That flexible Ace can revert to a 1 if needed to avoid exceeding 21. This 'soft' designation is crucial, because it means you cannot bust by taking a hit. Common examples are Ace-6, Ace-4-2, and Ace-3-3.It contains an Ace counted as 11 rather than just 1 point.It is a two card starting hand that totals 17 points.Let‘s dive into the data and expert insights that support hitting soft 17, so you can boost your win rate the next time this tricky hand pops up! Defining Soft 17 and Why it Mattersīefore we get into specific strategy, let‘s make sure we‘re on the same page about what exactly a 'soft 17' hand is in blackjack: Standing seems safer, but the odds favor hitting to increase your chances of beating the dealer‘s hand. That borderline total of 17 seems pretty good, so why risk going bust by taking another card?Īfter digging into the math and theory behind optimal blackjack strategy, I now understand that hitting soft 17 is almost always the statistically superior play. Hey there fellow blackjack enthusiast! Have you ever been dealt a starting hand of an Ace and a 6 in blackjack? This 'soft 17' hand often leaves players scratching their heads, wondering if they should 'stand' or 'hit.' I faced the same dilemma many times when first learning the game.
