What is a Soft 17 in Blackjack? The Make or Break Hand
On paper, a soft 17 in blackjack looks like just another ace total. But in reality, the rules regarding this hand are among the most pivotal in blackjack. They’re the difference between winning more often and handing more wins to the dealer. And the only thing we want to be handing them is a slice of humble pie.
This guide breaks down the soft 17 hand and the strategies behind it. When we’re done, you’ll be able to spot the player-friendly tables. Is the oven on? Because that pie won’t bake itself.
Soft 17 vs Hard 17
What is a soft 17 in blackjack? Look. 17 is 17. We promise we’re not going to bust out philosophy along the lines of 2 + 2 = 5. However, the soft 17 isn’t a typical 10 + 7 = 17 situation.
A soft 17 means your hand adds up to 17, but it also includes an Ace. On that note, any hand that has an Ace is a “soft” hand, such as A+5, A+2, A+8, and so on.
Aces are the most flexible cards when it comes to blackjack card values. They’re shapeshifters that can turn from 11 to 1 when you’re in danger of busting. Their flexibility changes how Ace-based totals behave, which is how we get soft and hard 17s.
The blackjack rules say “all shall bust after 21.” But if you’re holding an Ace-6 (17), then draw a 5, that Ace does the ol’ switcheroo to a 1, turning your hand to a 12 instead of 22, and thus saving you from a one-way ticket to Bust City. And that’s not a reference to one of our most famous sexy slots.
For comparison, a hard 17 is the opposite. That means you receive two regular cards (any card other than an Ace), and the total is fixed and unchanging. That could be 10-7, could be 9-8, or even A-6-10 (there’s an Ace, but it counts as one, which results in a hard 17).
Why the Soft 17 Rule Is Essential
Unlike regular soft hands in blackjack, like soft 18 or soft 19, soft 17 is special. It holds more weight in blackjack because this pivotal hand total determines if your game has player-friendly rules or not.
It comes down to one key question: Do dealers hit on soft 17 or stand?
When the dealer hits on soft 17, also known as H17, they have a golden chance to improve their hand. An Ace-6 isn’t great, so hitting gives them a shot at 18, 19, 20, or 21, and we don’t like that for them.
But it’s not only our opinion. If that mattered even a smidge, we’d be using our platform to classify Ranch as an official food group. Instead, we’re happy to report that the math backs us up.
When the dealer hits on soft 17 instead of standing on soft 17 (which you’ll see in the blackjack rules as H17 or S17), the house edge increases by about 0.2%. That might not sound like much, but it adds up to a significant chunk of your bankroll over a long session.
So, if you’re asking, “Does the dealer hitting on soft 17 help you or hurt you?” The answer is that it hurts. It’s falling off your bike instead of landing the curb hop. It’s spilling coffee on your white shirt. You get the point.
If the Dealer Must Hit on Soft 17
So, your dealer must hit on soft 17, huh? That’s fine. We can deal with this. “It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.”There’s a playing card quote for everything.
But it’s true. If the dealer must hit on soft 17 (H17), they have a slightly better chance of winning and a higher chance of busting. Thus, you must alter your response to counter their opportunity to improve. And sometimes, that means channeling your inner Rocky Bal-ackjack-boa and playing aggressively.
Double Down Soft 18 vs. 2-6
Let’s say you have Ace-7 (soft 18) and the dealer shows a 2. At an S17 table, you’d stand. Your 18 is decent, and the dealer’s 2 is weak, so you’re in a comfy position. Perhaps on the couch while someone else does the dishes.
But at an H17 table, you should do your part and double down. Hitting on 17 helps the dealer improve their hand. But it also makes them statistically more likely to bust. Because of this added volatility, you want to get more money on the table while you have a strong lead with your 18.
Surrender With 15 Against a Dealer’s Ace
Your strategy for the dealer’s Ace differs as well. If you have a 15 and the dealer shows an Ace (in a multi-deck game), surrender if the table allows it. Your odds will be slightly better. It’s a tactical retreat that saves you half your bet against a hand that is statistically likely to beat you.
However, don’t get too surrender-happy. Save that for your third attempt at assembling IKEA furniture.
Usually Split 8s
Even if the dealer is hitting on soft 17, you would still split a pair of 8s, unless the dealer shows an Ace. In that case, surrender if it’s available; otherwise, split. A 16 is a loser’s hand; splitting them gives you two fresh starts.
The dealer can lose or win on H17. So, is the dealer hitting on soft 17 good or bad in the long run? It’s bad, but mainly because if you have the option of S17, there’s no point in choosing H17. It’s the blackjack rule that increases the house edge, no matter how marginally.
If the Dealer Stands on Soft 17
We’ll harp on this until the cows come home.
When dealers stand on soft seventeen, you’re playing at a slightly better table. It’s not exactly winning the lottery. But the difference is just enough that if you’re choosing between two identical blackjack tables and one says “Dealer Stands on all 17s,” you’d be a smart cookie to pick that one. And we’re talking about the triple-extra-chocolate-chip kind, not the basic butter biscuits.
With S17, when the dealer gets Ace-6, they’re done. They’re stuck with 17, whether they like it or not. This means fewer chances for them to improve into 18, 19, 20, or, heaven forbid, 21. This also means you win more often with decent hands.
Because the dealer is stuck with that weak 17, you don’t have to be quite as aggressive. You can settle into your inner, gentle Ted L-Ace-o instead (That’s ‘Ted Lasso’, okay? Give us a break, we’re a casino, not someone’s pun-master dad from Ohio).
Against a Dealer 2
For example, when the dealer shows a 2, basic blackjack strategy says you shouldn’t risk a double with your soft 18 (Ace-7). Likewise, you don’t need to surrender your hard 15 against a dealer’s Ace like you might at an H17 table.
The house margins at a dealer-stands-on-soft-17 table are about 0.2% lower than at a dealer-hits table.
How’s that humble pie coming along? You now understand the soft 17 meaning and why most players prefer S17 tables. But mastering soft 17 strategies requires hard skills you can only gain from experience. Come on over, grab a stool at the blackjack bar at Cafe Casino, and let the dealer have their first bite.