The Soft 17 Rule in Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the few casino games where knowing the rules and applying the correct strategy can make a very meaningful impact on your chances of winning. The house edge can be 2% or more if you aren’t playing optimally. With proper play, you can bring that down to around .5%.

One of the key aspects of optimal blackjack strategy is knowing which rules are good for players and which are not. Adjusting rules is how casinos can improve or reduce house edge. The soft 17 rule is one such rule adjustment that you’ll always want to be on the lookout for. Below, we’ll discuss soft 17 rule blackjack explained concepts. The fact is: whether or not the dealer hits on a soft 17 impacts your profits, and you need to know how to play against it. Requiring the dealer to hit on a soft 17 actually favors the dealer. Now, let’s understand why.

What is a Soft 17?

A soft 17 occurs when a blackjack hand includes an ace, and can add up to 17. One straightforward example is an ace and a six. This hand could be 7, or it could be 17. Thus, it is a soft 17. No matter how it is made, the defining characteristic is that it uses an ace. This means that an ace, a two, and a four would also be a soft 17 hand.

Calculating Soft 17 Hands

To calculate a soft 17 hand, you just need to do the math as with any other blackjack hand. If there’s an ace in it, you just need the sum of the other cards to be six. There are many ways to make this:

• An ace, a five, and another ace
• An ace and two threes
• An ace, a two, and a four

Nothing too complicated.

Soft 17 vs. Hard 17 in Blackjack

Soft versus hard hands in blackjack is simply a matter of whether the hand has an ace or not. If there’s an ace, it’s a soft hand. If there’s no ace, the hand is hard. The terminology comes from the fact that hard hands can only add up one way. There is no variation. A soft hand with a single ace can add up two different ways, depending on whether you count the ace as a one or an eleven.

Dealer Rule: Hit or Stand on Soft 17

Whether a dealer hits on soft 17 or stands varies from casino to casino, and game to game. Most of the time, a game requires a dealer to stand on a soft 17. Dealers stopping at this point is one of the key features of how blackjack games maintain their careful balance between dealer requirements and possible player actions. If you’re not sure about the rules of any game you’re playing, click on the game’s informational menus and take a look.

Impact on Player Strategy

Understanding the soft 17 rule blackjack explained strategy is crucial if you want to maximize your profits at blackjack. The fact is, dealers hitting on soft 17 are getting a house edge that is around .22% better for the casino. That’s right – this rule adjustment favors the house and should generally be avoided.

The reason it helps the dealer is that soft 17s are a virtually risk-free hand to hit. Hitting this hand can never cause the dealer to bust. It can lead to a bust in two cards, but never on the first hit. This is because the soft 17 can also count as a 7. So even if the dealer hits it and gets a face card, the dealer still has 17 at most. This time, however, it’s not exactly soft, even though it includes an ace. The reason is that the hand can’t count for multiple totals anymore. It’s a 17, and the alternative would be to count it up as a 27.

Let’s look at an example: The dealer has an ace and a six and takes a hit. The dealer receives a 9 and now has 16. It’s a hard 16 when you think about it. The hand cannot be 26, or that would be a bust. Therefore, it makes more sense to view the hand as a hard 16, and that’s what the rules generally provide for. This dealer would be compelled to take another hit, at this point.

Basic Strategy Adjustments if a Dealer Hits Soft 17

When you decide to play a game that has a dealer hitting soft 17, there are a few adjustments to consider:

• If the dealer has weak upcards and you have hard 11 or soft 18, it could be good to double down.
• If the dealer has a strong upcard, like a seven or more, you will need to hit more aggressively to obtain an improved hand. The dealer will be seeking quite a high total, and won’t be resting even at soft 17. They could easily make 18+ with greater frequency than normal.

Breaking Down Soft 17 Statistical Probabilities and Odds

There are three outcomes when the dealer hits soft 17: busting, improving, or getting back to 17 again.

• The chance of ultimately busting is around 14.6%.
• The chance of getting back to 17 is about 34.9%
• The chance of improving is around 50.5%

See how low the risk really is, and why this rule helps the house win more hands. There’s only a small chance of going bust. The likely outcome is either improving or staying the same. These scenarios combine for 85.4% of the possible results. This is why the house edge nudges upward when this rule is in place.

Common Misconceptions About Soft 17 Rules in Blackjack

Don’t fall prey to these common myths about the soft 17 rule.

Myth 1: Soft 17 Helps Players

As we said above, the rule favors the house. Don’t get confused about the rule. You want to find a game, typically, where the dealer doesn’t hit a soft 17.

Myth 2: Dealer Hits on Soft 17 Usually

This isn’t true. The majority of games still require the dealer to stand on a soft 17. Check the rules of the game you’re playing, if you’re not sure.

Myth 3: Soft 17 is a Frequent Hand to Face

It’s fairly rare. You’ll see it around 5.2% of the time. That is, you’ll see it in roughly 1 in 20 hands. If you play 60 hands an hour, you’re likely to see it just a few times.

Off to the Tables

Want to try your luck against the challenge of a soft 17 blackjack game? We’ve got one. Hit the tables with American Roulette from Betsoft, if you dare.