each casino before playing and determine the proper strategy for each situation.
In general, the dealer should stand on a soft 17 in single-deck games and double-deck games where the rules allow for soft doubling. In these situations, the player should double down if the dealer has a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 as his or her upcard. In these situations, the player’s probability of improving to a better hand is much higher than if they hit.
Other than these situations, the dealer should hit on a soft 17 in all other cases. If the dealer has an 8 or a 9, the player should stand, as it is a good chance of winning against the dealer’s strong hand.
In contrast, the dealer should hit on a soft hand when the upcard is a 2 through 6 in double- and multi-deck games. In these situations, the dealer’s probability of improving to a better blackjack hand is much lower than if they hit. In addition, hitting on a soft hand reduces the house edge against the player by about 0.22%.