Hard vs Soft Hands in Blackjack - Strategies for Different Situations

In Blackjack, a Hard Hand does not have an Ace or has an Ace that counts as 1 point, while a Soft Hand has an Ace that can be worth 11 points, which gives you more flexibility and safety. 

So, blackjack soft vs hard distinction is really more important than it might seem because it defines and changes the finest possible moves with each card combination.

When you master these two types of hands well, you can make smarter choices in every game you play. This guide below will tell you everything you need to know about these hands and show you ways to play better in each match!

Hard Hand vs Soft Hand Blackjack Explained

First, you can take a look at the overview of these two types of hands, including their concepts, most obvious differences, and their importance. Let's get started!

Definition:

In blackjack, soft hands and hard hands have some basic differences. Soft hands are more flexible because an Ace can count as either 1 or 11. This gives you more options, making it easier to play safely. Hard hands, however, do not have this flexibility since the Ace only counts as 1 point if it’s included, or the hand has no Ace at all.

The risk of going over 21, or busting, is also different for each type. Hard hands have a higher risk of busting, especially when the total is between 12 and 16. With soft hands, you can hit (take another card) without worrying too much about busting, since the Ace can adjust between 1 and 11.

Why Does It Matters?

With soft hands, the Ace gives you flexibility because it can count as 1 or 11. This lets you safely draw more cards without worrying about going over 21 too quickly. It gives you the chance to take a bit more risk to build a stronger hand and get closer to 21.

With hard hands, you lose this flexibility because the Ace can only count as 1. This often means you have to stand sooner, especially if you already have a high total. Since you’re more likely to go over 21, it becomes harder to improve your hand enough to confidently face the dealer.

Note: Do you have any more questions about the basic Blackjack rules that every beginner should know? Check out my guide to help you feel more confident and enjoy the game even more!

Hard 17 vs Soft 17 in Blackjack

For beginners, you may not know that Soft 17 and Hard 17 are two special hands in Blackjack because they have much more variety in how to play than others. Let’s deep into these two unique situations to understand them better.

You can see the problem with Hard 17 is that it is not strong and safe enough for the dealer to stand. But if you decide to hit, you can go over 21 and bust right away. 

Conversely, with Soft 17, you can draw more without fearing about that matter, which also helps you feel more confident and secure while aiming for a better hand.

For this reason, many casinos have changed the rules to make it fairer. For example, they allow the dealer to hit more cards when having a Soft 17, which gives them a better chance of improving their hand if the player also has a Soft one.

Note: If you want to know more about Soft 17 Blackjack, this guide will explore the best moves and specific playing tips to maximize the advantage with this Soft hand!

Strategies for Certain Hard Hand and Soft Hand Totals in Blackjack

In Blackjack, it's necessary to gather a variety of strategies that work for different hand totals. Let's fully go into each strategy specifically for both Soft Hands and Hard Hands to help you make the best decisions and greatly increase your chances of winning.

Soft Hand Totals

Here are some specific strategies for each Soft hand total in Blackjack you need to know:

• Soft 19 and Soft 20: Always stand unless you are in a special situation or the casino has specific rules that force you to make further moves.
• Soft 18 (Ace + 7): Pay attention to the dealer's card to help you decide. You should stand if the dealer's card is between 2 and 8 and hit if that card is worth 9 or 10. In particular, if you think your chances of winning are good, consider doubling down.
• Soft 17 (Ace + 6): If the dealer shows a 7, or the player in front of you drew small cards, or if you are in the first position with a special rule, or any case... always hit and also think about double down.
• Soft 13 to 16 (Ace + 2 to 5): You should hit because of the flexibility of Ace. This means you don’t have to stress about busting right away. Also, hitting gives you a chance to get more points, and consider doubling down as well if the dealer has a weak hand.

Hard Hand Totals

Below are also some detailed strategies you can apply for each Hard hand total in Blackjack:

• Hard 17 or higher: You should usually stand since this total is already quite high and drawing another card just drives you to go over 21 points.
• Hard 16 (10 + 6 or 9 + 7): If the dealer holds a card worth 7 or higher, you should hit because the house is likely to win. However, if the dealer has a card from 2 to 6, you should stand.
• Hard 12 to 15: You should decide whether to hit or stand based on the dealer's up card. When the dealer has a weak hand (2 - 6), standing is the best choice. However, when they show a strong hand (7 or higher), hitting is the way to go.
• Hard 9, 10, or 11: This is a great chance to double down especially if the dealer has a weak hand because you can draw a 10 or higher, which gets you closer to 21.

Notes for Hard vs Soft Hand Blackjack

Above are specific strategies for each total of the hand you receive. However, it's important not to apply them too strictly. I still want you to keep the following points in mind to be able to flexibly handle situations and use strategies in the best way possible.

1 - Hard 16 against a dealer's 10: This is considered the riskiest situation. If the casino's rules allow surrender, you should take advantage of it to reduce your losses.

2 - Dealer hit with Soft 17: Some casinos have this rule and give the house edge, so you need to know it clearly and adjust your strategy accordingly.

3 - Clearly define Soft vs Hard Hands: It's worth knowing the difference between how Hard and Soft Hands work because it helps you avoid mistakes. Moreover, this will make your game more enjoyable and increase your winning odds.

4 - Be more careful with Hard Hands: Since this hand fixes the value of the Ace, hitting can easily lead to busting. So, you have to minimize the risk hand and turn the tables if you feel you can win.

5 - Take advantage of Soft Hands: As the Ace can count as either 1 or 11, you can hit more cards to improve your total without the immediate busting. This also allows you to create better conclusions and increase your winning chances.

6 - Double Down with Soft Hands (If allowed): The more chances you can double down with a Soft Hand, the easier of win with a larger bet because you can adjust the Ace value. This also maximizes your profits when you feel confident about the hand.

7 - Always focus on the dealer's upcard: When the dealer has a strong hand (7 or higher), they are more likely to end up with a higher total. So, you should be cautious or take more risks. It's needed to adjust your strategy and make smarter moves.

8 - The dealer has a weak hand (2-6): The dealer is more likely to bust as they need to keep hitting cards to reach at least 17. In this case, you can be more confident, stand on totals, or even consider doubling down to maximize your bet.

To sum up, it’s never a waste to know the difference between Hard Hands and Soft Hands in blackjack because they require diverse approaches. So it helps to master the rules, but it’s also good to stay flexible. The best move may depend on things like the dealer’s card or the game rules.

True skill comes from practice! The more you play, the better you’ll get at making the right choices. I’m sure that after each hand, you’ll gain more confidence and profession. Wishing you success and many winnings!