What Are Soft And Hard Hands In Blackjack?

Blackjack is a game of chance and decisions, and understanding it can make your experience much more enjoyable.

A key part of learning blackjack is getting to know the terms “soft” and “hard” hands; these two terms can influence how you play your cards. Whether you are new to blackjack or an experienced player looking to improve your game, understanding these concepts is a good idea.

In this post, we’ll look at what sets a soft hand apart from a hard hand.

What Is The Difference Between Soft and Hard Hands In Blackjack?

In blackjack, the terms “soft” and “hard” help describe the type of hand you have based on the cards dealt to you.

In this section, we shall explain the difference between the two so that you can understand how they might affect the decisions a player makes in a blackjack game. 

Soft Hands

In blackjack, a soft hand is any hand featuring an Ace that can still be counted as 11 without the player going bust. This is possible because the Ace is flexible and can be counted as either 1 or 11, depending on what benefits the hand most.

For example, if you have an Ace and a 4, this creates a soft 15. If you draw another card, the Ace can still switch to a value of 1 to avoid going bust if needed.

Soft hands are valuable because they offer more freedom when deciding your next move. If drawing another card seems risky, the Ace’s ability to change its value can help keep you safe from going over 21.

Common examples of soft hands are soft 13, soft 17, or soft 18. Each of these hands includes an Ace that can play a part in your decision-making.

Hard Hands

A hard hand in blackjack is a hand where an Ace is either absent or counted as 1. This is because counting the Ace as 11 would make the hand go over 21.

One example of a hard hand is having a 10 and a 7, which totals a hard 17. In this case, no Ace is present, so the total is fixed. Unlike soft hands, hard hands lack the flexibility for the Ace to adjust its value.

Another example can be a 9, 5, and an Ace, totalling a hard 15. Here, the Ace can only be worth 1 to give the total 15 because counting the Ace as an 11 would result in a total of 25, which is not allowed because anything over 21 is a loss for the player. Hence, there is no flexibility to the hand’s value, resulting in a hard hand. 

When you have a hard hand, the decision-making can be more straightforward but may involve more risk. This is because there isn’t an Ace to fall back on to prevent going over 21.

Example of a Soft and Hard Hand

An example of a soft hand in blackjack is having an Ace and a 5. This combination gives you a soft 16. The Ace can count as 11, which keeps the total under 21. If you draw a card that puts the total over 21, the Ace can then be counted as 1 to avoid busting.

For a hard hand, consider being dealt a 9 and a 7. This gives you a hard 16. With no Ace, the total is fixed, and drawing another card carries the risk of going over 21.

Soft and hard hands each present different opportunities and challenges. Understanding each can be helpful when playing the game.

How Should You Play Soft and Hard Hands?

When playing blackjack, knowing how to handle soft and hard hands can make a difference in your decisions.

With a soft hand, having an Ace gives you more flexibility. For example, with a soft 17 (Ace and 6), you can safely draw another card without the worry of going over 21 immediately, as the Ace can switch from 11 to 1.

In the case of a hard hand, like hard 17 (10 and 7), the approach is often more cautious. Since you don’t have the flexibility of an Ace to change values, drawing an extra card can be riskier.

The rules of the table and the dealer’s visible card can also influence your choices. Some players prefer to adjust their strategies based on these factors.

Soft Hands

In blackjack, a soft hand features an Ace counted as 11. This is because the Ace can adjust to a value of 1 if the situation calls for it.

For example, consider a hand with an Ace and a 3. This is a soft 14. You have room to draw more cards without the worry of immediately going over 21.

Soft hands are helpful as they offer more flexibility. The Ace allows you to modify your strategy since it can switch between being a high or low value.

Common examples of soft hands include soft 13, soft 17, and soft 18. Each example involves an Ace paired with other cards, giving the hand a unique adaptability.

Hard Hands

In blackjack, a hard hand refers to a hand where an Ace is counted as 1 or where no Ace is present. This is because counting the Ace as 11 would make the total exceed 21, which is not allowed.

For example, if you’re dealt an 8 and a 7, you have a hard 15. Since there is no Ace, the total doesn’t have the flexibility to adjust.

If your cards include a 10, 3, and an Ace, this creates a hard 14. This is because the Ace has to be counted as a 1 in this instance to avoid going bust. If it was counted as an 11, the total would be 24. Therefore, the Ace loses its flexibility, and the hand value is fixed.

When playing a hard hand, decisions are less flexible compared to playing a soft hand. You can’t adjust the total if you decide to draw another card. Understanding how hard hands work can be helpful in making decisions during the game.

What Is The Difference Between a Soft and Hard 17?

A soft 17 in blackjack includes an Ace counted as 11, along with other cards. For example, an Ace and a 6 make a soft 17. This hand is flexible because the Ace can switch to a value of 1 if needed. This flexibility allows players more options when deciding on their next move.

A hard 17, however, does not have this flexibility. It could be made with cards like a 10 and a 7. There’s no Ace valued as 11 that can be adjusted down, which means any additional card drawn runs a higher risk of going over 21.

Understanding these differences between soft and hard 17 helps when making decisions in the game. The nature of the hand can help to guide your strategy.

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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.