What Is Hard 17 in Blackjack?

In blackjack, hard 17 is a hand made up of an Ace and a 6, for a total value of 17. This is considered a “hard” hand because there is only one way to make it, with the Ace counting as 11 and the 6 as 1.

While there are other combinations that can add up to 17 (such as A-3-3 or 5-5-7), they would all be soft hands because the Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11.

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A hard 17 is a strong hand, but not invincible. The dealer will usually stand on hard 17, but may hit if the player has a very strong hand, such as a 20 or 21. In general, it is best to stand on hard 17 if the dealer is showing a weak upcard (2 through 6). If the dealer is showing a 7 or higher, you may want to hit depending on the rest of your hand.

PRO TIP:Hard 17 is a hand total of 17 in Blackjack that contains an Ace counted as 11 and any other cards valued at 6 or below. This is a hand that should not be hit on, as doing so would risk going over 21 and busting. It’s important to stand on such a hand in order to give yourself the best chance of beating the dealer.

For example, if you have A-6 and the dealer is showing a 7, you would probably want to hit since you have a good chance of making 17 or better. On the other hand, if you have A-6 and the dealer is showing an 8, you may want to stand since it will be difficult to make 18 or better without busting.

Hard 17 is a strong hand, but knowing when to hit or stand can be tricky. In general, it is best to stand on hard 17 against a weak dealer upcard and hit when the dealer has a strong upcard.

However, each situation should be evaluated based on the rest of your hand to ensure the best possible outcome.