On the other hand, with a hand total of 15, the chance of busting increases to 54%. More and more tables are showing up that pay less than the full 3 to 2 on a blackjack. This was the case in a new Mississippi casino that opened with this player unfavorable rule. For example, an ace-5 is a soft 16 and a 3-ace-5 is a soft 19. Stand with soft 18 or more, except hit soft 18 when the dealer is showing 9, 10 or Ace. Some examples: 5 + 7 + 9 = 21, so this hand has a value of 21. Always Split two Aces - If you don’t split your aces, one is given a value of one and the other a. And a soft 18 is one of those misplayed blackjack hands. The 12 would likely go bust, the 17 would be beat and the 18 would result in a push. Or if the dealer draws to reach a total of soft 17 you already have him beat. Soft 17 and soft 18 are two hands that separate blackjack players in the know from the pretenders. If you are playing blackjack online and you have an Ace, it will automatically be counted as 1 if your hand goes. Hard 16 does not include 8-8. In exchange for this, the dealer stands on 16 and pushes a player’s 17, 18, 19, and 20. Double Soft 17 or 18 if the dealer holds 3-6 Split Split aces and 8s Don’t split 5s and 10s Split 2s and 3s versus 4 and 7, and against 2 or 3 only if double after. Worst cards in blackjack There are no stiff soft hands. 50. Only players above the age of 18 are permitted to play our games. iRage89 13 years ago #1. The house edge depends on exactly the rules followed. Soft 18 (A,7) doubles against dealer 2 through 6, and hits against 9 through Ace, otherwise stand. If you have a soft 18 then stand and hope for a push. Dealer Hits Soft 17 Generally, the dealer in blackjack must hit if he has a total of 16 or less, and stand if he has 17 or more. It uses decks of 52 cards and descends from a global family of casino banking games known as "twenty-one". A-7 is a soft 18 in blackjack and players feel that it is a strong hand that is not to be messed with and hence, they prefer to stand. Almost all basic strategy assumptions begin with the premise that you'll be dealt a ten when you take a hit. In that same vein, you’ll make 38 stiffs (12 thru 16), which you will continue to hit! With the continued hitting, you’ll improve your hand, to 19 or better, 10 more times out of the 38. Soft 17 is a situation in which the blackjack hand contains a total of 17 with a single ace (6+A, 4+2+A, etc. Dealer Hits on Soft 17 House Edge. The hands are considered “soft” because they can be played in two ways. On top of the blackjack strategy charts above, here are a few additional rules to remember: Surrender if you have a 16 and the dealer is showing a 10. A soft hand is any hand that counts an ace as 11 rather than 1. Exceptions are made when the soft 18 consists of more than two cards, in which case doubling is no longer an option. In a single deck game, always hit if the dealer has an upcard between 7 through to the dealer ACE, In a double and multiple deck games, hit when the dealer’s upcard is 3 or 6 through to the dealer ACE. Blackjack vs. Many players struggle with those plays, thinking of 18 as a solid hand. In all likelihood, and considering the number of 10s in play, the dealer will have to hit and probably get 15 or 16. For example, A-6 and A-3-3 are both a soft 17. Be aware that several Caesars casinos on the Strip deal Double Up Blackjack. The soft 17 hand is created whenever an Ace is used in the hand. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright. Blackjack Rules Apply. Most blackjack dealers must draw cards until they reach a total of 17 or higher. If a player holds an ace valued as 11, the hand is called "soft", meaning that the player cannot go bust by taking an additional card; the value of the ace will become 1 to. As my blackjack appendix 9 shows, a 2-card soft 18 vs A has an expected value of hitting of -0. Could someone clarify a couple of points for me: 5 decks, Dealer hits Soft 17, Allowed Double after Splitting, Only Lose Original Bets on Dealer BJ 1) According to the charts for the above game, 16 v T is already surrender at 0, right? When would we surrender vs hit vs stand? 2) According to the charts for the above game, 11 vs. Rules differ slightly depending on whether or not the dealer stands on soft 17 (standard for the Vegas Strip Blackjack), soft 18, or hard 16. Our Blackjack Basic Strategy charts are the secret to playing perfect blackjack ️ Learn how they work and when to hit, stand, double and split. The dealer stands on a soft 17 which is very good for the player. That’s because there is a third possible result - a push. Last edited: Dec 2, 2010. The reason you should stand on a 16 when your hand contains three or more cards. By splitting aces, you take a mediocre hand (soft 12), and turn it into. When the dealer hits on a soft 17 in Blackjack a lot of things will change. One thing to consider is whether your blackjack hand are soft or hard. Blackjack is an enormously popular card game, with millions of fans playing it online across the globe. Amreican blackjack (hole card, so dealer peeks for blackjack) Dealer stands on soft 17;. At hard 18, hitting brings even more frequent busts than with hard 17. Hitting soft 17 gives the dealer the chance to make the 18, 19, 20 and 21 hands that can win on their own against a player pat hand. (I’ll ignore 6-6 for the moment and come back to it shortly. That said, were their card a two, a seven or an eight, your best choice is to stand. 27%: I also have a longer list of rule variations. A soft 17 not only affects the dealer, but it also effects the player. Blackjack pays 3 to 2, and and insurance pays 2 to 1. When any hand contains an ace, it’s called a soft hand since aces in blackjack can count as both 1 and 11. However, the apostate often stand on this hand. SOFT 18 VS. Soft 18 - A soft total of A-7 versus a 7 up card (Doubling) Hard 11 - A hard total of 11 against the blackjack dealers 6 up card (Double Down Hand) Hard 20 - A Hard total of 20 vs. The ace can either count as 1 or 11 so your hand has some flexibility (being dealt A4 can either be. So double an Ace/7 against 3 thru 6 and hit it against 9, 10 or Ace. 22%. Blackjack is also known as twenty-one when played with a single deck. the 18 means we are not in good shape but really looking for a push, to get out of the hand with as little damage as possible. 100502 and for hitting is -0. Blackjack is a fairly uncomplicated but very compelling card game to play, and its popularity isn’t all that surprising. Surrender 15, a pair of 8s, and 17 vs. here are examples of soft hands. The only way to get a soft 22 is to hit the soft 18 with a four since there are. Always stand on soft 19 or more. For example (Ace, 7) is a soft 18 or (Ace, King) is a soft 21 (Blackjack or Natural). For example, you should double down on 11 if the dealer shows an ace and hits a soft 17. ). And a soft 18 is one of those misplayed blackjack hands. The house requires dealers at some tables to hit soft 17s but we shall tackle soft totals in further detail later on. Tips on if the dealer must hit on soft 17. With a soft 18, you’ll double against a dealer 3, 4, 5, or 6. org is very simple. Most players stand with an A-7 (soft 18) against a dealer’s 9 upcard, reasoning that an 18 is good enough to beat the dealer. 5% over time and gets more consistent wins. For the purposes of this rule, "behind" means you'd lose if you assume a Ten in the hole. you are giving away a winning hand when you do. In a single-deck game, you. Basic strategy for a soft 18 against a dealer 10 is to hit, regardless if your hand is composed of Ace-7, Ace-3-4, or even the above five-card hand. If you are dealt a soft 13 or 14 hand, and the dealer’s up card is a 5 or 6, you should always double down. So, you’ll improve your hand almost 33 out. 7,7 – split if the dealer’s upcard is 2 – 7, hit otherwise. The following printable blackjack cheat sheet is for Vegas USA blackjack, played with 4 or more decks, and with a dealer that stands on a soft 17. Stand, lose 52. But many Blackjack beginners would think about what it has to do with soft and hard hands in the game. Soft 18 is better than soft 17 in that it can win against a dealer 17, but it’s not so strong against a 9 or higher. Hit soft 18 (A7) vs dealer 9, 10 and Ace. Blackjack Strategy Additional Rules. Step 2: receive. All this points to the fact that you can improve your hand with the final card. No Surrender. 2 for a 6 deck shoe, S17 and double any two cards, hi-lo count. Doubling in blackjack is a highly profitable option for players. For example, an ace and 7, therefore being a hand that can be. So hitting soft 18 against a dealer's 10 upcard is the correct play (even when your soft 18 hand consists of three or more cards, such as Ace-2-Ace-4). Blackjack - a card game where you must beat the dealer's hand without scoring over 21. Using the ordinary total-depenendent basic strategy the player advantage under the Boss Media rules is 0. The player hits and draws an Ace, hits again and draws a 4, and as the dealer intones “8 or 18,” decides to stand. Dealer doesn't stand on soft 17, but will on soft 18. The most valuable starting hands in blackjack in order of ascending value to the player is: Traditional 21 - Blackjack. As stated earlier, the house edge in blackjack increases by about two-tenths when the dealer hits on soft 17, which is more significant than you think. Based on those figures, the best move you can do is double a soft 17 vs. Strategies Odds Soft and Hard Hands in Blackjack In the simplest of terms, soft hands consist of two cards, one of which is an Ace, while hard hands do not include an Ace. As the basic strategy charts tell you, you. If they stand on all 17s, always surrender 16 no matter how many decks are in play. Using 52 decks of cards, Blackjack is part of the international family of casino banking games known as Twenty One. Their unique additions such as player blackjack always winning and 5-card charlie increase player EV, but don't really change our strategy, except perhaps in very specific scenarios which would come up so rarely as to make them. 19, 18, and 17 are all considered great blackjack hands, with good winning odds for standing. Blackjack is also known as twenty-one when played with a single deck. Play a free online blackjack game with no download or registration needed. 17%) Chance of losing is 56. It can be a mental hurdle for a player to. What is a soft hand and a hard hand in Blackjack? In Blackjack, all starting hands can be split into hard and soft hands. Then note the basic strategy changes and finally the exceptions to the changes. So, a soft 18 would be an Ace and a 7. The strategy changes a tiny notch in games where the house rules require the dealer to hit. For those who are new to blackjack, we briefly describe each possible action blackjack players can take at the table. Stand on hard 12 vs dealer 4-6. When you have soft 18 any A,2,3,T,J,Q,orK on the next card will make your hand no worse. In a single deck game, always hit if the dealer has an upcard between 7 through to the dealer ACE, In a double and multiple deck games, hit when the dealer’s upcard is 3 or 6 through to the dealer ACE. Welcome to Caesars Casino, the place where you can be your own pit boss and play our world-class online casino games anytime, anywhere in New Jersey! Vegas World plays well on any Android phone or tablet. 12 is a hit against anything but 4, 5, or 6 where it is a stand. Ace-seven or soft 18 = Stand against a dealer two, seven, and eight, hit against a nine, 10, or ace, and double against three, four, five,. Whether or not to hit or stand with a soft seventeen, and when you should double down. Always stand on soft 20. 22%: Blackjack pays 7-5-0. The terms ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ in blackjack refer to whether or not a hand features a flexible Ace. There are additional rules that may affect how some strategies work in. Dealer peeks at hole card for blackjack. 2-3-ace =. Hit: When the dealer has a 9, 10 or ace. However, this does not mean the house wins 57. HIT OR STAND. The object of the game of Blackjack is simply to get more points than the dealer without going over 21. But did you know if you play an entire lifetime of blackjack and are dealt a pat 18 on every single hand, you’d die a small loser! (that is because your overall expectation is negative when you stand on 18). 11%, and under the Microgaming rules the house edge is 0. 4%. With regards to hard hands, you should always stand on a hard 17 and any higher number, stand on hard 13 to 16 if the dealer has a card between two to six and stand on hard 12 when. For example, a hand consisting of an Ace and a 6 is referred to as a ‘soft 17’ because the Ace is valued as 11 points (11 + 6 = 17). the dealer's 8 is. An Ace has a value of 11, unless it would bust your hand, at which point it becomes 1. If you are a basic strategy player, the house edge increases by 20% when the dealer hits on a soft 17. These rank as the worst possible hands you can get in blackjack. Speaking of the strategy for playing soft hands, players should ideally hit on soft 13, 14, 15, and 16 unless the dealer's upcard is a 4, 5, or 6 and in such instances, doubling down is the way forward. In this situation, standing is the recommended move in most. 9 cents. Release date 07. You can hit when your hand is a: Soft 17. ace-6 = soft 17. Angela: Well Mike, what are the best Blackjack rules I can realistically expect to find in Las Vegas. Blackjack is a negative expectancy game, meaning you will lose money over time as the casino has an edge over you. A hard hand is any hand that either does not contain an ace, of if it does, counts the ace as 1. An average of 8. Basic Blackjack Strategy. The dealer hands a card face-up to each player and then places a card face-down in front of themselves. It's always better to play two potentially good hands with no chance of busting than it is to play one tough hand that isn't. Soft and hard refers basically refers to whether or not you have an ace, as an ace is 1 or 11 and will change from 11 to 1 if 11 would make you bust. I realize that many people think an 18 is a pretty solid lock in blackjack, but in reality, it ain't. You can also make a strong hand with soft cards if you draw a high-value card. dealer's 2 or 3 upcard. Surrender 15, 8’s, and 17 vs. Double Up Blackjack allows the player to double their bet and stand. Based on these rules, the player's expected value is -0. Vegas Strip Blackjack. We explain what it means to double down, & the hands on which such a move should be performed. As you can see, you have only 3 cards that can get you in the coveted safe zone out of 13 possible denominations. Standing With Soft Hands in Blackjack. A soft 18 is the only soft hand that you might consider tricky. The house edge is also brought down by the dealer standing on soft 17. The following tables display expected returns for any play in blackjack based on the following rules: dealer stands on a soft 17, an infinite deck, the player may double after a split, split up to three times except for aces, and draw only one card to split aces. There is no national or international rule, it depends on the house rules at that casino. So, the combinations of 10+7 or 7+9+A. That lack of an ace means that the hand is much more rigid. Ace. -0. a 6 (lose 38. Soft Hands. In this case, using a double down bet could make your position even better. Blackjack Rule 5 – Hitting on Soft 17: When a player wants another card, it is called “hitting”. Stand on 17 and up. Double down on soft 18 (ace, 7) against dealer's 2 up card (instead of standing) Sometimes new casinos come under a lot of heat from blackjack players when they implement the soft 17 rule at their blackjack tables. Players should stand with soft 18s against 2s, 7s, and 8s; Players should stand with all soft 19s unless they want to take the double down option against a 5 or 6; Players should stand with all soft 20s; Doubling Down Soft Hands in Blackjack. The minimum bet is usually $5 or $10. The reason for it is that any other card in the deck will either be equal to or less than 21 and there is no chance for players to go over this total. So hitting soft 18 against a dealer's 10 upcard is the correct play (even when your soft 18 hand consists of three or more cards, such as Ace-2-Ace-4). They know that this can have a significant impact on their bankroll. If you are a basic strategy player, the house edge increases by 20% when the dealer hits on a soft 17. Here we are going to take a look at some common errors seen in civilians and beginning advantage players. Here we are going to take a look at some common errors seen in civilians and beginning advantage players. Having a soft 18 already puts you in a good situation, but using double down could put you in an even better one. . Well, if your hand has an Ace that can be. Whether or not you should split aces while playing blackjack. A card with a value of 6 takes your total up to 22, which means you go bust. Another way to look at it is that you are guaranteed not to bust if you hit on your soft hand because the ace can always. So let’s begin with a definition of a soft hand which is any hand in blackjack that contains an ace counted as 11. New players might not see the significance of such a distinction. Double soft 17 or 18 against the dealer’s 3 or 6 Surrender Surrender a hard 16 but never a pair of 8s against the dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace. Now as you know what both hands mean, you have an idea of the difference between hard and soft blackjack hands. ♠️ Soft 19-20: Soft 19 and soft 20 hands consist of an Ace and 8, and an Ace and 9, respectively. Either stand or double (if allowed) on soft 18 (A,. dealer’s 6. To them it seems like there is no other possible way to play this hand. Essentially, a “soft” hand includes an Ace that counts as 11 points, combined with one or more other cards. . Stand on your soft 18 but always hit when the dealer has 9, 10, or ace. These rules include:. If the dealer has 6 or less, we double down. 3 cents) vs. What I. a 6 and the worst move you can do is double a soft 17 vs. Always stand on hard 17 and up. Hit on hard 13 if the dealer does not have 2-6. If you get an ace and a 7, then you’ll have yourself a Soft 18. Player may split only once. Top Casinos. In the simplest of terms, a hard blackjack hand is any two-card total which does not include an ace. The house edge is the mathematical probability the casino will gain over time. The biggest swing though is standing on soft 17 vs. Blackjacket paving has the crew, experience, leadership, and equipment to get any paving work done successfully while exceeding customer expectations on all fronts. Notice how "Dh" represents "Double if possible, otherwise hit" while "Ds" represents "Double if possible, otherwise stand. As my blackjack appendix 9 shows the expected value for standing is -0. If the dealer has a soft 14, hits, and gets a 10, they now a soft 24 or a hard 14. These are the two key elements in the soft blackjack hand – the presence of the ace and its attached value. That's 7 out of 13 cards. While this is a risky move. Place the bet in the circle in front of you on the table. 2:1 is a better payout. You have a soft 16, 17, 18 and the dealer has bust cards. With a soft total of 17, you’ll double against any dealer 6 or less. Unlike a hard 17 where the best strategy is usually to stand, a soft 17 offers the player a chance to improve their. For example, when a player is dealt an Ace and 5 the hand can be played as a 6 or 16. Double after split allowed. 8. For example, if you hit (take another card) a soft 18 (an ace and a 7) with a 6, the ace automatically reverts to 1 (rather than 11), and the hand total is now 14 (rather than 24, which would be a bust). 45%: Blackjack pays 6-5-1. 7 – 7 = Hard 14. Perfect Pairs: Get paid up to 30:1 when you are dealt a pair. When insurance is offered, there's a great temptation to call for even money. For many blackjack players, this rather innocuous rule doesn't seem like a big deal, but the fact of the matter it is. Here are some examples: 10 – 2 = Hard 12. Ace-up is more extreme. Four-deck variants are. If you get an ace and a 7, then you’ll have yourself a Soft 18. Single deck. When facing down a dealer’s 2 or 7 standing is a decent play to make. The dealer soft total is the same as a player soft total. Hard Total. 10, and Ace with a hand of soft 18, comprising an ace and a 7; Double against cards 3 to 6 or else stand with a hand of soft 17, comprising an ace and a 6; Double against cards 4 to 6 or else, hit. 22–23, 51–56. A ‘soft hand’ in Blackjack refers to any hand containing an Ace, which can be valued as 11 points. If the dealer has an 8 – Hit on everything from soft 12 thru soft 17. For example, an 8 and a 10 is a hard 18. In the soft blackjack hand, the ace has a value of 11. This hand gives you different play options and can be used to. This is regardless if it was one of the initial cards or if it was subsequently hit. how should you play a 3 card soft 18. Soft 18. The most important fact is you wouldn't lose the bet. Soft 13s and 14s should be doubled down against 5s and 6sAlways stand on soft 19 or 20 ; Stand when you have soft 18 against the dealer’s 2–8 ; If the dealer shows 9–ace, you should hit on a soft 17 or less; Blackjack Hit or Stand Charts. Soft 18 is classified that way because it differs from other blackjack strategies of playing. (Examples are 10-8, 8-5-5 and ace-4-10-3. The Illustrious 18. Blackjack variants for standing on soft 17 are more common and most of the blackjack cheat sheet 2022 examples are based on this. Hit: When the dealer has anything else showing. The correct playing strategy for all these hands differs. The most heeded blackjack advice tells players never to hit on a Hard 17. The dealer hits on soft 17; Aces can be split and players get one card to each ace, which cannot further be re-split; The total of a hand with a split ace and a 10 value card is not a blackjack; The payout for blackjack is 3:2, winning insurance bets payout is 2:1 and the same for the other winning hands is 1:1; Single vs Multiple Deck BlackjackIf it is more than 6, Stand. The suits of the cards do not have any meaning in the game. 18%, a good blackjack game by anyone’s standard. Some people believe that it does, while others believe that it does not. Side bets: Additional bets can be placed alongside the main Blackjack game. There are several ways to get an 18 when you play blackjack. Lincoln Casino is an established casino in the American market, having an official gambling license and paying attention to table games in addition to slots. If your case is neither, choosing to hit would be the smartest choice. You have a good chance to either improve it or stay the same via 1 or more hits. Conversely, hard hands are initial hands that lack an ace. 14% Player is only allowed to double with a total of 10 or 11 +0. Win - the player wins as much as he bet. D. Otherwise, you stand;Zappit — This one includes the ability to “zap” or swap an initial hand if it is for a total of 15 to 18. In Atlantic City blackjack players can split twice, up to three hands. The biggest mistake that. For example, you would stand on a hard 18 against a dealer 9. 22%. an ace. Catatan, ACE dihitung. Dealer hits any total of soft 17, and stands on soft 18 (or larger) or hard 17 (or larger) Blackjack pays 3:2. Standing against a 7 or 8 is the logical play. I have all my indices worked using risk averse indices, I'm more worried about keeping my already high ROR as low as possible than I am of increased win rate, but of course sometimes this means taking risks where. If the dealer hits on a soft 17, the correct action is to Surrender, or Hit when your blackjack hand value is 16. Hard and soft totals can be the same, but with a soft blackjack hand, you have some more options. Soft 18 and higher: dealer stands. An 18 is an 18 and should be played the same way regardless of the. then hit, except stand on soft 18. An ace in blackjack is worth either 1 or 11, and it is up to the player to decide how they use it. ) Traditional basic strategy (also known as “total-dependent strategy”) says to stand on hard 12 against a dealer’s 4, 5, and 6 up card, and hit against a dealer’s 2, 3, and 7 though Ace up card. Games Played. But did you know if you play an entire lifetime of blackjack and are dealt a pat 18 on every single hand, you’d die a small loser! (that is because your overall expectation is negative when you stand on 18). Don't shoot the messenger: "Playing Better Blackjack. Soft 18. Just. This article covers the use of a blackjack basic strategy and how to easily memorize it. Soft 18 is a complex hand for people to grasp. 9 – 4 = Hard 13. If you have a soft total of 13, 14, 15, or 16, you’ll double against a dealer 5 or 6. In short, basic blackjack strategy changes based on whether you’re playing soft 17 blackjack or not. If it is more than 6, Stand. The dealer must stand on all 17. I'm going to assume a multiple-deck game — there are so few single-deck games with rules worth playing. When any hand contains an ace, it’s called a soft hand since aces in blackjack can count as both 1 and 11. Double down if the dealer. rebm1t • 3 yr. Whether or not to hit, stand, or double down with a soft total of 13 or 14 in blackjack. Soft 19 calls for doubling in H17 games only when the dealer is at their most vulnerable with a 6. Player soft 18 vs. Underage gambling is an offence. Another way to look at it is that you are guaranteed not to bust if you hit on your soft hand because the ace can always. If you have a soft 19 or 20, you should always stand. The basic strategy when it comes to hitting a soft 17 is simple and straightforward. As I've said many times, the above strategy will be fine under any set of rules. Blackjack (formerly black jack and vingt-un) is a casino banking game. Using 52 cards, Blackjack is part of the international family of casino banking games known as Twenty-One. Such is the case whenever the player gets a starting hand of 6-2 for a hard 8 against the dealer’s 5. Conclusion: Your best course of action is only ever to hit A-7 when the dealer presents a 9, 10, or Ace in an effort to reach either a soft 17 or a soft 18. To use this table, look. 18% Player isn’t allowed to re-split aces +0. BLACKJACK STRATEGIES. 7,8,9) in an equal number, a player would have a substantial advantage (~18%) as long as he played correct strategy. Only in SD. The dealer never splits in blackjack as that is against the rules. On the other hand, with a hand total of 15, the chance of busting increases to 54%. Hard hands: Hard 8 or less - Hard 9 - Hard 10 - Hard 11 - Hard 12 - Hard 13 - 16 - Hard 17 to 21. The table can say “dealer stands on soft 17” or “dealer hits on soft 17”. The basic strategy when it comes to hitting a soft 17 is simple and straightforward. The strategy changes a tiny notch in games where the house rules require the dealer to hit. Just like the player, the dealer now treats it as a. . The logic behind this adjustment is the following: the dealer cannot peek under their Ace for a blackjack after offering insurance – they get their second card only after you have completed your hand. Blackjack basic strategy chart: 1 deck, dealer stands on all 17s. 39%. One thing to consider is whether your blackjack hand are soft or hard. tl;dr 18 v 10 is -EV, but hitting and trying to improve your hand is less -EV. Simple. Doubling down on low cards is a must, in this position, as you will get double the reward whenever your hand is best. With soft 20, you are dealt an ace assigned a value. Soft totals of 17 and 18 should be doubled when the dealer shows a Three through to a Six. com ♣️ Soft 18: If you hold an Ace and 7, you will have a soft 18 hand. Soft 18: double against 3 to 6 Soft 19 to 21: never double. In general, this rule actually decreases the advantage to the house, according to this article. A pair of aces gives the blackjack player a starting hand value of either a 2 or a soft 12 which is a problematic starting hand in either case. dealer 5. If the table doesn’t allow surrendering, then hit. ChesterDog. Soft 17-18 when the dealer has 3-6. If you can play it some other way, you usually should. 8% of the time you make your soft 18 no worse when you hit. This family of card games also includes the European games vingt-et-un and pontoon, and the Russian. 9,9 – always split unless the dealer’s upcard is 7, 10, or A, in which case you should stand. The following cards can also create a soft 17: Ace - 3 - 3 hand. Players should always look for tables where the dealer stands on a Soft 17. Learn the rules and Wizard's Simple Strategy in this introductory video. The final category of hands consists of those in which the first two cards. You now have a good hand in blackjack that can outdraw many of the dealer’s holdings. Playing 18 in blackjack. : 342 It is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. Always stand on soft 19 and up.