There are additional rules that may affect how some strategies work in. Ante up the excitement with over 750 slot machines, plus poker, blackjack, baccarat and roulette tables. While this is a risky move. Never split a pair of 5s and 10s. To them it seems like there is no other possible way to play this hand. If you use the double down bet, you have the option to use the ace as a one or an 11, and you could then. Blackjack vs. 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). 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. If the strategy says to double but you’re not allowed, then hit, except you should stand with a soft 18. Appendix 6 :Fine points of when to surrender. Blackjack is a fairly uncomplicated but very compelling card game to play, and its popularity isn’t all that surprising. Notice how "Dh" represents "Double if possible, otherwise hit" while "Ds" represents "Double if possible, otherwise stand. However, this does not mean the house wins 57. Otherwise soft 18 v 9 or 10 or A is hit whether S17 or H17. 5 cards in blackjack Never split 10’s at the blackjack table. With a soft total of 17, you’ll double against any dealer 6 or less. And a soft 18 is one of those misplayed blackjack hands. 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. When any hand contains an ace, it’s called a soft hand since aces in blackjack can count as both 1 and 11. It can be a mental hurdle for a player to. 8. There are some totals that players would stand on if it were a hard hand, but should hit if it is a soft hand. Here’s a look at how to play soft totals in Spanish 21: Soft 13 (A2) and 14 (A3). That’s because there is a third possible result - a push. Dealer Hits on Soft 17 House Edge. 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). If the table doesn’t allow surrendering, then hit. 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. . Enjoy the best free blackjack games available online. Arnold is also the author of our books The Blackjack Shuffle Tracker's Cookbook and Risk of Ruin. Likewise, a soft 13 would be made up of an ace and a 2. If your case is neither, choosing to hit would be the smartest choice. Let's start with soft 17. The heart of the matter is, there are 3 cards to improve the hand and 6 cards to diminish it, why do the odds say hit or double down. 37. When you play blackjack, the ace is worth 11 or 1 – it can either be the game’s highest-ranking card or its lowest. That’s because there is a third possible result - a push. (Examples are 10-8, 8-5-5 and ace-4-10-3. So, you’ll improve your hand almost 33 out. With a hand totalling 14, the chance you’ll bust if hitting is at 46%. Win - the player wins as much as he bet. In general, this rule actually decreases the advantage to the house, according to this article. The reason why players should hit in such cases is that the dealer has the so-called standing hand. You hit if it is between 9 and Ace. Soft 19 or more: Always stand. However, the Blackjack double down rules mean that once you activate the bet, you can only receive one more card (you must then Stand). Exceptions are made when the soft 18 consists of more than two cards, in which case doubling is no longer an option. Crown Blackjack (Normal Black Jack): Dealer must hit on soft 17 and stand on a hard 17 Blackjack (traditional) Dealer stands on soft or hard 17 Source: Ama Blackjack dealer at Crown. The basic playing strategy for doubling down in blackjack. • Double on soft 18 if the up card is 3 – 6 • Double on soft 19 if the up card is 6 • Always split 8s and Aces. Pemain sering salah memainkan hard 18 membingungkannya dengan soft 18. Player may double on any two (2) card total. Likewise, a pair consisting of an Ace and a seven is called the soft 18, and so on. Hit hard 11 or less. After the number of decks used and the payout odds for hitting Blackjack itself, whether a dealer stands or hits on Soft 17 is the next most important rule. The 'soft 17 rule' is a rule that requires the dealer to hit on soft 17. This Blackjack side bet comes with a house edge of 10. 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. here are examples of soft hands. I’ve shared my struggles remembering when to hit a soft 18 numerous times. When dealers hit soft 17, their prospects of busting are 13. When to double: Always accept a free double. Dealer's standing on soft 18, meaning dealer hits all soft 17s (H17), gives the biggest edge (0. those cards, further making the point how weak an 18 really is. 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. Say a player has a 19 in this situation. For example, an 8 and a 10 is a hard 18. Blackjack Online - Home Blackjack. Side bets: Additional bets can be placed alongside the main Blackjack game. One of the dealer’s cards is placed face up. 2 for a 6 deck shoe, S17 and double any two cards, hi-lo count. I realize that many people think an 18 is a pretty solid lock in blackjack, but in reality, it ain't. Stand on hard 17 or more. Soft 18 is a complex hand for people to grasp. Stand: When the dealer has a 2, 7 or 8. Clearly. Single Deck Blackjack; Multi-Deck Blackjack; Atlantic City. These are to double as opposed to hit on both soft 18 versus two-up and soft 19 versus six-up. They get caught up in the 18 part and forget about the Ace. the dealer's 8 is. Ace - 6 hand. 9 cents. Only in SD. Consider the following:What is that soft 18 in blackjack - Blackjack, the world famous casino banking game, holds the title of the most played game of its kind in the world. Soft 17 and soft 18 are two hands that separate blackjack players in the know from the pretenders. If you have a soft 18 against a dealer's 10 and stand, you lose more money than you win. For many blackjack players, this rather innocuous rule doesn't seem like a big deal, but the fact of the matter it is. If you get an ace and a 7, then you’ll have yourself a Soft 18. Introducing hard & soft hands in blackjack. The reason why you stand in hard 16 is that in a case when the dealer’s upcard is small let’s say between 2 and 6, the. 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. For example if you have a 16 composed of a 10, 4, and 2 against a 10 look under the 3 card list. If you can't Double Down, then how to play Soft totals is ridiculously easy. As the basic strategy charts tell you, you. Always stand on soft 19 and up. And split your pair of 9s against everything except a 7, 10 or Ace. He replied that a soft 18 against a dealer ace, in a double-deck game, where the dealer stands on soft 17, was such a play. ago. The probability of a blackjack in a single deck game is 4*16/combin (52,2) = 64/1326. 19. you should avoid blackjack tables where the dealer hits on a soft 17, as this adds 0. Some casinos have moved this down. Soft-hand blackjack strategies Standing on soft 18 will lose the player money in the long run when the dealer shows 9, 10, or ace. A fair amount of blackjack players will stand on a soft 18. This is part of the decision hands group where players are usually dealt soft hands and can make decisions without going bust. Soft 13-14 when the dealer has 5-6. 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 your third card is a nine, the ace in your hand will count as one so the total of your 3-card hand would be 18. Let's say my hand is 19, the dealer has soft 18 and he loses. Soft 17 or less: Always hit. Just. Surrender 15, a pair of 8s, and 17 vs. You have a soft 16, 17, 18 and the dealer has bust cards. Note, if the game does not allow players to double on a soft 18 total, players should therefor stand. Basic strategy calls for hitting that soft 18 vs. Hi all, I'm interested in anyone's opinion on playing soft 18 vs. ”. Our Blackjack Basic Strategy charts are the secret to playing perfect blackjack ️ Learn how they work and when to hit, stand, double and split. Always double a soft 16 vs. Always double down on a hard 11. In fact, below are five common mistakes made by players; but first, I want to be sure you understand what is meant by a “soft 17” hand. 93 and the latter $0. Chart showing how to play free hands in Free Bet Blackjack. Soft 13 or 14. In blackjack, the Ace can be. Changing from soft to hard 18 is not in the equation. Soft 18: Hit if the dealer has 9 or higher, otherwise stand. Instead of splitting, the strategy recommends hitting your soft 12 against an Ace and splitting against dealer upcards deuce through 10. SOFT 18. If the dealer stands on a soft 17 and reveals a six, it is recommended to double down on a soft 13 to a soft 18, but stand on 19 or more. 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. The correct playing strategy for all these hands differs. Soft Total Probabilities Hitting Soft 18 Note that the only way to obtain 19, 20, or 21 is to hit the soft 18 with an Ace, two or three, respectively. Of course, having a soft 18 already puts you in a good position. Double down on 10 vs. Blackjack Online - Home Blackjack Strategy How to Play. Conclusion – The combination of playing cards and the mix of playing rules determine the ideal playing strategy for every blackjack game in a casino on mobile. When To Split Pairs. [1] : 342 It is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. Whenever you. Reply replyFor More Information: more about Blackjack Strategy: the table is designated a must-hit-soft-17 Blackjack game, the dealer must draw on all soft 17 hands until he or she obtains a point total of a hard 17 or higher. Stand on Soft 18 against at 7 or 8. Doubling down now would only increase your risk of going bust. Founded in 1998, our basic blackjack strategy engine generates optimal strategy charts for 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 decks. Always split aces and eights. SOFT 18 VS. Soft 18 in blackjack (A-7) is a commonly misplayed hand. You can double after split, but I think it's only one card for a. Why Basic Strategy Recommends Us to Split 8s. Take your non-ace card (lets say its A6, so 6) then sum that number with dealer upcard (lets say 3), if it equals 9 or more. Blackjack soft hands strategy ultimately makes it impossible to lose your hand when you have an Ace. What does hitting on soft 17 mean? A soft 17 is a total of 17 consisting of an Ace. An Ace has a value of 11, unless it would bust your hand, at which point it becomes 1. Bust - if your hand scores over 21, you lose (known as going bust), and the dealer wins regardless of their hand. In the simplest of terms, a hard blackjack hand is any two-card total which does not include an ace. Double after split allowed. Basic strategy advises players to stand whenever the dealer’s upcard is a 2, a 7 or an 8. 01% higher than. Quote: gpop. When any hand contains an ace, it’s called a soft hand since aces in blackjack can count as both 1 and 11. Hit: When the dealer has anything else showing. Mike: Good question. Hit soft 17 (A6) or less. a 6 and the worst move you can do is double a soft 17 vs. OK, you have your soft 18 and the dealer is showing a power card and the chart says hit!The same goes for some soft doubling decisions, particularly the soft 18 (A-7) and soft 19 (A-8). Playing a total hand of 18 doesn’t always count as a soft 18. Perfect Pairs: Get paid up to 30:1 when you are dealt a pair. How to play free blackjack games online. HARD 18 vs. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright. Blackjack may be played with one to eight decks of 52-card decks. But many Blackjack beginners would think about what it has to do with soft and hard hands in the game. The odds will go more in the house’s favor and your odds of winning will significantly decrease. On the other hand, a “hard” hand consists of cards that don’t have an Ace, or the Ace counts as 1 point only. 16 - Soft 17 - Soft 18 - Soft 19 to 21 Splitting pairs: Aces - 2's - 3's - 4's - 5's - 6's - 7's - 8's - 9's - 10's. If it doesn’t, the hand is hard; if it does, the hand is soft. You should double down when you have a total of 9, 10, or 11, and the dealer has a low card (2 to 6). TIL when using "perfect strategy" in blackjack, the casino only has a 2% edge over the player in the long run. 511734%. The basic strategy for doubling down is as follows: With a. Statistically, when you hit a soft 18, you’ll improve your hand with the first hit only 23 out of 100 times. While you still lose money by hitting, taking a risk improves your odds and helps you lose less on average. ChesterDog. There is no. 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. For example (Ace, 7) is a soft 18 or (Ace, King) is a soft 21 (Blackjack or Natural). Whether or not to hit or stand with a soft seventeen, and when you should double down. To Double Up, the player will make an additional wager, equal to his original wager, in the designated Double Up circle. But if you have a choice, playing where they stand is better. Either stand or double (if allowed) on soft 18 (A,. Using 52 cards, Blackjack is part of the international family of casino banking games known as Twenty-One. ♣️ Soft 18: If you hold an Ace and 7, you will have a soft 18 hand. For H17 6 deck, up to soft 18, always double on dealer 6 or 5 . Double, lose 54. If the dealer hits over 21, or busts, all remaining player hands win the round. Doubling down on low cards is a must, in this position, as you will get double the reward whenever your hand is best. If the dealer has a 9, 10, or ace, you should hit. The object of the game of Blackjack is simply to get more points than the dealer without going over 21. 9, 10 or Ace, yet so many frown or voice displeasure when the player makes the right play. Player #1 is dealt an Ace-2 against the dealer’s 10 upcard. Just the way I like it. Hitting soft 17 increases the house edge by 0. Whether or not you should split aces while playing blackjack. Save. 17%) Chance of losing is 56. When basic blackjack strategy calls for a double down, understand that if you can’t double, you should hit instead. The smiling dealer deals the cards to three players. 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). Basic strategy when the dealer stands on all 17s calls for you to surrender in four situations: hard 15 against a dealer’s 10 and hard 16 against a dealer’s 9, 10 or Ace. If you have a soft 18 against a dealer's 10 and stand, you lose more money than you win. 100359. That means you win $300 for every $200 bet at 3:2, or $200 for every $100 bet at 2:1. Soft Hands. For example, an ace-5 is a soft 16 and a 3-ace-5 is a soft 19. The only way to get a soft 22 is to hit the soft 18 with a four since there are. The reason you should stand on a 16 when your hand contains three or more cards. 50. On the other hand, a “hard” hand consists of cards that don’t have an Ace, or the Ace counts as 1 point only. lol "Live On Line" Blackjack. Mixed pairs pay 5:1, colored pairs pay 10:1, and perfect pairs (pair of exact same cards) pay 30:1. 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. In Stanford Wongs book "Professional Blackjack" it doesnt show any indices for soft 18 vs 10 in a S17 game, only to hit although you would stand with a soft 18 vs A at a TC+1 or higher in the same game . Atlantic City Blackjack has a number of player-friendly rules that keep the house edge at a quite low 0. 18: 13. The value of a hand is simply the sum of the point counts of each card in the hand. So for your question, In a H17 game, double against a 2 for basic strategy. The dealer must stand on all 17. Here we are going to take a look at some common errors seen in civilians and beginning advantage players. Some hard hands may be better than others. For single deck/double deck blackjack games that hit on soft 17, the rules differ. 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. It uses decks of 52 cards and descends from a global family of casino banking games known as "twenty-one". The house edge is the mathematical probability the casino will gain over time. Like all things in gaming the first instinct of player is often counter intuitive to the hard. Both points are important. dealer's 2-8 (except when doubling vs. If you have a soft 19 or 20, you should always stand. The number of decks in play also matters, regardless of if the dealer hits on soft 17. 18: Basic strategy exceptions for three to six cards. Soft hand valued lower than 17. Except, a "blackjack" is the highest hand. Double down soft 18 and soft 19 if the dealer has 2 and 6, respectively. Double down if the dealer. 93 percent. dealer's 4, 5, or 6. Reasoning. Hit on hard 12 if the dealer does not have 4-6. Hands of A-8, A-2-6, and 3-5-A are all examples of soft 19. Play a free online blackjack game with no download or registration needed. Soft 19 calls for doubling in H17 games only when the dealer is at their most vulnerable with a 6. Not included is Ace-Ace, which falls under pair splitting strategy instead. They know that this can have a significant impact on their bankroll. Last edited: Dec 2, 2010. If the total exceeds 21, the ace will be valued at one to prevent the hand from busting. Double a soft 19 against a dealer 6 if using H17 rules. Soft 18 and the dealer has an 8, 9, or 10. . You should also choose it when you have a soft 16, 17, or 18, and the dealer has a low or medium. 167% (pushing against dealer's 18 (11. Cardcounter said: Here is the rule for soft 18 [ . Release date 07. 18%, a good blackjack game by anyone’s standard. Going into a soft 18 (Ace-7), it is important to take note whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft. dealer’s Ace. 16 - Soft 17 - Soft 18 - Soft 19 to 21 Splitting pairs: Aces - 2's - 3's - 4's - 5's - 6's - 7's - 8's - 9's - 10's. If your total is soft 17 or less, you should always hit in compliance with the blackjack strategy chart. Stand on hard 12 vs dealer 4-6. 8% of the time you make your soft 18 no worse when you hit. how should you play a 3 card soft 18. Blackjack players should be splitting pairs because the correct basic strategy says so. For example A-5 is a soft 16; A-2-5 is a soft 18; and 3-2-A-3 is a soft 19. Soft 19 (A,8) doubles against dealer 6, otherwise stand. Stand, lose 52. There are a few small adjustments that you may want to consider if you are playing a blackjack game where the dealer hits on soft 17. A hard-17 is considered a strong hand, yet is the poorest hard total players are recommended to stand on. For instance, an A-7 hand is a soft 18. 11%, and under the Microgaming rules the house edge is 0. For example (Ace, 7) is a soft 18 or (Ace, King) is a soft 21 (Blackjack or Natural). by Henry Tamburin. As my blackjack appendix 9 shows, a 2-card soft 18 vs A has an expected value of hitting of -0. That is why I harp on it so much. In general, you must stand if the total value of your hand is 17, 18, 19 or 20 in Blackjack. In every game of blackjack, the dealer either plays Soft 17 or higher, or hits Soft 17, which means they can only play Hard 17, plus any 18 or higher. Standing against a 7 or 8 is the logical play. 18%: Dealer hits on soft 17-0. Hard hands are more likely to bust than blackjack soft hands, so you should only hit if your hand totals 11 or less. Double down on soft 18 (ace, seven) against a dealer showing two to six, hit against a dealer showing nine, 10 or. If the dealer stands on a soft 17, the correct decision is to Surrender, or Hit. Blackjack X-Change is based on standard blackjack rules, which I assume that the reader is already familiar with. 14% Player is only allowed to double with a total of 10 or 11 +0. If the player busts (goes over 21), then he or she loses whatever they had bet plus half their wager. The basic playing strategy for, say, ace. You take a third card an Ace. The chance of the player winning against a dealer's 17, 18, or bust is 33. Blackjack is also known as twenty-one when played with a single deck. Conversely, a ‘hard hand’ is a hand either without an Ace or with an Ace valued as 1 point. Unlike a hard 17 where the best strategy is usually to stand, a soft 17 offers the player a chance to improve their. Yes--that's the right box. A 10-8 and a 7-A-10 hand are both hard 18s. For a soft 18 against the dealer’s 2 through 8, according to strategy charts, you should stand. You are unlikely to get a stronger hand than this. When dealt a soft 19 or 20, then you should always stand. Please note that the hands shown on the pictures below stand for the examples of hands you can get. As for shoe-dealt blackjack where the dealer hits soft 17, the instances that call for surrender include a player 15 against the dealer’s 10 and ace, a hard 16 against 9, 10, and ace, hard 17 against an ace, and 8-8 versus an ace. If you have a soft 18 you can hit – the preferred way is to double down – if the dealer’s hand has 8, 9, or 10. A three card 18 is of course not worse, it just carries risk in drawing that card. 7%. 8 – 7 = Hard 15. 27%: I also have a longer list of rule variations. ace-3-4 = soft 18. The heart of the matter is, there are 3 cards to improve the hand and 6 cards to diminish it, why do the odds say hit or double down. A hand of Free Bet Blackjack starts with making a wager. This is because you have a fantastic chance to hit 21, and even if you don’t, you’re likely to get a score close to that magic number. Double Up Blackjack allows the player to double their bet and stand. Blackjack Chart Explanation: In the black jack strategy card, the top part, the blue line, represents the dealer’s hand. dealer’s 6. In casinos, the dealers are put at a slight disadvantage as they are forced to play by fixed rules and are required to always draw to and then stand on certain hand values (all 17s, soft 17, soft 18 and so on). 12 is a hit against anything but 4, 5, or 6 where it is a stand. Curacao. When a player gets a soft 17, they face a fork in the road. By splitting eights, you take a stiff hand (soft 16), and turn it into two potential eighteen's. dealer A. dealer’s 2. A soft hand is any hand that counts an ace as 11 rather than 1. Mastering the 10 most difficult hands. A 'hard hand' in blackjack either has no Aces, or the Ace has a card value of 1 and cannot change. Using 52 decks of cards, Blackjack is part of the international family of casino banking games known as Twenty One. That's why so many casinos changed their rules from S17 (casino stands on soft 17) to H17. But why is necessary to make this distinction? The key is the nature of the Ace in blackjack – this is the only card in the game that does not have a fixed value. Hard 15: 7-8, 6-9, 10-5, 10-2-3, and 9-5-A. If players have an ace and a 7, then they have a soft 18 hand. Instead of splitting, the strategy recommends hitting your soft 12 against an Ace and splitting against dealer upcards deuce through 10. 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). Play #2. Always stand on soft 20. For example, you would stand on a hard 18 against a dealer 9. Doubling on soft 13 through 18 is always a good idea when the dealer’s upcard is a 5 or a 6 because this puts them in the weakest possible spot and you want to take full advantage of the fact. That play makes you look smart, but it is basic strategy and not even a close play to hit it vs 9,10, Ace because otherwise Soft 18 is a definite losing hand. This is a good hand to get you in the high value range of 18-21 with a Hit. A card with a value of 6 takes your total up to 22, which means you go bust. The suits of the cards do not have any meaning in the game. That is why I harp on it so much. He replied that a soft 18 against a dealer ace, in a double-deck game, where the dealer stands on soft 17, was such a play. Step 2: receive. The dealer waits until the players have exercised all their options, then the dealer reveals their hidden card and hits until they have at least 17 (most common). ). If you get an ace and a 7, then you’ll have yourself a Soft 18. Blackjack is the strongest hand one can possibly obtain and as such, usually pays 3 to 2. Player soft 18 vs. you are giving away a winning hand when you do. Basically, hard hands do not have an ace. Seven Card Charlie available at BetMGM has a house edge 0. " House Edge. Soft 18 is classified that way because it differs from other blackjack strategies of playing. Vegas Strip Blackjack. This is simply because it can make reaching 21 so much easier. 100502. The most heeded blackjack advice tells players never to hit on a Hard 17. Soft 18 versus a high upcard is enigmatic because no possibility is propitious and. Appendix 7 :Effect of card removal. 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. 29. However, for you perfectionists out there, here are the modifications to make if the dealer hits a soft 17. Most land-based casinos offer shoe-dealt blackjack with six decks, but you’ll also find eight-deck options often. The term soft hand in blackjack refers to a situation when an ace in a player’s hand can be counted as 11 points or 1. 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. Always double a soft 17 vs. Conversely, hard hands are initial hands that lack an ace. Most of these tables pay 6 to 5, but some even. The house edge is also brought down by the dealer standing on soft 17. They often offer high payouts but also have a higher house edge than the main game. As stated in the introduction, the Instant 18 hand is worth exactly 18 points. In this case, using a double down bet could make your position even better. 100502 and for hitting is -0. You can also make a strong hand with soft cards if you draw a high-value card. 18: Basic strategy exceptions for three to six cards; 19: Blackjack splitting strategy when a back-player is betting; 20: Blackjack doubling strategy when doubling after splitting aces is allowed; 21: Details on the Wizard’s Simple Strategy. These rules include:. If you drew an ace + 5, 6, or 7, you’ll get to a soft total of 16, 17, or 18. SOFT 18 VS. To use this guide first go to the list according to the number of cards in your hand. ). Pairs of 8s give players the worst hand total they can possibly get at the blackjack table, hard 16. then this is another good chance to use the double down Blackjack bet. Games Played. Double, lose 54. Blackjack Rules Apply. For example, the combination of an Ace and a six is called the soft 17. Many players struggle with those plays, thinking of 18 as a solid hand. Rating 9. The blackjack rules mean that each game starts with players receiving two cards each, along with the dealer. a hard 18 is a ten and eight, a soft 18 is an ace and a seven. And yes, if the dealer must hit all hard and soft 17s, the player. ” A soft hand contains an ace and a hard hand does not. Rules. There are 13 ranks of cards. Soft 18 (A,7) Hit double against 9 through Ace, otherwise stand: Soft 17 (A,6) Stand with doubles against 2. Blackjack Strategy Additional Rules. When you have soft 18 any A,2,3,T,J,Q,orK on the next card will make your hand no worse.