Blackjack is a popular casino card game played with one or more decks of 52 cards. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by having a hand that is worth more points than the dealer’s hand, without going over 21 points. In blackjack, there are two types of numbers – hard numbers and soft numbers.
A hard number in blackjack refers to any hand that does not contain an Ace or a hand where the Ace must be counted as 1 point. For example, if a player has a hand of 9-7, then their total hand value is 16, which is a hard number.
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On the other hand, a soft number in blackjack refers to any hand that contains an Ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11 points without busting (going over 21). For example, if a player has an Ace and a 6 in their hand, they have what is known as a “soft” total of either 7 or 17.
It’s important to understand the difference between hard and soft numbers in blackjack because it can significantly impact your strategy and decision-making during gameplay.
When you have a soft number in your hand, you have more flexibility because you can hit without worrying about busting (going over 21). For example, if you have an Ace-6 in your hand and hit and receive another card with a value of 10 (such as K-Q-J), your total would be either 17 or 7. If you were to receive another low-value card instead of the high-value card, then you could still hit again without worrying about busting.
However, when you have a hard number in your hand, you need to be more cautious because hitting could potentially cause you to bust. If you have a total of 16 or less in your hand (a hard number), it’s usually best to hit until you reach at least 17. But if you have a total of 12-16 and the dealer has a low-value upcard (2-6), it may be best to stand and hope the dealer busts instead.
It’s also important to note that if you have a hand with an Ace, but the total value would exceed 21 if you counted the Ace as 11 points (i.e., if you have an Ace and a 10 in your hand), then the Ace must be counted as 1 point, making it a hard number.
In summary, understanding the difference between soft and hard numbers in blackjack is crucial for making strategic decisions during gameplay. Soft numbers offer more flexibility with hitting without worrying about busting, while hard numbers require more caution when hitting to avoid going over 21. With this knowledge, players can improve their odds of winning at blackjack.