Key Takeaways
- A “soft” hand is a scenario where you have an Ace among your cards.
- Since Aces can switch between 1 and 11, your hands have two possible values. This gives you flexibility and improves your chances of winning, provided that you make safe and strategic choices.
- Understanding how soft hands work and how to use them—especially in online blackjack—is key to improving your strategy.
The concept of soft hands, also referred to as soft totals, plays a crucial role in the decisions you make throughout the game. It is a term used when you are served with an ace; this gives you an added advantage for the rest of the round. This guide has everything you need to know about soft hands and what to do if you receive an ace.
Definition of a Soft Hand in Blackjack
At the beginning of the blackjack game, you receive two cards from the dealer. If one of these cards is an Ace, your hand is considered soft.
When served with an Ace, you can either use it as a 1 or 11. This decision is often influenced by the other card you are holding and your strategy. A soft hand is always better, as it provides better liquidity and flexibility. The opposite of having a soft hand is a hard hand. This brings us to the next section.
Soft vs. Hard Hands in Blackjack
In both traditional and online blackjack, what differentiates a soft hand from a hard hand is that one contains a flexible Ace, and the other does not:
- Soft hand: A hand that includes a flexible Ace
- Hard hand: A hand that does not contain a flexible Ace
If you get an Ace as your first card and an 8 as your second card, you have a soft hand. With your Ace, you can treat your total card at hand as a 9 or a 19. This gives you an edge and lowers your risk of busting.
On the other hand, if your first card is a 7 and the second is an 8, your total card at hand is 15. In the second scenario, you have a hard hand; there is no flexibility to pick between options. Not having an Ace in your hand puts you at risk of busting.
Examples of Common Soft Hands
As stated earlier, the Ace can either represent 1 or 11, depending on the number that is beneficial to you at the moment. Here’s a good example: If you pick a card that turns out to be a high card that would put your total over 21, your Ace can count as 1 to keep you in play. Another example is if you have two cards, a 6 and an Ace, your total card can either be a 7 or a 17. You can decide that your hand is a 7, then hit again; you can also choose to keep it as a 17.
If you have a soft hand in a physical casino and you have a 6 and an Ace, the dealer will ask “7/17” when it is your turn to play. Similarly, if you are playing a live blackjack game online, you will most often get a pop-up notification on the platform to remind you to choose between 7 or 17.
Strategies for Playing Soft Hands
It is important that you have a strategy and follow through with it when playing blackjack—especially when you have an Ace in hand. You can try it on our free blackjack games.
The idea is to stay safe and minimize your chance of busting. A good strategy would be to hit on soft hands up to 17, as it reduces the chance of going over the maximum number, especially if the dealer shows a strong upcard (7 through Ace).
In contrast, if the dealer has a weaker upcard (4, 5, or 6), consider doubling down on soft hands like 13 through soft 18; this way, you will maximize your total wins. If you are wondering why you need to double down, it’s simple: when you have a favorable soft hand, it is logical to increase your bet and maximize your total winnings.
Why Understanding Soft Hands Is Crucial for Online Blackjack
If you are served an Ace, you have more playable options and a reduced risk of busting. This gives you the luxury of making safer decisions, especially when you are faced with strong dealer upcards.
Despite this, if you don’t have a good strategy in place, there’s a big chance that you will have a soft hand and still blow it away. That’s why you need to understand what having a soft hand entails, as it will help you take full advantage of your soft hand, improving your overall chance of winning the game.
Knowing the perfect time to hit, stand, or double down on a soft hand gives you an added advantage. Understanding how a soft hand works will certainly come in handy in online games where there are specific rules about the dealer hitting or standing on Soft 17.