What Does Soft Mean in Blackjack?

When it comes to blackjack, the term “soft” is used to describe a hand that contains an Ace card. An Ace can be worth either 1 or 11 points, so it gives the player some flexibility in how they play their hand.

A soft hand is considered to be a good hand because it gives the player more options and a better chance of winning.

There are a few different scenarios that can occur when playing with a soft hand. If the player is dealt a two-card hand that totals 21 points, this is called a “natural blackjack” and it automatically wins against any other hand except for another natural blackjack.

If the player is dealt a two-card hand totaling 20 points or less, they can “hit” and receive additional cards from the dealer in order to try and reach 21 points. If the player is dealt a two-card hand totaling more than 21 points, they “bust” and automatically lose their bet.

A soft hand can become a hard hand if the player hits and receives an Ace card, which would then count as 1 point instead of 11. This happens often enough that many blackjack experts recommend always hitting on a soft 17 (a two-card hand totaling 17 points that contains an Ace).

The logic behind this recommendation is that it’s better to have a chance of winning with 18 points than to definitely lose with 17 points.

In conclusion, a soft hand in blackjack is any two-card hand that contains an Ace card. This type of hand is considered good because it gives the player more options and a better chance of winning.

Many experts recommend always hitting on a soft 17, as it’s better to have a chance of winning than to definitely lose.