Blackjack Soft Hands: How To Play Them

When learning how to play blackjack strategically, understanding the difference between soft and hard hands is key. Soft hands include an Ace, which can be counted as 1 or 11, making these hands more flexible and less risky for players.

For beginners, breaking down blackjack strategy into specific hand categories can help simplify the game. Hard hands are easier to manage, and so soft hands require more thought, especially when it comes to when to hit, stand, or double down.

In this article, we explain the best strategies for playing soft hands, helping you maximize your chances of winning.

What Is a Soft Hand in Blackjack?

A soft hand in blackjack includes an Ace, which can be counted as either 1 or 11 without the risk of going bust on the first hit. This flexibility allows players more options compared to hard hands, where busting is more of a concern.

The ability to adjust the Ace’s value creates a unique strategy dynamic, making soft hands distinct from hard hands.

How Should You Play Soft Hands in Blackjack?

Playing soft hands depends on the dealer’s up card. Generally, you should hit when the dealer has a strong card (7 or higher) and double down when they show a weak card (2 to 6). The key is to capitalize on the dealer’s weakness while leveraging your Ace’s flexibility.

Always consider doubling down when the dealer’s up card suggests they might bust, especially with soft 13 through soft 18.

How Do You Play Soft 13 (Ace-2) and Soft 14 (Ace-3)?

For soft 13 (Ace-2) and soft 14 (Ace-3), the best strategy is to hit unless the dealer is showing a 5 or 6. In those cases, doubling down is recommended because the dealer is likely to bust.

These hands allow you to hit without risk of busting, so you can safely aim for a stronger hand or take advantage of the dealer’s weak position by doubling down when appropriate.

Safely secure in the knowledge that you can’t go bust on the first hit, taking a third card against anything but a dealer 5 or 6 is the correct play from a mathematical perspective. Either you’ll hit gin and find an 8 or 7 here to reach 21; find a lower card to improve dramatically; or hit a high card to essentially start the hand over again with hard total strategy.

When the dealer is showing a 5 or 6 though, playing “by the book” means doubling down and upping the ante.

The dealer is at their most vulnerable holding these weak up cards, as most combinations of down cards and third card will lead them straight to bust town. With a 6 up, the dealer just needs to turn over anything between a 6 and a 10 to put themselves in prime territory to bust when medium to high cards are drawn next.

What’s the Best Play for Soft 15 (Ace-4) and Soft 16 (Ace-5)?

With soft 15 (Ace-4) and soft 16 (Ace-5), you should double down against a dealer showing 4, 5, or 6. These cards make the dealer vulnerable to busting, so increasing your bet is a smart move. Against any other dealer card, it’s better to hit and try improving your hand, as the risk of going bust is low with the flexible Ace.

Following the same logic, both the soft 15 (Ace-4) and soft 16 (Ace-5) use a slightly expanded approach to the “double or hit” dilemma.

In this case, the two hands both use the same strategy of doubling down against the dealer’s 4, 5, or 6 up. Just like before, the reasoning here is that the dealer is quite likely to be starting with a 14, 15, or 16, assuming they have a 10-value card down.

How to Play Soft 17 (Ace-6) Strategically?

For soft 17 (Ace-6), double down against a dealer showing 3, 4, 5, or 6. These are the most vulnerable dealer up cards, giving you a good chance to win with an increased bet.

With a soft 17 to work with, you can feel comfortable doubling down against the dealer’s 3, 4, 5, or 6.

If the dealer shows any other card, simply hit and try to improve your hand without fear of busting.

Why Is Soft 18 (Ace-7) the Most Complex Soft Hand?

Soft 18 (Ace-7) is tricky because the correct play depends heavily on the dealer’s up card.

• If the dealer shows a weak card (2-6), you should double down, taking advantage of their potential to bust.
• Against a dealer’s 7 or 8, standing is the best option, as your 18 is already strong enough to push or win.
• However, if the dealer shows a 9, 10, or Ace, hitting is recommended since your 18 is likely not enough to beat a stronger dealer hand.

Let’s start with the weakest dealer cards in the 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. As explained already, the dealer is highly suspect when they show these low up cards, so you should double down and try to exploit their weakness.

What Should You Do with Soft 19 (Ace-8)?

With soft 19 (Ace-8), you should stand in almost all cases. The only exception is when the dealer is showing a 6, where doubling down can be advantageous due to the dealer’s likelihood of busting. In all other scenarios, soft 19 is strong enough to stand against any dealer card.

When you hit a hard 19, the book says to stand every time out and rely on blackjack’s third-best total to see you through.

For the soft 19 (Ace-8), that strategy remains in place with one exception – a dealer 6. You know by now that the dealer’s worst card to show is a 6, as they’re both perilously close to busting while also forced to take a hit.

With that in mind, pounce on the dealer’s defenseless by doubling down here against a 6, and a 6 only. Any other dealer up card, and standing pat is the best bet.

Why Is Soft 20 (Ace-9) Always a Stand?

Soft 20 (Ace-9) is always a stand because it’s the second-best possible hand in blackjack, with only 21 being higher. No matter what card the dealer shows, there’s no reason to risk hitting or doubling down. Standing with soft 20 gives you a strong chance of winning or pushing, as it’s difficult for the dealer to beat.

It’s the game’s second-best total, after all, so it’ll take a miracle draw for the dealer to stumble their way into a winning 21.

Related Questions About Soft Hands in Blackjack

Knowing what to do with soft hands is a vital part of blackjack strategy, so ensure you are comfortable with basic blackjack strategy and know how to handle hard hands. Use a blackjack strategy card or cheatsheet for a quick guide on handling both soft and hard hands, and when to double down.

When Should You Double Down with a Soft Hand?

You should double down with a soft hand when the dealer is showing weak cards (2-6). These are the times when the dealer is most likely to bust, and by doubling down you can maximize your winnings. Read more in our guide to doubling down.

What Are Hard Hands and How Do They Differ?

Hard hands either don’t contain an Ace, or the Ace is counted as one – so it limits flexibity compared to soft hands. Your hard hand can go bust if you go over twenty-one, whereas soft hands allow you to hit without any immediate risk.