What Does Soft Hand Mean in Blackjack?

When it comes to the game of Blackjack, there are many terms that players need to be familiar with in order to understand the game and make informed decisions. One of these terms is “soft hand”. In this article, we will explain what a soft hand is in Blackjack and how it affects your gameplay.

Firstly, let’s define what a hand is in Blackjack. A hand consists of two or more cards that a player receives from the dealer. The aim of the game is to get a higher total than the dealer without going over 21.

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Now, let’s move on to what a soft hand is. A soft hand is a hand that contains an Ace card which can be counted as either 1 or 11 without busting the player’s total. For example, if you have an Ace and a 6, your total would be either 7 or 17 depending on how you choose to count your Ace.

It’s important to note that once an Ace has been counted as 11, it cannot be changed back to 1 during that round. This means that if you have an Ace and a 5 and choose to count your Ace as 11, giving you a total of 16, you cannot later change it back to 1 if you receive another card.

PRO TIP:When playing Blackjack, a ‘Soft Hand’ refers to a hand that contains an Ace and any other card that has a value of 10 or less. The Ace in this case is counted as an 11, rather than 1, which gives the player more flexibility when deciding how to play their hand. Knowing when to hit or stand on a Soft Hand can be the difference between winning and losing.

So why is having a soft hand beneficial in Blackjack? Well, having the option to count an Ace as either 1 or 11 gives players more flexibility and increases their chances of getting closer to the magic number of 21 without busting. It also allows players to take more risks when hitting because they have less chance of busting with the addition of another card.

For example, let’s say you have an Ace and a Jack which gives you a total of either 11 or 21 (depending on how you choose to count your Ace). If you decide to hit and receive another card which takes your total over 21, you can still count your Ace as 1 and continue playing without busting.

On the other hand, a hard hand is a hand that does not contain an Ace or contains an Ace that can only be counted as 1 without busting. For example, if you have a 10 and a 7, your total is 17 and you cannot change the value of either card.

In conclusion, understanding the concept of soft hands in Blackjack is crucial to making informed decisions during gameplay. Remember that a soft hand contains an Ace which can be counted as either 1 or 11 without busting, giving players more flexibility and increasing their chances of getting closer to 21 without going over. So next time you’re at the Blackjack table, keep an eye out for those Aces and use them to your advantage!