Blackjack basics
What does soft 17 mean?
Soft 17 is a 17 that includes an Ace counted as 11, most often an Ace and a 6. It also names a table rule: whether the dealer stands or hits on that hand.
These answers are for a 6 deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17, blackjack pays 3 to 2, and you can double on any two cards, including after a split.
Why
For you, soft 17 is never a stand. Double it against a 3 to 6 and hit it against everything else, because one card cannot bust it.
For the dealer, the felt says which rule applies. At a table where the dealer stands on soft 17, the dealer stops there. At a table where the dealer hits soft 17, the dealer draws again, and that is a little worse for you.
The play against every dealer card
| Dealer shows | Your play |
|---|---|
| 2 or 7 to Ace | Hit |
| 3 to 6 | Double, or hit |
Questions players ask
- What is a soft 17 in blackjack?
- A 17 that includes an Ace counted as 11, such as Ace and 6.
- Should I stand on soft 17?
- No. Hit or double soft 17. Never stand on it.
Related answers
- Dealer stands on soft 17: what it means
- Soft 17 strategy: should I hit soft 17?
- Hard vs soft hands in blackjack
- Blackjack dealer rules
- Blackjack basic strategy chart
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