What Are Hard and Soft Hands In Blackjack?

If you are new to blackjack, you may have encountered terms you might not be familiar with, like “hard hand” and “soft hand.” Understanding these concepts may be relevant to developing your game strategy if you decide to play.

If you’re playing poker, identifying whether you have a hard or soft hand may influence your decisions and your approach to each round.

This guide will explain what defines a hand as “hard” or “soft” and the importance of this distinction. By the end, you will gain a clearer understanding that may help you if you decide to play. Let’s explore the difference between hard and soft hands in blackjack.

What Do Hard and Soft Hands Mean In Blackjack?

In blackjack, the terms “hard hand” and “soft hand” refer to the composition of the player’s cards, specifically how they involve the ace card. Understanding this may help players make better decisions during the game.

If you’re playing blackjack, recognising whether you have a hard or soft hand may influence your decisions, such as whether to hit or stand. This basic understanding might help players choose actions that lead to potentially better outcomes.

Hard Hand

A hard hand in blackjack is a hand where no ace is present, or the ace counts only as 1 point.

This type of hand is called “hard” because it’s less flexible than a soft hand, where an ace may still count as 11.

For example, if a player has a 10 and a 6, it totals a hard 16.

If the player draws another card, they might want to be cautious, as there’s a chance they could go over 21, which would lead to a bust and losing the round.

If you intend to play a game of blackjack, understanding hard hands may help you make decisions during the game. It may help you decide if you would like to play it safe by standing or if to take a hit, depending on the dealer’s cards.

Soft Hand

In blackjack, a soft hand includes an ace counted as 1 or 11, along with any other card or cards that don’t push the total over 21.

The presence of the ace may offer flexibility, as it can be counted as either 11 or 1.

For example, if a player has an ace and a 6, that’s a soft 17. The potential benefit here is that if a player draws an additional card, like a 5, their ace can change to a value of 1, giving them a total of 12 instead of busting.

Playing with a soft hand may offer more strategic options. A player may draw another card since changing the ace’s value may safeguard them from going bust.

Are Hard or Soft Hands Better?

In a game of blackjack, deciding whether a hard or soft hand may be better isn’t straightforward. Each type of hand has its own advantages, depending on the situation.

Soft hands provide more flexibility as the ace can change its value from 11 to 1. This means a player might be able to draw a card without potentially busting.

Conversely, hard hands tend to have less wiggle room. However, a strong hard hand, such as one that totals 20, may be quite favourable.

The context of each game matters. The dealer’s face-up card may influence whether a hard or soft hand is more advantageous.

In essence, neither is strictly better. A player may want to understand both so they might weigh up their options and make a decision based on the cards they’re dealt and the dealer’s position.

What Is a Soft and Hard 17 In Blackjack?

In blackjack, a 17 can be either a soft or hard hand, and knowing the difference may play a role in the move the player makes.

A soft 17 includes an ace counted as 1 or 11, which may make the hand more adaptable. For instance, if a player has an ace and a 6, that’s a soft 17. The benefit is that the ace may drop to a count of 1 if the player chooses to take another card and it leads to a more favourable total.

On the other hand, a hard 17 has no such flexibility. This hand contains no ace or has an ace that must be counted as 1 to avoid busting. For example, a hand with a 10 and a 7, or one with an ace, 6, and 10 both constitute a hard 17.

Understanding whether a 17 is soft or hard may influence a player’s strategy, helping them decide whether they would like to hit, stand, or take another action.

How To Play Hard and Soft Hands

Understanding how to play hard and soft hands in blackjack may influence a player’s game strategy.

If you are interested in knowing how to play hard and soft hands, you may want to familiarise yourself with basic blackjack strategy charts, which may offer guidance on the actions for different hard and soft hand scenarios.

Hard Hands

In blackjack, a hard hand is one without an ace, or with an ace that can only be valued as 1.

The nature of hard hands requires careful consideration since there’s less flexibility when drawing additional cards.

For example, if a player has a 9 and an 8, this is a hard 17. Because the total is fixed, any decision to take another card involves a chance of busting.

Because hard hands lack flexibility, players may want to consider their decisions carefully. For hard totals like 17 or higher, it might be safer to stand. However, if a player has a lower hard total, such as 12 to 16, they might want to assess the dealer’s visible card before deciding whether to hit or stand.

If you intend to play blackjack, to effectively manage hard hands, it might be beneficial to familiarise yourself with basic blackjack strategy, as this may help you make choices based on your hand’s total.

Soft Hands

In blackjack, a soft hand is a hand that contains an ace that can be valued as either 11 or 1.

For example, if a player is dealt a 5 and an ace, they have a soft 16. They then have the flexibility to draw another card without a chance of busting, as the ace can switch to a value of 1 if necessary.

Playing soft hands often gives players the opportunity to be more aggressive. A player might choose to hit or double down, particularly if the dealer shows a weak card. This is because even if the player draws a high card, the ace’s value can adjust accordingly.

Soft hands tend to offer more flexibility than hard hands. With a soft 17, for instance, hitting might be wise as there’s room to adjust without busting. Soft hands often provide good opportunities to double down, especially if the dealer shows a weaker card.

If you’re playing blackjack, it might be beneficial to familiarise yourself with different soft hand strategies to understand their potential flexibility. You may find you often have more opportunities to improve your hand without the chance of going over 21.

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*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.

**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.