Soft vs. Hard Blackjack Hands: Why the Difference Matters

• Holding a hard or a soft hand alters the recommended strategy.
• Hard vs. soft totals for the dealer also influence player decisions.
• Players need to account for the element of chance in every hand.

Each hand of blackjack can be drastically different from the one preceding it. The game’s perfect mix of strategy and unpredictability makes it a casino classic.

When you’re playing blackjack online, the compositions of the hands you’re dealt fit into several categories. One of the most important distinctions is whether your hand is hard or soft.

Recognizing a hard and soft hand is one of the most essential blackjack basics. 

What Does It Mean to Have a Hard or a Soft Hand in Blackjack?

When you’re practicing blackjack strategy, one of the first things you should look for in the cards you’re dealt is whether at least one of those cards is an ace. In terms of a hard or soft total, that card makes all the difference.

In standard blackjack and most blackjack variants, an ace can count as a one or an 11 when composing your total. That flexibility makes a hand soft. For example, if you have an ace and a jack, you have a soft 21, as face cards are worth 10. 

On the other hand, if you didn’t have an ace, that would be considered a hard hand. An example of a hard 21 would be a six, a seven, and an eight.

How Hard vs. Soft Totals Change Basic Strategies

As you play Borgata Online’s top blackjack games, you’ll come across some time-tested strategy recommendations, like always splitting a pair of eights. Sage wisdom for the game deviates based on whether you are or aren’t holding an ace.

There are some similarities, like holding a soft 17 or hard 17. Both usually produce a recommendation of standing. A 17 is a strong total regardless of how you get there.

At the same time, traditional strategy advice counsels players to stand on a hard total of 12 or higher against specific low-value dealer upcards, while holding a soft 12 to soft 16 elicits the conventional wisdom of hitting. These subtleties are some of the most fun aspects of blackjack.

Advanced Strategy Modifications for Hard and Soft Hands

Whether you’re playing single-hand or multihand blackjack, you usually have more choices than just hitting or standing. Most versions of blackjack also offer the option to double down.

This option works in concert with the choice to hit or stand in blackjack because, in games with traditional rules, you automatically get a third card when you double down. That’s why it can be a slightly riskier but potentially rewarding move to double down with a soft 13 to 18.

The totals shift with a hard hand, normally a hard nine to 11, with which the reward can merit the risk. One of the advantages of playing blackjack online is that you can experiment with these strategy tips at your own pace.

Accounting for a Dealer Hard vs. Soft Hand

If the dealer’s upcard is an ace, the standard logic carries a few recommendations. This could be when you consider surrendering in blackjack if the game allows.

This might also be an opportunity to think about blackjack insurance as a hedge bet, but remember, this is a risky wager. If the dealer is showing an ace, then you can use the other information at your disposal to weigh these options.

The cards in your hand, as well as other players’ cards on the table, inform you of what remains in the shoe and help you gauge the odds of the dealer hitting blackjack. That’s why, among all the blackjack dealer rules you need to know, reacting to the dealer showing an ace is among the most important. 

Build Your Blackjack Experience at Borgata Online Casino

With blackjack, one of the best ways to learn is to play. You can experience the impact of a hard vs. soft hand and enjoy amazing Borgata Online Rewards at the same time when you play with Borgata Online Casino.

You can check out that game library for yourself and all the other benefits when you register for Borgata Online.