Blackjack is a game of skill and luck that has been played for centuries. It is one of the most popular card games in the world, and for good reason.
The objective of the game is to get a higher score than the dealer, without going over 21. While this may seem simple enough, there are many different strategies and techniques that can be employed to increase your chances of winning.
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One such technique is known as the Soft Total. A Soft Total is a hand that contains an Ace which can be counted as either 1 or 11 points. This gives players some flexibility in their hand, as they can adjust the value of their Ace depending on what other cards they have.
For example, let’s say you are dealt an Ace and a 6. Normally, this would be considered a “Hard Total” of 7 (Ace = 1 point + 6 points = 7 total points).
However, since you have an Ace in your hand, you can choose to count it as 11 points instead. This would give you a “Soft Total” of 17 (Ace = 11 points + 6 points = 17 total points).
So why is this important? Well, having a Soft Total gives players more options when it comes to hitting or standing.
If you have a Hard Total of 17 and the dealer has a face-up card of 10 or higher, you would typically stand (since hitting would likely result in going over 21). However, if you have a Soft Total of 17 (with an Ace counting as 11), you could choose to hit instead.
This is because if you do go over 21 with your next card, your Ace can still be counted as only one point (giving you a total score of less than or equal to 21). So while hitting with a Hard Total of 17 would be risky and ill-advised, hitting with a Soft Total of 17 can actually be a smart move in some situations.
It’s important to note, however, that not all Aces can be counted as Soft Totals. If you have an Ace and a face card (such as a King or Queen), this would be considered a “Blackjack” and would not qualify as a Soft Total. In this case, the Ace would automatically count as 11 points, giving you a total score of 21.
In conclusion, the Soft Total is an important concept to understand for any serious blackjack player. It gives players more flexibility in their hand and opens up new strategic options for hitting or standing. So next time you’re playing blackjack, keep an eye out for those Aces – they could make all the difference!
