Ace Up Your Sleeve: How to Play a Blackjack Soft 16

At the blackjack table, you have a fancy ace and a humble 5, adding up to the dreaded 16. But don’t groan just yet. This isn’t your typical bust-prone hand. Thanks to the ace, this soft 16 gives you breathing room. In many cases, it’s not only doable, it’s the ace up your sleeve for a win. 

With a soft 16 in blackjack, the trick is considering the dealer’s upcard before making your move. We’ll walk you through every scenario and clarify how to handle your soft 16.

Let’s start with the basics: what is a soft 16, and why does it confuse so many players?

What is a soft 16?

A soft 16 in blackjack means you have a hand that totals 16, but one of the cards is an ace that counts as 11.

The most common example is ace-5, but ace-3-2 also counts. What makes it “soft” is that the ace can switch between being worth 11 or 1 without busting your hand. If you hit and draw a 10, your total becomes 16 with the ace now counted as 1. That flexibility gives you more room to be aggressive without the same risk of going over 21.

This is different from a hard 16, which either has no ace or has an ace that must count as 1 to avoid busting. Hard 16s are notoriously tricky and dangerous. Soft 16s, while still not strong, give you more breathing room to hit or double down.

Because of that wiggle room, soft 16 blackjack strategy depends entirely on the dealer’s upcard. What might be a solid double in one situation could be a rookie blackjack mistake in another.

Against Dealer’s  4, 5, and 6

Do you know that feeling when someone scratches an itch in the middle of your back, and you’re like, aaahhh, that’s the spot. That’s like the dealer showing a 4, 5, or 6. That’s the blackjack sweet spot.

These are considered weak dealer upcards because they have a higher chance of busting. If you’re holding a soft 16, one of the best blackjack tips is to turn up the heat and double down if the rules allow it.

Doubling down means you’ll take just one more card and double your bet. Your ace gives you a safety net because it can drop from 11 to 1, so you’re in a great position to land a solid hand or force the dealer into a bust.

If you can’t double because of table rules, then just hit. But whatever you do, do not stand. You’re still trying to improve your hand, and standing on a soft 16 leaves too much on the table.

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Do you hit soft 16 against a dealer’s 10?

Short answer: Yes.

Usually, when the dealer shows a 10, you play aggressively by hitting until you improve your hand. The dealer’s 10 is dangerous because the odds say they’re likely sitting on a total of 20. That means your soft 16, whether it’s ace-5, ace-3-2, or any other combo, is not nearly strong enough to compete. Standing is just surrendering.

However, because your handy ace counts as an 11, you can take another card without the risk of busting. If you pull a low card, like a 2 or 3, you now have a playable total and a fighting chance. If you pull a 10-value card, the ace flips to 1, and you’re holding a hard 16. That’s not great, but it’s still better than doing nothing.

Now, if you’re holding a soft 16 like ace-5 and doubling down is allowed, you can consider it, but only in multi-deck games where the dealer hits on soft 17 (H17) because your odds change depending on the number of decks in play. That’s a very specific situation, though, so most of the time, the play is just to hit (more on H17/S17 in just a sec).

Do you hit on soft 16 when the dealer has 7?

Let’s say the dealer shows a 7. Do you hit like you would when the dealer shows a 10, or do you do something else?

We’ll take “something else” for 400, Alex. Ding ding ding!

A dealer’s 7 isn’t quite the fire alarm that a 10 is, but it’s still strong enough that your soft 16 won’t cut it. You hit here, just like you would against a 10, but the reasoning changes slightly.

Against a 10, you’re desperate to improve. Against a 7, you’re trying to build something that beats a likely dealer total of 17.

Given the number of ten-value cards in the deck, the odds say the dealer will land around 17. If you stand with your soft 16, you’re waving the white flag too soon. Your ace gives you breathing room, so don’t waste it. You might draw a 4 or 5 and suddenly be sitting on 20 or 21. Even if you draw a high card, the ace flips to 1, and you’re still alive.

Is there any difference in strategy between a H17 and S17 game for soft 16s?

It actually matters more than you’d think.

Whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17 (that’s H17 vs. S17) can tilt the edge in subtle but important ways.

In a game where the dealer hits on soft 17 (H17), they’re more likely to improve weak hands and beat your marginal totals, so you need to be more aggressive with your soft hands in return. That means you’ll double down more often with soft 16 when the opportunity arises.

In an S17 game, where the dealer stands on soft 17, their chances of improving that hand stop short. That makes your soft 16 just a little more competitive, and basic strategy may tell you to hit rather than double in some of the same situations. The safer dealer behavior slightly reduces their overall edge, and that trickles down into your decisions, too.

Always check the table rules before you sit down, and tweak your plays accordingly. That little S or H can cost or save you money over time.

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A soft 16 isn’t the same kind of headache as a hard 16. It might look shaky, but it gives you room to maneuver. Focus on the dealer’s upcard and the game’s rules for dealer H17/S17. To put your strategy to the test, sign up and practice for free at Cafe Casino. When the moment is right, switch to Real Play to pocket your winnings for real.