Soft Hands in Blackjack

Playing Soft Hands the Correct Way

While blackjack rules are pretty straightforward, there are a few specifics you should know well before you start playing the game. While most of the cards in the game carry the value depicted on them, there are several cards that will have a specific number assigned to them. All face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) carry the value of 10, making them highly sought-after, as they can easily help you form a natural blackjack. Another special card in blackjack is the Ace, which can change its value depending on your total.

In this article, we will focus on hands consisting of an ace and a regular-value card, or, to be more specific, soft hands. It is crucial to recognize soft hands and learn the optimal decisions for different ace combinations. We suggest you keep reading, as we will cover everything you need to know about this type of blackjack hand.

What are Soft Hands

In brief, soft hands contain an ace, and they are beneficial because their total can be adjusted according to your needs. The ace is the most powerful card in the deck because it can be counted as either one or eleven. This flexibility allows you to adjust your hand’s total so that you don’t bust.

As a matter of fact, when you have such a combination, you cannot exceed twenty-one by taking a hit, which brings peace of mind and lets you enjoy the game even more. For instance, if you have a soft 15 that consists of an ace and a four, and you draw an eight, you would bust if it weren’t for the ace.

For example, if you have an ace and a three, the dealer will refer to your hand as four or fourteen because it is entirely up to you how the ace will be counted. It is important to mention that two or more cards can form a soft hand. In other words, not only two-card hands containing an ace are soft. If you hold 3-5-Ace, you have soft 19.

Strategy for Playing Soft Hands

Since blackjack is a skill-based game, it gives you the opportunity to apply strategy and thus decrease the house edge. Soft hands are no different from any other card combination in the game. They also require a proper approach and solid strategy. It is essential to know how to play them correctly if you want to make the most of every game.

Let’s have a look at some of the soft hands you can encounter during the course of the game and how to tackle them successfully. It should be noted that, in order to make the best possible decision, you should always consider the dealer’s up card, as you are competing against them.

Whenever you get a soft hand, you can choose from three options – to hit, stand, or double down. The first situation we will consider is having an ace and a two as your first two cards, forming a soft 13. In such cases, it is recommended to hit unless the dealer’s up card is a five or a six, in which case it is best to double down.

Let’s assume that this time you receive a soft 14, 15, or 16 and the dealer is waiting for your decision. In such cases, remember that the strategy for these three hands is the same: if the dealer has a four, five, or six, your best option is to double down. If the dealer’s up card is anything else, you should simply hit and hope for the best.

Playing Soft 18: Stand or Double Down?

Another scenario worth discussing is when you have a soft 18, in other words, an ace and a seven. In such situations, you should always carefully consider the dealer’s up card, as your best move depends on it. Let’s assume you have a soft 18 and the dealer is showing a two, seven, or eight. In such cases, you should stand, as your hand has a better chance of winning than the dealer’s.

If the dealer’s up card is between three and six, you should take a different, riskier approach. In this situation, your best move is to double down because the croupier is in a weak position. You have decent chances of winning, and you should try to make the most of the opportunity by increasing your wager.

In general, doubling down should be performed whenever the dealer is in a seemingly unfavorable position and your hand is strong. Such opportunities don’t occur often, and it is essential to know how to take advantage of them to offset previous losses.

For the rest of the cases – whenever the dealer has a nine, a ten, or an ace, it is recommended to simply hit. At first glance, hitting with a soft 18 may seem inappropriate because most players consider eighteen a fairly decent total. However, considering that the average winning hand in blackjack is estimated at 18.5 points, a total of eighteen is simply not enough to beat the dealer if they have a strong card. Even though you would need to draw one of only three cards—an ace, a two, or a three—to improve your hand, and the chances of doing so aren’t high, hitting is still your best choice. In general, a soft 18 hand is a very tricky combination that puts you at risk.

Dealing with Soft 19 and 20: Your Best Bet

Last but not least, consider the situations in which you have either a soft 19 or a soft 20 hand. These are among the best hands you can receive in blackjack because the chance of going bust is very low. Such strong totals are almost impossible to improve. With either hand, you are in a great position and have very realistic chances of winning. Depending on the dealer’s up card, the number of decks used, and the dealer’s play rules, you can either stand or double down.

But if you play multi-deck blackjack where the dealer stands on soft 17, you should stand regardless of the dealer’s up card. If you play multi-deck blackjack where the dealer must hit on soft 17 and you hold a soft 19, it is again better to double down.

Even if your soft 19 consists of more than two cards, you should double down when the dealer’s up card is a 6. However, some casinos only allow players to double down on their first two cards. So, if your soft 19 is made up of three or more cards and doubling down is not an option, your best move is to stand.

Conclusion

Soft hands in blackjack are extremely important combinations with which every player should be familiar. In rare cases they can result in a bust, but they can also help you win a decent amount of money, as how you play them is entirely up to you. Understanding how to tackle soft hands successfully will increase your chances of winning and make the game more enjoyable. Although it might take some time to master the strategy and apply it instinctively, once you start using it you will notice a visible improvement in your game.

FAQ: Playing Soft Hands in Blackjack Correctly