What is the Soft 17 Rule?
A soft 17 is any 17 that contains an ace counted as 11, for instance ace+6, ace+3+3 or ace+2+2+2. On a table's rules panel, S17 means the dealer stands on soft 17 and H17 means the dealer hits it.
In short, the basic strategy for playing a hand with an ace+6 is different from a hand with a 10+7. Both total 17, but 10+7 has no ace, so it is a hard 17.
It's important to note that having an ace in your hand affords you much-needed flexibility on a blackjack table. That's because it can be counted as a 1 or 11, allowing you the room to change the hand total.
How to Play a Soft 17 Hand
If you are unsure what to do with this hand, you can do either of the following things:
- Don't stand
- Double down when the croupier's upcard is a 3 through to 6. In a single-deck game, double down when it's 2 through to 6.
If you don't know, standing in blackjack refers to holding your total and ending your turn. You can also hit by requesting the dealer for an additional card. However, if you exceed 21, you bust and lose the hand.
Don't Stand on S17
The basic blackjack strategy against this hand at a live online casino is never to stand, regardless of the dealer's upcard. Standing on a 17 can feel like a good move, but it is actually the opposite because you may end up losing more money than hitting.
A 17 wins only when the dealer busts or stops lower, and one more card cannot bust a soft 17. That is why hitting (or doubling against a weak upcard) beats standing.
Doubling Down on S17
Doubling down is easy to overlook, but you should double down to put more money on the table, as the croupier is more vulnerable to busting at this stage.
In a multi-deck game, you should double down if the dealer has a low-value upcard ranging from 3 to 6. For a single-deck game, always double down if the upcard is 2 to 6.
How the Soft 17 Rule Affects the House Edge
First of all, the house edge is the advantage in percentage that the house has in all wagers you make. So, suppose the blackjack game has a 0.50% house advantage; it means the house will walk away with $0.50 on every $100 wager you make. Note that this is whether you win or lose.
Now, if your average bet size is $30 playing 50 hands per hour, you need to calculate your expected loss per hour. Below is the math:
$30/hand x 50 hands/hour x 0.50% = $7.50/hour
With these numbers in mind, the dealer hitting S17 increases the house advantage by about 0.22%. As small as this number might be, it increases your hourly loss to around $10.80, going by the example above.
Comparing Soft 17 and Hard 17 Strategies
What is Hard 17?
Hard 17 is a blackjack hand that does not contain an Ace counted as 11. It could be a combination like a 10 and a 7 or a 9 and an 8. The 'hard' part implies that the hand has a fixed value; hitting on a Hard 17 carries a high risk of busting.
- Strategic Approach: Playing a Hard 17 requires a more conservative approach. The standard strategy in most live online blackjack games is to stand on a Hard 17. The risk of exceeding 21 is too high to justify taking another card, and standing gives you a chance to win based on the dealer's hand.
- Understanding Dealer Rules: It's also vital to understand how the dealer plays a Hard 17, as this can influence the overall house edge and your strategy.
Dealing with Soft 17 and Hard 17
- Soft 17: Given its flexibility, players often choose to hit when dealt a Soft 17, seeking to improve the hand without the risk of busting. Against a dealer 3–6, doubling is better than hitting.
- Hard 17: Conversely, the strategy for a Hard 17 is typically more conservative. The common advice is to stand, as the risk of busting is high with any additional card. The strength of the dealer's hand can influence this decision, but standing is usually the safest bet.
Adapting your gameplay based on whether you have a Soft or Hard 17 is a key skill in live online blackjack. It influences both the immediate decision-making and overall gameplay strategy.
