PH365 Blackjack Soft 17: One Dealer Rule and What It Costs You
A soft 17 is a blackjack hand totalling 17 that includes an ace counted as 11, such as ace plus six.
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One rule, printed on the felt or in the rules panel, moves the house edge.
Blackjack soft 17 is the hand that rule is about: a total of 17 with an ace counted as 11. This page belongs to the live stream tables pillar, and it explains the hand, the two ways a dealer can treat it, and what the difference costs you in pesos.
What makes a 17 soft
| Hand | Total | Soft or hard |
|---|---|---|
| Ace + 6 | 17 | soft (ace counts 11) |
| Ace + 3 + 3 | 17 | soft |
| 10 + 7 | 17 | hard |
| 9 + 5 + 3 | 17 | hard |
A soft hand cannot bust on the next card, because the ace can drop from 11 to 1. That flexibility is why the dealer’s rule matters.
The two dealer rules
The Wizard of Odds blackjack basics page sets out the dealer’s routine: with 16 or less the dealer draws, and a soft 17 is a special case where, at some tables, the dealer also hits.
- Stands on soft 17 (S17): the dealer stops at ace plus six.
- Hits on soft 17 (H17): the dealer takes another card and can improve to 18 to 21.
The same page lists “dealer hits on soft 17” at minus 0.22% of the player’s expected return compared with its standard rules, in which the dealer stands.
What 0.22% means in pesos
| Wagered over a session | Extra expected cost at an H17 table |
|---|---|
| ₱1,000 | ₱2.20 |
| ₱10,000 | ₱22 |
| ₱50,000 | ₱110 |
Small per hand, real over a long session. If two tables are otherwise the same, the S17 table is the better seat. The bankroll sizing in the glossary shows how to size hands so a session lasts.
Blackjack hands to know at a live table
| Hand | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Blackjack | ace plus a ten-value card on the first two cards |
| Hard hand | no ace, or an ace that must count as 1 |
| Soft hand | an ace counted as 11 |
| Bust | over 21, an automatic loss |
Live blackjack tables run on a betting timer like any live game, so a lagging stream can push a decision past the clock; the stream latency fixes cover that. For a table game with fewer decisions, read the punto banco hand rules.
FAQ
What is a soft 17 in blackjack?
A hand totalling 17 with an ace counted as 11, such as ace and six. It is soft because the ace can drop to 1 if the next card would bust the hand.
Is it better if the dealer stands on soft 17?
Yes, for the player. The Wizard of Odds lists a dealer who hits soft 17 as costing the player 0.22% of expected return.
Where do I see the soft 17 rule at a live table?
On the table's rules panel or felt. Read it before your first hand.