You can opt to hit for as long as you don’t go bust (exceed 21). BLACKJACK The name of the game – a ten or any picture card plus an Ace as your first two cards. Although both the soft and hard hand make a total of 17, the main difference is that you can never bust when you are hitting a soft 17, but it isn’t so in. Just plug in the rules and it produces an immediately basic strategy and is ready to run a simulation. The probability of getting a blackjack is 128/415, or 30. Spanish 21 is the most popular Blackjack variation and combines the action of Blackjack with the exciting payouts of a slot machine. Soft 19, in particular, is often misplayed by less knowledgeable players. If there’s no splitting, take the pair as a hard hand. If you have Ace 7: Stand if the dealer has 2, 7 or 8. A 10-7 is an example of a hard hand, but so is A-7-9; if the hand doesn’t contain an ace or has one or more aces counted as one, then the. Surrendering would earn you more money in the long run. Unfortunately, hands don't always get dealt in such easy one, two punches and, if they do, you often still have to make a "soft" decision on a 3rd or 4th card. Essentially, the basic strategy is a template which shows you the. The following cards can also create a soft 17: Ace - 3 - 3 hand. In this case, Ace is counted as 11. While the probability of winning 2 hands in a row is 0. If you have a blackjack they will offer you "even money", instead of the usual 1. Progressive Blackjack Additional Tips Other than that, progressive blackjack uses the same interface and gameplay as the standard online variants of 21. BlackjackChamp. Hard 12 will stand against 4-6, hit against everything else. The fully responsive simulator can be accessed from a desktop or most modern mobile devices, which effectively means – if you have an internet connection – you’ll be able to learn anywhere. With a soft hand, the best blackjack strategy says you should stand for more possible combinations when the dealer hits on a soft 17, and less when the dealer stands on a soft 17. Best Blackjack Casinos In Atlantic City. Understanding blackjack hand values and blackjack card values ins an essential part of learning how to play the game, both at the casinos and online. A soft hand is one that features an ace. Hard 13 through 16 will stand against 2-6, hit against 7-ace. The value of a hand is the sum of the point values of the individual cards. Or they might have an ace that is worth 1 only. What’s the difference? The ace can act as 1, so if you hit and get anything more. When you have a soft hand or soft total in blackjack, one of the cards you hold is an ace, and your hand total can change depending on which gives you more advantage. Hit if you have a soft hand except of the following soft hands: Ace + 5,6,7. When your cards total 11. When playing optimally, single-deck blackjack has a house edge of just 0. A blackjack ace is valuable since it can be a 1 or an 11. Soft 18. Interestingly enough, the house edge in single-deck blackjack is slightly higher than in multi-deck ones (5. Soft 13 or 14 versus dealer’s 5 or 6, hit. Since double deck blackjack is easy to count and yields a smaller house advantage in comparison to six or eight deck games, most casinos have tweaked the rules to gain a larger edge over their players. A hard hand has no ace or an ace worth 1, while a soft hand has an ace which counts as 11. Quoting from Wikipedia (due to lack of an official online source for blackjack rules):. This is because the chances of you making a good hand are high with so many 10-value cards in the deck. Player’s hand is shown vertically on the left side of the chart. Hard 10 will double against 2-9. Understanding the dynamics of soft 17 blackjack is crucial because it is one of the few situations where your decisions can significantly affect the outcome of the game. Blackjack soft game hit stand strategy universal hand against play hands stiff dealer casinonewsdailyUniversal strategy for blackjack. There are two types of hard hand in blackjack: those without aces, and those with an ace. Always stand on A,9 or higher. 2 percent. That will clear up some confusion. A,A – always split. See moreWhat is a soft hand in blackjack? The best way to look at the blackjack soft hand definition is to say this: a soft hand over twelve which contains aces. Understanding the difference between these two types of hands is essential to maximize your winnings. Basic Strategy Chart for Single Deck Blackjack: Dealer Stands on Soft 17. Indeed, the soft 17 in blackjack, as mentioned, will tilt the house advantage to the casino by as much as 0. Here are those soft combinations: A2 - 13 (13 or 3) A3 - 14 (14 or 4) A4 - 15 (15 or 5) A5 - 16 (16 or 6). In conclusion, a soft hand and a hard hand in blackjack are two different types of hands that can be played in the game. Soft 17 – One of the Most Frequently Displayed Hands in Blackjack. Stand on all hard totals of 17 regardless of what card the dealer starts with. If it’s any other total other than 20, you lose the bet. The basic premise is that you should bet 1 or 11. The Hi-Lo Strategy; Winning Big with Soft Hand Blackjack: A Comprehensive Guide; Develop a Strategy. Stand on 17 or higher. Get ready to focus and memorize, because there are three blackjack hands to consider. A hand like A-4-10-3 with a total of 18 is also hard despite the presence of the. Being a soft hand, it contains an Ace that can be assigned a value of either 1 or 11 like on the following examples: A-7, A-2-5, and 4-3-A. You’d want. What Are Soft Hands. It’s useful to know what these are and how they work before placing any wagers. If you get a card between 6 and 10, then ace becomes a hard-11. Meet Mr Blackjack. Soft hands are actually the most misplayed hands in blackjack. 4-Deck to 8-Deck Blackjack Strategy Introduction. Tip #3 Know When to Surrender. On the other hand, with a hand total of 15, the chance of busting increases to 54%. A Soft Hand is the name given to any hand that contains an Ace and any other card, with the exception of a Ten valued card, if you are playing any type of Blackjack game and you are dealt an Ace and a Ten Card then you will of course have Blackjack and if that hand is not matched by the Dealer’s. Soft 17 can be made in various ways. Random mode – purely random shuffle. Adjusting Your Bet Size in Multiple-Deck Games Additional Tips Assuming you play at a table where the minimum is $5, you should start the session by betting 1 unit, or $5, when the count is negative, 0 or +1. What Is a Soft Hand in Blackjack? A soft hand in blackjack is any hand where you can choose to use the ace as 1 or as 11. Soft hands can be surprisingly hard to play in blackjack. At most casinos, blackjack plays 3:2. Even somewhat experienced blackjack players will sometimes struggle with the correct moves on a soft. Since sixteen of the other fifty cards have a value of 10 and four have a value of 11, there is a strong chance of. Conversely, a ‘hard hand’ is a hand either without an Ace or with an Ace valued as 1 point. 2. When this happens, the house gets an opportunity to improve the hand against the soft hand of the player, which. If players have an ace and a 7, then they have a soft 18 hand. In online blackjack always stand with this hand. Try doubling down on hard nine, ten, or 11. They also suggest doubling down when you have a total of 10 if the dealer doesn’t have a 10 or an Ace. The next two rules concern soft hands, or hands with an ace that counts as either a 1 or 11. Soft hands cannot bust by taking an additional card, since the ace can revert to counting as just one point if necessary. In the arena of Blackjack, the soft 17 blackjack hand sits as a game-changer, tipping the scales of strategy for both the dealer and the player. So for example, if you bet $10, getting blackjack pays $15. Ace - 2 Ace - 2 - 2 hand. Hard and soft hands in blackjack are all determined by one card: the Ace. The probability of a blackjack in a single deck game is 4*16/combin (52,2) = 64/1326. Players with a soft hand of 17 always choose to hit, i. 3) Soft & Hard hands in blackjack As part of the basic blackjack strategy, we gave 3 different tables for 3 different scenarios — soft hands, hard hands, and split hands. As mentioned above, the term “soft” refers to a hand where you have an ace plus another card. Blackjack Soft Hands Strategy Below you can read the detailed rules for soft hands (with an Ace, counted as 11). For example, a hand with a 9 and a 7 is a hard 16. For example, an A and an 8 can be both 9 and 19. Hard hand — This is a hand with no ace. But at some games there is an exception when the dealer has a hand of "soft" 17. As you know, the dealer will give each player two cards. 8,8 – always split. Because of this peculiarity of the rules, the Aces are easily the most important cards in blackjack. 3. 8%), but insurance is a wrong move, so this. A soft hand is when there is an Ace in the combination because an Ace can count as 1 or 11 points,. The reason you can risk a high hand is. However, by doing so, you now have the chance to increase the value of your bet by up to 100%. With soft hands, you hit soft 13 through 17. 65%. A soft hand contains an ace that’s counted as an 11. Learn the odds of different hands you will see at the blackjack table. With a bet of $10, you keep your $10 and win a further $15 from the dealer. 62% probability of a total of 18; a 14. , 2, 3, or 4), while soft hands are hands that have a low number of face cards (e. Hard 17 and above will always stand. Lernen Sie, wie Sie jedes Mal das beste Blackjack Blatt erkennen. Soft Total - any hand containing an ace which has a value of 11. If you happen to receive two 6s, this will mean that you have a hard 12. Quickly analyse any blackjack hand and increase your odds of winning. The total value of that hand is 16 and that is considered the worst blackjack hand. The code isn't arranged properly and keeps the "total" value and/or "hand" empty giving an infinite while loop. This happens when an Ace that could previously have been used as a 1 or an 11 is forced into being used as a 1 after a hit. Odds of Winning Blackjack. Soft & Hard Hands. You can calculate the probability if you divide the number of winning outcomes by the number of all possible outcomes. Written directly on the table alongside blackjack and insurance payouts, it should say something along the lines of — “ dealer must hit soft 17 ” (H17 game) or “ dealer stands on 17 and must draw to 16 ” (S17 game). Hard Hands in Blackjack. 13%, under these. This is the hand with the highest bust frequency rate out of these three hard totals. Hard 20 is the best blackjack hand you can hope for, aside from natural 21. Other examples of soft 19 include 2-6-A, 5-3-A, and A-7-A. Winning hands in Blackjack will generally pay one-to-one (1:1), also known as ‘evens’ or ‘even money’. The hands are considered “soft” because they can be played in two ways. Soft hands contain an ace card. If you hit on a soft 17 and get a 5, the ace will be valued at 1 and you’ll have a 12. PITBULLS & ADDICTS. You'll never stand on this total, since you cannot bust by taking a hit, and the chances of getting a good card are relatively good. If you look at the table, you will see one of two phrases on the felt: Dealer Stands on All 17s: This is the simple version. A soft hand is when the total value of your cards is less than 21, and you have at least one ace in your hand. These rules don’t really matter. We ranked it higher than a regular 19 only because it is a soft hand. Regardless the casino does not care if you have a basic strategy chart. He's taught and entertained over 100,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel NeverSplit10's . For the rest of the cases, it is best to try and improve your total by hitting. Pairs have two cards with the same value, e. You probably think following a chart that shows you the correct decision for any possible round at the blackjack table is easy enough and indeed it is, but this does not prevent some people from misplaying certain hands. For example, a King and an 8, or two 4s. However, this does not mean the house wins 57. An Ace has a value of 11, unless it would bust your hand, at which point it becomes 1. Well, soft 20, by contrast, is an Ace and a nine. Python Blackjack Functions and Inputs Arrangement. Since hard 13 is more prone to busting than hard 12 (with 5 out of 13 card denominations that can break the hand), players should approach it more conservatively. The reason the above hands are classified as “soft” 18 is because the strategy for playing them is different from a hand that totals 18 and that either doesn’t contain an Ace (e. It is worth mentioning that the same goes for the situations when players have a hard 13 against different. Soft 17 hands give us a chance to add an extra playing card without a bust risk. An example would be if you bet $100 and were dealt a 16 versus a dealer’s 10, you might prefer to “surrender” the hand and get $50 back instead of potentially losing the entire $100. Reply. In the simplest of terms, soft hands consist of two cards, one of which is an Ace, while hard hands do not include an Ace. To double down basically means to double your initial bet. That flexible Ace can revert to a 1 if needed to avoid exceeding 21. This is the one exception between the two strategy charts when it comes to the dealer having a six. Always hit soft totals 13 through 17 and stand on soft 19. One of the hands that blackjack players often misplay is soft 18. Basically, hard hands do not have an ace. The difference is that the dealer has the casino watching over him to ensure he will follow the rules. Understanding Soft Hands in Blackjack. A hard hand is obviously more rigid and the player doesn’t have any choices to exercise in such situations. When your cards total 11. Hit: When the dealer has anything else showing. It is named a soft hand because the ace can either be an 11 or a one, as described above, depending on what the players’ other cards are. However, it also said to split Aces. 26% edge. A hard hand in blackjack is a hand where neither of the two cards is an ace and therefore has no flexibility. Hence, the strategy to play hard & soft hands should be entirely different. If the basic blackjack strategy chart is telling you to surrender your hand, and the surrender. Are you having trouble reading soft hands in Blackjack? Then this video is for you! We go over how to read soft hands in blackjack, such as soft 17. Hit when holding pairs of 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, and 8s. Optimal Strategy for Blackjack. This applies to both live dealer blackjack and regular. Make a bet from $1 to all-in. DraftKings House Rules. The house has a. Dealer’s Up card is 5. Hands of A-8, A-2-6, and 3-5-A are all examples of soft 19. On the contrary, players end up busting in many cases with this hand. 66%. For example, a two-card 21 pays only $6. Hitting split aces is usually also prohibited as it yields an advantage of 0. In blackjack, a hand is considered either a hard or a soft hand, depending on whether or not it contains an Ace that counts 11. . If the total exceeds 21, the ace will be valued at one to prevent the hand from busting. Side note – if you’re playing a single-deck game, you may not. By the Rule of 9, doubling down is your best play. Private Studio Located in Kamloops BC. Blackjack Strategy with soft or hard hands. The basic strategy rules for hitting soft 17 are as follows: For double- and multi-deck games, hit when the dealer‘s upcard is a 2 or 7 through ace. If players have an ace and a 7, then they have a soft 18 hand. Your 2 plus the dealer's 4 equals only 6, therefore you should just hit. 10%. Blackjack soft hands strategy ultimately makes it impossible to lose your hand when you have an Ace. 46% and 0. The following tables show the probability of the dealer forming any given final hand according to the dealer's up-card. Change is Possible. Therefore, they provide less liquidity and fewer choices for the player. If your initial hand is 20 in aggregate, you’ll receive a bonus payout. But why is necessary to make this distinction? The key is the nature of the Ace in blackjack – this is the only card in the game that does not have a fixed value. This Ace allows players to adjust its value to 1, allowing. Double. 8-A. Dealer 9. The main reason for this is that 17 is such a common hand value. To double down basically means to double your initial bet. The Basic Blueprint; Navigating Soft Hands vs Hard Hands. Pays 3 to 2, unless the Dealer also draws Blackjack. A ‘soft hand’ in Blackjack refers to any hand containing an Ace, which can be valued as 11 points. Below is a chart showing the dealer’s odds of drawing each final hand: Natural blackjack – 4. Multi-Deck Blackjack Strategy Charts (4–8 Decks) Blackjack Basic Strategy for Soft Hands. Basic strategy advises players to stand whenever the dealer’s upcard is a 2, a. For example, if you wager $20 on a hand suitable for doubling down, you can double for an amount smaller than $20, like $15 or $10. You will notice that some charts have separate instructions for soft and hard hands. It is also wise to hit if the dealer has a relatively higher-value card in their hand, such as a 7, 8 or 9, because they are likely to make 21. g. A hard hand is any hand that either does not contain an ace, of if it does, counts the ace as 1. If one of the first two cards you are dealt is an ace, you have a soft hand. A "soft hand" is a hand with an ace that counts as 11. ) The dealer’s upcard (2 though Ace) appears along the top of the chart and the player’s hand can be found down the first column (grouped in order by Hard Hands, Soft Hands, followed by Pairs). For a single-deck game, hit when the dealer’s upcard is 7 through ace. The Frequency of Occurrence of Hard and Soft Hands Additional Tips What about the advantage each of these hands can give the players? Not surprisingly, the most advantageous hand is the blackjack itself, followed by paired ten-value cards and soft 20 (these yield around 60% advantage), with hard 19 and 11 in tow (with an advantage of around 23%). Instead, you receive one card only to. The most heeded blackjack advice tells players never to hit on a Hard 17. On top of that, the presence of the Ace determines the type of a hand in blackjack. I was looking at a new online blackjack game, and their basic strategy said to double down on a soft 12 against a 5 or 6. When you have a soft 19 and the dealer shows a six. Blackjack – A hand worth 21. Winning blackjack pays 3: 2. You have 13-14: HIT if a dealer has 2-4, 7-Ace; if a dealer has 5 or 6 - DOUBLE. (The reason is that some players find it easier to learn the basic strategy with a blackjack strategy chart. Or they might have an ace that is worth 1 only. In contrast, “hard” ( also called “stiff. The game indeed requires a lot of skills and personal qualities such as discipline, but it really pays off to players who have dedicated themselves to have. The dealer’s probabilities of exceeding 21 and losing the round when starting with a 5 are 42. 62% probability of a total of 18; a 14. This is about 1. If a hand total is considered to be a soft hand, it also sets the "softHand" variable that's passed in to true. 10. Unlike a hard hand, where the ace can only take on a value of 1 to prevent a bust, a soft hand allows the ace to take on a value of 11. In both cases, an A stands for ace. Typically, each player receives two face-up cards they’re not allowed to touch, and the dealer gets one face-up and one face-down card. Let’s look at hard hands first. By hitting, you’re asking for an additional card to improve your total and your chances against the dealer’s hand. In both cases an A stands for ace. Moreover, soft hands and hard hands are two odds for winning the blackjack game against the dealer. Actually, it is the opposite: This hand offers a chance to. R simulates Blackjack games (based on 10,000,000 moves with 8 decks and 3 people playing) to generate a database that will be analyzed with the data. Soft 15 (A,4) doubles against dealer 4 through 6, otherwise hit. With this hand, you have a total of 18 that contains an ace which can be designated value of 11 without the hand going over 21. After that, the players and the dealer take turns betting. Meanwhile, when the dealer is required to hit on Soft 17, they can improve their hand value and end up with either 18, 19, 20 or 21. 9 to 1 holds a 10% mathematical advantage in this coin-flip game. For specific tips, we present two charts depending on whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17. For example with a "soft 17" (an ace and a 6), the total is 7 or 17. Following is his basis strategy under these rules. For example, A-6 and A-3-3 are both a soft 17. Contrast to hard hands. Your total is still 20, but this time it is a “soft” blackjack hand. It has a house edge of about 0. The numeric denomination of cards 2 through 10 is their pip value. The fully responsive simulator can be accessed from a desktop or most modern mobile devices, which effectively means – if you have an internet connection – you’ll be able to learn anywhere. The odds of winning at blackjack can be as high as 42. How to Play Hard Hands. 26% edge. So if the player had bet $10 on the hand and $5 on the Insurance bet, they would lose the $10 and be paid a total of $15 – their $5. Doubling Down on Soft Hands. Doubling Soft hands which include an Ace is one of the secrets of winning blackjack. Double. Every hand with an Ace is considered a soft hand, because Ace can be valued either 1 or 11. This "soft" designation is crucial, because it means you cannot bust by taking a hit. The bust percentages for a dealer holding a 6 are 43. Double. Four-deck blackjack with the dealer standing on soft 17’s and allowing the player to double after splits have an edge of 0. 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. 22%. . A soft hand in blackjack is any hand containing an ace counted at 11. g. Surrender 15 against a 10. If the player busts or the dealer has a higher total, the entire sum goes to the house. stand To stop asking for more cards. The house rules can vary a bit when it comes to a soft 17. By hitting, you’re asking for an additional card to improve your total and your chances against the dealer’s hand. This type of hand is considered more player. It’s impossible to go bust with a soft hand. Double down when the dealer has a 3, 4, 5, or 6. An ace + 2 is also an A ♥ + 2 ♣ while an ace + 7 is a A ♦ + 7 ♥. Splitting Aces gives you the opportunity to create two brand new hands with a more advantageous starting point of 11. Hitting Soft Hands in Blackjack. 78% of the time. Hands to play in blackjack . Again, the moves vary between the two different blackjack strategy charts. Soft Hand: Di Blackjack, setiap kali Anda memiliki kartu as di tangan Anda, itu dianggap 11, yang berarti Anda memiliki tangan yang soft. For example, ACE-6 is a blackjack soft 17 hand, 2-2-ACE-2 is also a blackjack soft 17 hand. Blackjack Soft Hand 19 or 20. here is the link. 65%In blackjack, soft hands and hard hands are played differently with the blackjack basic strategy underlines that. 08%. In blackjack, soft hands are hands where the player has two cards and one of them is an Ace. 25%. Ultimately, the game’s main aim. A "soft" hand is one with at least one ace, which may still count as one or eleven points. The first thing to get to grips with is ‘basic strategy’ which is probably the most essential ingredient of blackjack strategy. With a hard 10 or 11, double if you have more points than the dealer, treating a dealer ace as 11. Ultimately soft hands are probably more favourable as a blackjack hand. Likewise, a pair consisting of an Ace and a seven is called the. Strategy With ‘Soft’ Hands. The main difference between soft 17 vs hard 17 is the ease of play: You should always stand with a Hard 17. A soft hand is one that contains an ace, so a “soft 17” is an ace plus a 6. You should always soft double against a dealer's 5 or 6 when you have Ace/2 through Ace/7. The nature of a soft hand in blackjack. For instance, if you received a 7, the hand would be worth 13 now (6+7). There are two charts depending on whether the dealer hits or stands on. Soft and Hard Hands in Blackjack. Also, the basic playing strategy for playing a blackjack soft 17 is different from a hard 17. It just depends on what the player prefers. Hitting and Standing. For. How to Play Soft Hands in Blackjack. On the other hand, a soft hand is the one that involves an ace that is worth either 1 or 11. Hard hands; Soft hands; Pairs; TIP: Soft hands have an ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11 without going over 21, e. 10 / 1) x 100 = -0. This means that you’re confident that your hand will beat the dealer during the showdown. For example, ACE-6 is a blackjack soft 17 hand, 2-2-ACE-2 is also a blackjack soft 17 hand. Whenever the player has an ace in hand that can be considered as 11, he is having a soft hand. It should stop or proceed depending on the type of game. Whenever you surrender, you lose 50 cents per dollar wagered. The dealer having an upcard is a very helpful tool, but can create tough situations. This is also important to the dealer as each casino will specify whether the dealer has to stand or hit on soft seventeen. Sometimes, rules talk of “soft 17” or “hard 17”. These hands are considered to be very. Pair of 9s Vs. Soft Hand – As opposed to the hard hand, where the Ace is valued at 1, a soft hand includes an ace that is valued at 11. An Ace is a special card in blackjack because it can be counted as either a 1 or an 11, which can give you more options regarding hitting, standing or doubling down. How to read the basic strategy chart? Experts recommend doubling down when you have a total of 11 in your hand, and the dealer is not displaying an Ace. The main difference between soft 17 vs hard 17 is the ease of play: You should always stand with a Hard 17. Soft 18. Here are some strategy rules of thumb that you can use in common situations to increase your chances of winning: When you have a soft hand: You should rarely stand on a soft hand unless the total is 20 or 21. A soft hand. Traditionally, dealers should hit on a soft 16 and stand on a soft 17 when that concerns a game of Classic Blackjack. Blackjack Soft Hand 18. 00:00 How. Some blackjack casinos require the dealer to hit on a soft 17. Blackjack Strategy for Soft Hands vs Hard Hands. The smiling dealer deals the cards to three players. In contrast, a hard hand is when you haven’t been dealt any Aces or must count. 85% probability of a total of 20; a 7. After the players have bet, the dealer will give two cards to each player and two cards to himself. Unlike hard hands, where there is no room for flexibility, soft hands allow players to. You should never split this hand: We will list the best hands to split in blackjack below but the hard 20 is not one of them. Stand against 2-6 and hit against 7-ace with a hard hand 13 through 16. Stanford Wong's Blackjack Count Analyzer is perfect for questions like this. Soft 19 and soft 20 are hands that many experienced players hope for when playing blackjack. Understanding Soft Hands in Blackjack. Imagine that you’re dealt a hand, an ace, and a 5. While this is a risky move and only works if the dealer has a weak upcard, it also dramatically improves your chances of winning if you have a good hand. In short, basic blackjack strategy changes based on whether you’re playing soft 17 blackjack or not. Then, way down at the bottom of the barrel comes doubling down with their "soft" hands, like Ace/2 or Ace/7. 08% to the players’ advantage. See also Natural. Blackjack - an automatic winning hand containing both an Ace and a 10 value card. Hard Hands vs. The proper strategic play for soft blackjack hands can vary significantly depending. Doubling down gets more money in action, which is good to do in this situation, since the combination of a potential dealer. The Doubling Down Rule in Blackjack. WHAT ARE SOFT HANDS IN BLACKJACK? Of course, there’s a bit more to your hand in a blackjack game than that. Soft hands of 18: Here’s where it gets tricky! If the dealer stands on a soft 17, you should double down. This is not the case with other pairs which usually can be resplit to form up to four hands. The best possible hand is called a blackjack and consists of an ace and each 10-point card. Stand with a hand of hard 17 and above. A soft hand is generally considered to be a good thing, because it gives the player a better chance of winning. For example, an ace and a 6 is a soft 17. A hand with an ace value of 11 is a. Soft 13s and 14s should always hit unless dealer is showing a 5 or 6Except, a "blackjack" is the highest hand, consisting of an ace and any 10-point card, and it outranks all other 21-point hands. This rule applies so you don’t risk going over 21. Doubling Down for Less. The game starts with the players receiving two cards face up. All in all, playing the game optimally can decrease the house edge by anywhere between 0. The reason for this is that a hard hand is more.