What Does S17 Mean in Blackjack?

If you’re a fan of blackjack, you may have heard the term S17 thrown around once or twice. But what exactly does it mean?

In short, S17 stands for “soft 17.” In blackjack, a soft hand is any hand that contains an Ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11 without busting. For example, if you have an Ace and a 6, your hand would be considered a soft 17 because the Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11.

Now that we understand what a soft hand is, let’s get into why S17 matters in blackjack. When playing blackjack in a casino or online, the dealer has certain rules they must follow when it comes to hitting or standing on certain hands.

In most blackjack games, the dealer must hit on any hand valued at 16 or less and stand on any hand valued at 17 or more (whether it’s hard or soft). However, in games where the dealer hits on soft 17 (also known as H17), the dealer will hit if their hand contains an Ace and any other cards totaling six.

This seemingly small difference in rules can actually have a significant impact on the game. When the dealer hits on S17 instead of standing, it increases their chances of improving their hand and ultimately beating yours.

So if you’re playing blackjack and notice that the dealer is hitting on soft 17 (S17), keep this in mind when making your strategy decisions. It may require some adjustments to your usual gameplay tactics.

To summarize:

– S17 stands for “soft 17.” – A soft hand is any hand containing an Ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11 without busting.

– In most blackjack games, dealers must stand on any hand valued at 17 or more. – In games with S17 rules, dealers will hit instead of stand if their hand contains an Ace and any other cards totaling six. – S17 can have a significant impact on the game, so it’s important to adjust your strategy accordingly.

Hopefully, this article has helped clarify what S17 means in blackjack and why it matters. Remember, always play responsibly and have fun!