Quick Takeaways
- A hard hand has no Ace counted as 11 (or no Ace at all).
- A soft hand has an Ace counted as 11, giving you flexibility.
- Soft hands let you take controlled risk because the Ace can switch to 1 to avoid an immediate bust.
If you want the full foundation first (rules, scoring, dealer rules, payouts, and a table checklist), start with The Complete Guide to Blackjack. This article makes soft vs hard decisions feel simple and automatic.
What Is a Hard Hand in Blackjack?
A hard hand is a hand total where:
- you have no Ace, or
- any Ace in the hand must be counted as 1 (not 11)
Examples of Hard Hands
- 10 + 6 = hard 16
- 9 + 7 = hard 16
- A + 6 + K → Ace must count as 1 → 1 + 6 + 10 = hard 17
Hard hands are called “hard” because once you hit and your total climbs, busting becomes a real risk.
What Is a Soft Hand in Blackjack?
A soft hand is a hand total where an Ace can be counted as 11 without busting.
That flexibility is the whole point.
Examples of Soft Hands
- A + 6 = soft 17 (11 + 6)
- A + 7 = soft 18 (11 + 7)
- A + 3 = soft 14 (11 + 3)
If you hit a soft hand and draw a high card, the Ace can “flip” from 11 to 1 to prevent a bust.
Example:
- A + 6 (soft 17)
- Hit and draw a 9 → 11 + 6 + 9 = 26 (too high)
- Ace flips to 1 → 1 + 6 + 9 = 16 (now a hard 16)
That’s why soft hands are often safe to hit: they give you a second chance.
Why Soft and Hard Hands Must Be Played Differently
Here’s the simple reason:
- With a hard hand, one hit can end your hand immediately with a bust.
- With a soft hand, you can usually take one extra card without the same risk because the Ace can adjust.
So strategy uses soft hands to:
- build stronger totals
- double in favorable spots
- avoid standing too early on weak “soft totals”
The Most Common Beginner Mistake: Standing Too Early on Soft 17
A classic example is soft 17 (A-6).
Beginners often stand because “17 sounds okay.”
But soft 17 isn’t a strong finished hand. It’s a flexible starting point.
Soft 17 often needs improvement because:
- the dealer frequently reaches 18–20
- standing locks you into a total that loses often against strong dealer upcards
This is why some games even have a dealer rule called H17 (dealer hits soft 17). Soft 17 is not a “safe stopping point” in many situations.
How to Think About Hard Hands
Hard hands are mainly about bust risk.
Hard 8 and Below
- You’re almost always hitting because you’re too low to compete.
Hard 9–11
- These are often your best “one-card improvement” hands.
- Many tables allow doubling here, but even if you don’t double, you’re usually trying to build into 17–21.
Hard 12–16 (The Danger Zone)
This is where most beginner money gets leaked.
Use this simple rule-of-thumb:
- If the dealer looks weak (especially 4–6), you often win by not busting.
- If the dealer looks strong (9, 10, Ace), you often need to take risk because standing usually loses.
Hard 17 and Up
- Usually stand.
- Hitting here is often a bust trap.
How to Think About Soft Hands
Soft hands are about building value while you still have flexibility.
Soft 13–16 (A-2 Through A-5)
These are builder hands. You usually want to:
- hit to improve, or
- (when allowed) double in favorable spots because one card can turn a weak soft hand into a strong total
Soft 17 (A-6)
Soft 17 is a key “don’t stand by default” hand. It often needs improvement, depending on the dealer upcard.
Soft 18 (A-7)
Soft 18 is the most confusing beginner hand because it can be:
- strong enough to stand sometimes
- but also good enough to hit or double in other spots
Soft 19–21 (A-8, A-9, A-10)
These are strong. Most of the time:
- stand
- don’t overcomplicate it
Why Soft Hands Create Controlled Risk
Soft hands let you take an extra card without instantly dying the way a hard 15 or hard 16 can.
That’s why strategy often recommends:
- hitting soft totals more often than beginners expect
- doubling soft hands in favorable situations
It’s not aggressive for the sake of aggression. It’s taking risk when the risk is controlled.
What Changes When a Soft Hand Becomes Hard?
The moment your Ace flips to 1, your hand becomes hard and you lose that cushion.
Example:
- A-6 is soft 17
- Hit and draw a 10 → total would be 27
- Ace flips → now it’s hard 17 (A counts as 1)
From that point on, you follow hard-hand thinking.
Mini FAQ: Soft Hands vs Hard Hands
1) Is A-6 Always Soft 17?
Yes, as long as the Ace can count as 11 without busting. If you add more cards and the Ace must count as 1, it becomes a hard total.
2) Why Does Basic Strategy Hit Soft Hands More Often?
Because soft hands can absorb a card safely. You’re trying to build a stronger final total without taking the same immediate bust risk.
3) Do Soft Hands Matter More in Live Dealer Blackjack?
They matter in all blackjack. Soft hands are a scoring concept, not a casino concept.
4) What’s the Biggest Mistake With Soft Hands?
Standing too early (especially on soft 17) because it “feels safe.”
5) How Do I Learn Soft/Hard Decisions Faster?
Practice classifying hands quickly (soft vs hard), then drill common soft hands like A-6 and A-7 until your choices feel automatic.
Where To Go Next
Now that you can confidently separate soft hands from hard hands, the next step is learning when to split pairs—because pair decisions are the other major spot where beginners leak value.
Continue with When to Split Pairs: A Complete Strategy Breakdown.
