Soft vs. Hard Blackjack
Understanding the difference between hard vs. soft blackjack hands can help players make more confident decisions at the table. The distinction comes down to how an ace is counted. Because an ace can be worth either 1 or 11, some hands give players more flexibility than others.Soft and hard totals affect how a hand can be played, how much risk is involved in taking another card, and why the same total may call for a different decision depending on whether an ace is involved.
Hard vs. Soft Blackjack Hands
Knowing how to calculate both hard vs. soft blackjack hands quickly can help players make strategic decisions at the table, including whether to continue drawing cards or how much to bet.What Makes a Hand "Hard" or "Soft"?
A hard hand is a blackjack hand that does not have a flexible total. For example, a 10 and a 7 make a hard 17. There is no card with an adjusting value, so the total is fixed at 17.A hand can also be hard if it includes an ace that has to count as 1. For example, an ace, 6, and 10 equals hard 17 because counting the ace as 11 would make the hand total 27 and bust.
A soft hand includes an ace that can still count as 11 without busting.
The Role of the Ace
The ace is what creates the difference between hard vs. soft hands. In blackjack, an ace can count as either 1 or 11, depending on which value helps the hand without going over 21. You do not have to announce the value that you want the ace to be. It is calculated automatically when you stand.Why the Distinction Matters
Soft and hard hands are played differently because they carry different levels of risk. With a hard hand, taking another card can be more dangerous if the total is already high. If you have hard 16, for example, drawing a 10-value card would make the hand total 26, causing a bust.With a soft hand, there is more flexibility. A soft 16 can take another card without the same immediate risk because the ace can be adjusted.
Examples of Common Hard Hands
Hard hands include totals that do not have an ace counted as 11. Examples include:A 10 and 6, which make hard 16
A 7, 5, and 10, which make hard 22 and bust
An ace, 8, and 9, which make hard 18 because the ace must count as 1
Hard hands are fixed totals, so players need to pay close attention to the risk of taking another card.
Examples of Common Soft Hands
Soft hands include an ace that can still count as 11. Examples include:An ace and 2, which make soft 13
An ace and 5, which make soft 16
An ace and 9, which make soft 20
Soft hands are more flexible because the ace can change value if another card is drawn.
Playing Hard Hands
When learning about hard vs. soft blackjack, it's key to understand hard hands. Hard hands have fixed totals, which means there is less flexibility when deciding whether to take another card. Players must think carefully about the risk of busting, the dealer's upcard, and the table rules in play. Follow this general guidance for different hard totals:Hard Totals of 8 and Below
Hard totals of 8 and below are usually considered low-risk hands for taking another card. Since the total is still low, a player cannot bust with a single hit. For example, if you have a hard 8 and draw a 10-value card, the hand becomes 18.Hard Totals of 9, 10, and 11
Hard totals of 9, 10, and 11 are important because they can create strong drawing opportunities. Since many cards in the deck are worth 10, these totals may improve significantly with one card.Players may consider hitting or doubling down on these hands. A hard 10 or 11 can become a strong total if the next card is a 10-value card, but the best play still depends on the situation at the table.
Hard Totals of 12 to 16
Hard totals of 12 to 16 can be some of the trickiest hands in blackjack. These totals are high enough that drawing a 10-value card may cause a bust, but they are often not strong enough to feel comfortable standing.With these hands, players often pay close attention to the dealer's upcard. If the dealer appears more likely to bust, standing may make sense. If the dealer has a strong upcard, players may feel more pressure to hit and try to improve the hand.
Hard Totals of 17 and Above
Hard totals of 17 and above are generally stronger hands, but they still require careful play. A hard 17, 18, 19, or 20 is close enough to 21 that taking another card carries a high risk of busting. Many players stand on hard totals of 17 and above.Playing Soft Hands
There's no expert at playing hard vs. soft blackjack hands without learning the latter. Soft hands give players more flexibility on calculating their total, making it safer to draw another card. Because soft hands work differently from hard hands, they often call for different decisions. Follow this general guidance:Soft 13 to Soft 15
Soft 13 to soft 15 are relatively low soft totals. These hands include an ace counted as 11, but they are not strong enough to stand on in most situations.Many players take another card (or more) and try to improve the hand. Some players may also consider doubling down in select situations.
Soft 16 to Soft 18
Soft 16 to soft 18 are more flexible than hard totals with the same numbers. For example, soft 18 can become a stronger hand if improved, but it can also turn into a lower hard total if the next card forces the ace to count as 1.Soft 18 is especially important because it can look strong at first, but it may still be played differently depending on the dealer's upcard.
Soft 19 and Soft 20
Soft 19 and soft 20 are strong blackjack hands. Because they are already close to 21, players often stand on these totals rather than risk weakening the hand.A soft 20, such as an ace and a 9, is one of the strongest non-blackjack totals. Soft 19 is also a strong position in many games.