Hard vs Soft Blackjack Hands

Comparing hard vs soft blackjack hands is something every player must do to make the best in-game choices. The strategy employed for each round depends on whether the player holds a hard or soft hand, making this topic worth investigation.

What are Soft Blackjack Hands?

Despite potentially seeming unfamiliar to novice players, these terms (hard and soft) mean the two main types of card combinations players can get at the beginning of the game. Let’s start with soft hands, as they often appear at online casinos in the US. 

When the player receives two cards, and one of them is Ace, his hand is considered soft. Why? The flexibility of Ace is the one to blame, as this card can be valued as either 1 or 11, unlike other cards in the hand. This means that a soft hand gains greater versatility and advantageous options for the player.

Let’s take an example. Imagine that a player’s hand consists of Ace and 8. In this situation, the total value of the hand could be either 9 or 19, denoting the hand’s “softness” and letting you play with it depending on the situation at the table.

Strategies for Soft Hands

A soft hand gives players many opportunities for substantial gains at Everygame. For example, if the dealer reveals a 4, 5, or 6 as his up card, signaling potential difficulty, and the player holds a soft hand, they can capitalize by doubling down, maximizing potential profits without the risk of busting. Professional blackjack players particularly favor devising and executing strategies involving doubling down on soft hands.

Recognizing the potential for improvement and further reducing the house edge, a rule was introduced allowing dealers to hit a soft 17. By doing so, the house gains an opportunity to enhance their hand against the player’s softer, less precarious hand.

What are Hard Blackjack Hands?

As you might have already guessed, a hard hand in blackjack indicates the absence of Ace in a starting combination. Such a hand is characterized by its inflexibility, as the player lacks the option to adjust Ace’s value in certain scenarios.

For instance, if a player is dealt two 5s, the total value is 10. Similarly, if the player receives a 10 and a Queen, the total is fixed at 20, with no room for variation. That’s what a hard hand means both in live casinos and online gambling sites in the US.

Strategies for Hard Hands

The approach to playing hard vs soft blackjack hands differs significantly. Having a hard hand in blackjack requires players to come up with a different strategy to beat the dealer. The best advice for playing a hard hand is the following: players should operate under the assumption that the dealer holds 10 in the hole. For instance, if the dealer’s up card reveals a 10, it’s prudent to anticipate a total of 20. This estimation of the opponent’s potential total plays a crucial role in securing victory in most cases.

However, if the dealer presents a lower-value card, such as 6 or below, players with a hard total must stand and hope that the dealer exceeds 21, i.e. a bust. When faced with hard totals of 14, 15, or 16 against the dealer’s 10, players should not hesitate to hit. Hitting represents the sole viable option apart from surrendering, which is often unavailable. Thus, players must resist the urge to stand on these hard totals and continue hitting until reaching either a bust or a total of 17.

Hard vs Soft Blackjack: Which is Better?

Determining which blackjack hand is better depends on various factors and the specific context of the game.

Soft hands offer flexibility due to Ace’s ability to cost either 1 or 11. This allows players to hit without fear of busting and often presents opportunities to improve their hands. Therefore, the hard vs soft blackjack comparison usually favors the latter.

On the other hand, hard cards lack flexibility, as they miss Ace or its value is limited to 1 to avoid busting. Hard hands can be more rigid and challenging to play optimally, particularly when facing strong dealer up cards. Playing with hard hands requires more attention if you aim to win.

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