Blackjack soft 18. To Double Up, the player will make an additional wager, equal to his original wager, in the designated Double Up circle. Blackjack soft 18

 
 To Double Up, the player will make an additional wager, equal to his original wager, in the designated Double Up circleBlackjack soft 18  House edge: 0

There is no such thing as a soft 21 because this hand is deemed to be blackjack. Double soft 19 vs. This gives you a good chance of getting a high total (19 to 21) with one more card, while the dealer is likely to bust or end up with a low total. A soft hand is any hand that counts an ace as 11 rather than 1. Essentially, a “soft” hand includes an Ace that counts as 11 points, combined with one or more other cards. Soft 18. Perfect Pairs: Get paid up to 30:1 when you are dealt a pair. Another way to look at it is that you are guaranteed not to bust if you hit on your soft hand because the ace can always. Official Basic Strategy chart for Blackjack. If you have a soft 18 against a dealer's 10 and stand, you lose more money than you win. 10, and Ace with a hand of soft 18, comprising an ace and a 7; Double against cards 3 to 6 or else stand with a hand of soft 17, comprising an ace and a 6; Double against cards 4 to 6 or else, hit. 2. Conversely, hard hands are initial hands that lack an ace. Good info. If the dealer has a deuce, double down soft 18; Soft 19 should be doubled down against a dealer 6; Use them together with the tips in the upper list. Soft 19 calls for doubling in H17 games only when the dealer is at their most vulnerable with a 6. Instead of splitting, the strategy recommends hitting your soft 12 against an Ace and splitting against dealer upcards deuce through 10. With a bet of $10, you keep your $10 and win a further $15 from the dealer. Notice how "Dh" represents "Double if possible, otherwise hit" while "Ds" represents "Double if possible, otherwise stand. This will be stated somewhere in the table rules. 2018. One of the main reasons for its popularity is that blackjack is that it’s so simple to play. Obviously, the winner of the blackjack soft vs hard comparison is the “soft” hands: They contain an Ace and let you get 11 points from the beginning. Such is the case whenever the player gets a starting hand of 6-2 for a hard 8 against the dealer’s 5. They stop once they hit hard 17 or above. and only the A-8 technically equals nine (in terms of the hard hand), the player would double soft 13-18 against a dealer five, a soft 14-18 against a dealer four, a soft 17-18 against a dealer three and a soft 18 against a. On the other hand, with a hand total of 15, the chance of busting increases to 54%. Mastering the 10 most difficult hands. Only in SD. It's enough to make the hitting EV for soft eighteen -14. 3-Deck Soft Totals Blackjack Chart 6-Deck Blackjack Chart/ Late Surrender/ Dealer Peek. When you have soft 18 any A,2,3,T,J,Q,orK on the next card will make your hand no worse. This means that "Soft 18" stands for any hand totaling "18", with an Ace counting as "11". Lastly, as indicated on the basic blackjack strategy chart, if you are unable to double down due to the blackjack variation you are playing, you should hit except for 4 scenarios where its highly recommended to rather stand. 2-3-ace =. 167% (pushing against dealer's 18 (11. ace-6 = soft 17. Step 2: receive. Otherwise soft 18 v 9 or 10 or A is hit whether S17 or H17. a hard 18 is a ten and eight, a soft 18 is an ace and a seven. The chart obviously says hit your soft 18 vs. how should you play a 3 card soft 18. Why to double down on soft 15 and soft 16. For example, when a player is dealt an Ace and 5 the hand can be played as a 6 or 16. Finally, always double down on a soft 18 if the dealer has a 2. Always double a soft 18 vs. And a soft 18 is one of those misplayed blackjack hands. For those who are new to blackjack, we briefly describe each possible action blackjack players can take at the table. A ‘soft hand’ in Blackjack refers to any hand containing an Ace, which can be valued as 11 points. This is not a strong enough hand to stand on because if we do, the dealer ends up outdrawing us by arriving at their standing total of 17 or above. Dealer stands on soft 17. In exchange for this, the dealer stands on 16 and pushes a player’s 17, 18, 19, and 20. How to Play Free Bet Blackjack. With a soft total of 17, you’ll double against any dealer 6 or less. Enjoy the best free blackjack games available online. 08. This is regardless if it was one of the initial cards or if it was subsequently hit. A-7 is a soft 18 in blackjack and players feel that it is a strong hand that is not to be messed with and hence, they prefer to stand. The basic strategy we list for you below is based on the different moves you can make. DEALER'S 2 UPCARD. OK, you have your soft 18 and the dealer is showing a power card and the chart says hit!The same goes for some soft doubling decisions, particularly the soft 18 (A-7) and soft 19 (A-8). Dealer peeks for blackjack. Always stand on hard 17 and up. When a player gets a soft 17, they face a fork in the road. ago. Quote: gpop. 14 - Soft 15 - 16 - Soft 17 - Soft 18 - Soft 19 to 21 Splitting pairs: Aces - 2's - 3's - 4's - 5. While this is a risky move. This is when you have an ace valued as 11 and an 8 in your hand. Hit: When the dealer has a 9, 10 or ace. For example, if you have an ace and a 6, your hand is worth 7 or 17. In turn, a blackjack player win and have a great time. Things are a bit different when your starting hand is soft 18 where there are 8 cards that can help you get into the safe zone against the dealer’s weak card, namely the Ace. begin with the premise that you'll be dealt a ten when you take a hit. Basic blackjack strategy says you should always stand on a hand of 18 no matter what, but this doesn’t apply if you have a soft 18 and the dealer shows a nine, 10 or ace. So double an Ace/7 against 3 thru 6 and hit it against 9, 10 or Ace. Whether you’re looking to win big or just have some fun, Elements Casino Victoria offers exciting choices for all! Play the latest of our 770 Slots from $0. Likewise, a pair consisting of an Ace and a seven is called the soft 18, and so on. Soft 18. #6. But if you have a choice, playing where they stand is better. Player may split only once. The smiling dealer deals the cards to three players. 25%)) Chance of push is 11. Double on soft 15 and soft 16 against a dealer 4, 5, or 6, otherwise hit; Double on soft 17 against a dealer 3, 4, 5 or 6, otherwise hit; Double on soft 18 against a dealer 3, 4, 5 or 6, otherwise stand; Let’s now examine an example with a soft 17 against a dealer with a 4 to see the exact differences in the net profits when you hit and double. Soft hands offer a relaxed gameplay that favors you. 17 or less: Always Hit. Their unique additions such as player blackjack always winning and 5-card charlie increase player EV, but don't really change our strategy, except perhaps in very specific scenarios which would come up so rarely as to make them. This is particularly true when the dealer has a weaker upcard and you have a relatively strong hand, such as a soft 18 or higher. 18%, a good blackjack game by anyone’s standard. Always double down on a hard 11. This is known as a soft 17. So hitting soft 18 against a dealer's 10 upcard is the correct play (even when your soft 18 hand consists of three or more cards, such as Ace-2-Ace-4). The dealer must stand on all 17 hands, including soft 17. Here are some examples: 10 – 2 = Hard 12. If you have a soft 18 against a dealer's 10 and stand, you lose more money than you win. However, this does not mean the house wins 57. Blackjack Chart Hit Soft 17. While you still lose money by hitting, taking a risk improves your odds and helps you lose less on average. Just choose your favorite free blackjack variant and wait for. If you get an ace and a 7, then you’ll have yourself a Soft 18. Ace. Side Bets. If you’re dealt a card with a lower value, you have the chance to get a blackjack or even closer to 21. The theory behind hitting on soft 17 is that if the player has a five or six card hand that is equal to or better than the dealer’s hand, then the player should hit. Soft 18 is classified that way because it differs from other blackjack strategies of playing. Blackjack cheat sheet 1 – Dealer stands on soft 17. Blackjack Strategy: How to play a Soft 18 at Blackjack - 888casino. The following tables display expected returns for any play in blackjack based on the following rules: dealer stands on a soft 17, an infinite deck, the player may double after a split, split up to three times except for aces, and draw only one card to split aces. Always hit a hard 12 vs. Single deck. But on average, 18 is a loser when the dealer shows a 9 or higher. Aces may be counted as 1 or 11 points, 2 to 9 according to pip value, and tens and face cards count as ten points. It can be a mental hurdle for a player to. He replied that a soft 18 against a dealer ace, in a double-deck game, where the dealer stands on soft 17, was such a play. Stand on hard 12 vs dealer 4-6. The basic strategy when it comes to hitting a soft 17 is simple and straightforward. As you can see, you have only 3 cards that can get you in the coveted safe zone out of 13 possible denominations. For example, a hand consisting of an Ace and a 6 is referred to as a ‘soft 17’ because the Ace is valued as 11 points (11 + 6 = 17). 01% higher than. ♣️ Soft 18: If you hold an Ace and 7, you will have a soft 18 hand. For example, playing 10-8 is. Games Played. With soft 18 you should double, stand or hit depending on the situation. Play a free online blackjack game with no download or registration needed. Soft 20 (A,9) always stands. Bust - if your hand scores over 21, you lose (known as going bust), and the dealer wins regardless of their hand. ”. Unlike a hard 17 where the best strategy is usually to stand, a soft 17 offers the player a chance to improve their. "Blackjack is an enormously popular card game, with millions of fans playing it online across the globe. If the dealer hits over 21, or busts, all remaining player hands win the round. Always double a soft 17 vs. That’s because there is a third possible result - a push. By splitting aces, you take a mediocre hand (soft 12), and turn it into. On the other hand, a “hard” hand consists of cards that don’t have an Ace, or the Ace counts as 1 point only. Stand when you have 13. a soft 17 (Ace-6) total is an advantageous position for you, even more so if doubling down is an option. You take a third card an Ace. And more than a few believers wonder whether the bozos who wrote "the book" made a boo-boo. Knowing what a soft hand is, perhaps makes it easy to understand what a hard hand is. Blackjack dealers have no options for the in-game decisions of whether to hit or stay; they follow a strict algorithm that will depend on the casino. Splitting pairs in blackjack can be strategically sound. Hard Total. The rules they play by are generally hit on 16, stand on soft 17, blackjack pays 3-2, no surrender, double after split. This includes when you display a soft 18 and the dealer displays a 6, 5, 4, or 3. This family of card games also includes the European games vingt-et-un and pontoon, and the Russian. As the basic strategy charts tell you, you. Playing a Total of Hard 13 - 16. You must be disciplined and follow the basic strategy if you want to be a successful blackjack player. Players should always look for tables where the dealer stands on a Soft 17. Basic strategy calls for players to hit soft 18 when the dealer shows a 9, 10 or Ace. The basic strategy for playing Blackjack Soft 18 in online casinos, it must. I have all my indices worked using risk averse indices, I'm more worried about keeping my already high ROR as low as possible than I am of increased win rate, but of course sometimes this means taking risks where. Stand with soft 18 or more, except hit soft 18 when the dealer is showing 9, 10 or Ace. Dealers hit, too, and one of the most important rules is whether the dealer hits on a soft 17. That is why I harp on it so much. An ace in blackjack is worth either 1 or 11, and it is up to the player to decide how they use it. dealer’s 2. Blackjack Chart for When the Dealer Hits on Soft 17 (4. 3 cents) vs. In short, basic blackjack strategy changes based on whether you’re playing soft 17 blackjack or not. Play #2. Meanwhile, hard 16 is a high enough total to cause. The logic behind this adjustment is the following: the dealer cannot peek under their Ace for a blackjack after offering insurance – they get their second card only after you have completed your hand. But did you know if you play an entire lifetime of blackjack and are dealt a pat 18 on every single hand, you’d die a small loser! (that is because your overall expectation is negative when you stand on 18). The odds of winning at blackjack can be as high as 42. The cards from 2 through 9 are valued at their face value. Blackjack Online - Home Blackjack. You take a third card an Ace. Soft 19 is a hand that totals either 9 or 19 since the Ace it contains can be assigned a value of 1 or 11 depending on which of the two values the player chooses. Double soft 18 against dealer’s 2. If you drew an ace + 5, 6, or 7, you’ll get to a soft total of 16, 17, or 18. The dealer hits on soft 17; Aces can be split and players get one card to each ace, which cannot further be re-split; The total of a hand with a split ace and a 10 value card is not a blackjack; The payout for blackjack is 3:2, winning insurance bets payout is 2:1 and the same for the other winning hands is 1:1; Single vs Multiple Deck BlackjackIf it is more than 6, Stand. The chart below displays a strategy for blackjack where the dealer stands on Soft 17. Hi all, I'm interested in anyone's opinion on playing soft 18 vs. Soft 18 in blackjack (A-7) is a commonly misplayed hand. There are several ways to get an 18 when you play blackjack. Remember, these tips apply to the tables above, which means a 6-deck blackjack game where the dealer hits on soft 17. Stand on soft 18 or more; Stand on hard 17 or more; If rules 1-5 do not apply then hit; Never take insurance; If played on a game with six decks and the dealer stands on a soft 17 the house edge using this strategy is 0. Doubling down on low cards is a must, in this position, as you will get double the reward whenever your hand is best. There’s no need to sign up to a casino site or download any software. You hit on soft 17 or less. 888casino. At hard 18, hitting brings even more frequent busts than with hard 17. Play blackjack online for free or for real money in Australia in 2023 ! We ranked the most trusted, legal blackjack sites with bonuses of up to AU$10,000. With that said, some of the most common misplayed blackjack hands include the following: Soft 18 vs 19; Hard 16 vs 10; Pair of 9s vs 9; A7 vs 9/10//A; 12 vs 3; 16 vs 7; A-6 vs 3/4/5/6; 11 vs 10 Soft Total. ] hit if the dealer is showing an ace and hits soft 17. Whether or not to hit, double down, or stand with a hard thirteen for your hand total. The number of decks in play also matters, regardless of if the dealer hits on soft 17. 100359. org is very simple. Double after split allowed. Welcome to Caesars Casino, the place where you can be your own pit boss and play our world-class online casino games anytime, anywhere in New Jersey! Vegas World plays well on any Android phone or tablet. Most land-based casinos offer shoe-dealt blackjack with six decks, but you’ll also find eight-deck options often. those cards, further making the point how weak an 18 really is. Soft hands are some of the most misplayed hand in blackjack. Here are the full rules of the game. 18%: Dealer hits on soft 17-0. dealer 5. Since the ace can either be 1 or 11, this means that the hand containing the ace can either be one of two numbers and usually it’s the number that is most beneficial to the player. The reason why players should hit in such cases is that the dealer has the so-called standing hand. The reason why you stand in hard 16 is that in a case when the dealer’s upcard is small let’s say between 2 and 6, the. The player takes a hit and receives an ace for a soft 18. How to play correct basic strategy when you have a soft 15 or a soft 16 in a blackjack game. The most heeded blackjack advice tells players never to hit on a Hard 17. As with any blackjack game, soft aces change how you play many hands. So hitting soft 18 against a dealer's 10 upcard is the correct play (even when your soft 18 hand consists of three or more cards, such as Ace-2-Ace-4). Dealer's standing on soft 18, meaning dealer hits all soft 17s (H17), gives the biggest edge (0. 48% of blackjack games end in a push, leaving the probability of a loss at 49. The hands are considered “soft” because they can be played in two ways. The dealer’s face down card is no longer relevant. Cora Blood. Playing a Total of Soft. The strategy changes a tiny notch in games where the house rules require the dealer to hit. In a S17 game, stand against a 2. The dealer soft total is the same as a player soft total. Conversely, a ‘hard hand’ is a hand either without an Ace or with an Ace valued as 1 point. BASIC STRATEGY Maximizing advantages was popularized by RogerBLACKJACK RULES: HARD VS SOFT HAND. Essentially, a “soft” hand includes an Ace that counts as 11 points, combined with one or more other cards. There are 13 ranks of cards. 5 or 6). A soft 17 not only affects the dealer, but it also effects the player. Statistically, when you hit a soft 18, you’ll improve your hand with the first hit only 23 out of 100 times. Place the bet in the circle in front of you on the table. Blackjack what does soft 17 mean Miami club casino it takes between 1 and 3 business days for a cash out request to be denied or approved, including those willing to pay hefty progressive jackpots. Once all bets are made, all players and the dealer receive two cards. Soft 18 is classified that way because it differs from other blackjack strategies of playing. In the game of blackjack, hands that contain an ace that can be counted as 11 are known as soft hands. Always stand on soft 19 or more. What. To them it seems like there is no other possible way to play this hand. A soft hand is when the Ace exists as 11. In this case, using a double down bet could make your position even better. Using the ordinary total-depenendent basic strategy the player advantage under the Boss Media rules is 0. With the expectation of a 10, it is. Make a bet from $1 to all-in. Appendix 6 :Fine points of when to surrender. Learn the basics of blackjack, blackjack strategy the most powerful ⚡ way to beat the casino ⭐ Use the blackjack basic strategy to increase your % odds % Must See Home;. Another Soft total Example: Say you're dealt 3 + 6 = 9. com ♣️ Soft 18: If you hold an Ace and 7, you will have a soft 18 hand. That’s because if you use the blackjack double down bet, then you have the option to use the ace as either a 1 or an 11. Now as you know what both hands mean, you have an idea of the difference between hard and soft blackjack hands. It turns out there is a difference between a 16 made up of two cards, such as 10-6 and 9-7, and one made up of three cards, such as 4-5-7. That play makes you look smart, but it is basic strategy and not even a close play to hit it vs 9,10, Ace because otherwise Soft 18 is a definite losing hand. Splitting eights limits one's losses and improves one's hand. 81%: 17: 14. A hand that contains an Ace is called a "soft" hand if the Ace can be counted as 1 or 11 without the total going over 21. Surrender 15, 8’s, and 17 vs. An average of 8. He replied that a soft 18 against a dealer ace, in a double-deck game, where the dealer stands on soft 17, was such a play. Not that the effect is very big; the former enhances expectation by only $0. There are a few small adjustments that you may want to consider if you are playing a blackjack game where the dealer hits on soft 17. Each card is worth only what it says it is and that limits the options that a player will have. : 342 It is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. 2% of the time when you do make your hand worse you can hit again to try and improve except when you draw exactly a 9. All three hands total 16, but with a three-card 16, you are better off standing, whereas with the two-card 16, you should hit. Cardcounter said: Here is the rule for soft 18 [ . In blackjack, the Ace can be. The basic playing strategy for doubling down in blackjack. When I first started writing about gaming and really watching what other players were doing, this seemed to. Conclusion: Your best course of action is only ever to hit A-7 when the dealer presents a 9, 10, or Ace in an effort to reach either a soft 17 or a soft 18. Hard hands are hands that don’t contain an Ace, which means they have a. . Stand on 17 and up. As for shoe-dealt blackjack where the dealer hits soft 17, the instances that call for surrender include a player 15 against the dealer’s 10 and ace, a hard 16 against 9, 10, and ace, hard 17 against an ace, and 8-8 versus an ace. Make a bet from $1 to all-in. Soft 18 versus a high upcard is enigmatic because no possibility is propitious and. New players only. For example (Ace, 7) is a soft 18 or (Ace, King) is a soft 21 (Blackjack or Natural). How to play free blackjack games online. There is much debate about whether or not Vegas blackjack hits on soft 17. Soft 18 falls into the category of one of the most frequently misplayed hands in blackjack. You receive a 3 for 18. Here are some examples: 10 – 2 = Hard 12. A card with a value of 6 takes your total up to 22, which means you go bust. Soft 18 - ace plus seven - is one of blackjack's most frequently misplayed hands. Because of the ability to change the Ace’s value, the blackjack strategy for soft hands differs from hard hands. Soft 13 or 14. Or if the dealer draws to reach a total of soft 17 you already have him beat. Soft 18 - A soft total of A-7 versus a 7 up card (Doubling) Hard 11 - A hard total of 11 against the blackjack dealers 6 up card (Double Down Hand) Hard 20 - A Hard total of 20 vs. 18% 3. BLACKJACK STRATEGIES. Stand on soft 18 or more. It’s one of the only hands where you must decide whether to take a card or not. Beat Multiple Deck Blackjack. Soft hands: Soft 13 - 14 -. Last edited: Dec 2, 2010. 01 to $5 machines, enjoy. The final category of hands consists of those in which the first two cards. When you have a soft 18 and the dealer shows a two. There are some totals that players would stand on if it were a hard hand, but should hit if it is a soft hand. I have all my indices worked using risk averse indices, I'm more worried about keeping my already high ROR as low as possible than I am of increased win rate, but of course sometimes this means taking risks where. 93 and the latter $0. If you are playing blackjack online and you have an Ace, it will automatically be counted as 1 if your hand goes. Beware Short Pays on a Blackjack. Some hard hands may be better than others. The 8s are never surrendered in multi-deck S17 blackjack, they are always split. Stay if the dealer is showing an ace and stays on soft 17. This is how you can learn how to play online blackjack in just seven steps: Step 1: place your bet. Getting dealt a card with a higher value still puts you close to 21 so there’s a shot you could win the hand. There are several ways to get an 18 when you play blackjack. In all likelihood, and considering the number of 10s in play, the dealer will have to hit and probably get 15 or 16. dealer A. Basic strategy advises players to stand whenever the dealer’s upcard is a 2, a. The chance of the player winning against a dealer's 17, 18, or bust is 33. Stand on hard 13-16 vs dealer 2-6. Then note the basic strategy changes and finally the exceptions to the changes. If you use the double down bet, you have the option to use the ace as a one or an 11, and you could then. Hitting soft 17 gives the dealer the chance to make the 18, 19, 20 and 21 hands that can win on their own against a player pat hand. Soft hands in blackjack can be a blessing if played correctly. If one of the cards in your hand is an ace, which can be counted. House edge: 0. SOFT 18. 22% to the house edge. Stand: When the dealer has a 2, 7 or 8. This is how it works. Doubling on soft 13 through 18 is always a good idea when the dealer’s upcard is a 5 or a 6 because this puts them in the weakest possible spot and you want to take full advantage of the fact. . 93 percent. Always stand on soft 18+. Fab Four Basic Strategy Variation. Double a soft 17 or 18 against a dealer 3 through 6. Soft 18 is among the most commonly misplayed hands in the game of Being a soft hand, it contains an Ace that can be assigned a value of either 1 or Soft 18 - ace plus seven - is one of blackjack's most frequently misplayed hands. When you have a soft 17 or 18, you’re already sitting pretty. 100359. 2 percent. (two aces). More and more tables are showing up that pay less than the full 3 to 2 on a blackjack. Alasannya adalah karena hand paling total 18, bagaimanapun, harus berisi ACE dan 7 atau 5 , dan 2 kartu. This combination of cards offers the player different strategy options depending on what cards the dealer is dealt. Use our blackjack calculator tool to check your answer. AdBlackjack Strategy When Playing a Soft 18 Double Down: When the dealer upcard is 3, 4, 5 or 6. Blackjack Training Simulator Practice Optimal Strategy. After the number of decks used and the payout odds for hitting Blackjack itself, whether a dealer stands or hits on Soft 17 is the next most important rule. 4 cents. One of the things you can do in blackjack immediately after receiving your cards is double down, which means doubling your bet and receiving one and one more card only. Blackjack is also known as twenty-one when played with a single deck. Assume a six-deck game in which dealers hit soft 17 — the most common set of rules in today’s casinos. 3 – a-8 (19) 19 is obviously the. If you are dealt a soft 13 or 14 hand, and the dealer’s up card is a 5 or 6, you should always double down. HIT OR STAND. Most players stand with an A-7 (soft 18) against a dealer’s 9 upcard, reasoning that an 18 is good enough to beat the dealer. Double-deck blackjack with re-split acesSoft 18: double against 3 to 6 Soft 19 to 21: never double. 4. A dealer’s hand with a 5 or a 6 is statistically the worst hand a dealer can have. A discussion of how to play a hard 13 with perfect basic strategy in blackjack. Standing on Soft 18 when Dealer shows 9. a 6 and the worst move you can do is double a soft 17 vs. 2 for a 6 deck shoe, S17 and double any two cards, hi-lo count. Of course, having a soft 18 already puts you in a good position. A hand that contains an Ace is called a "soft" hand if the Ace can be counted as 1 or 11 without the total going over 21. Soft 17: Double down: Split 2s through 10s: Split aces: Draw to split aces: Double after split:. 100% up to €1500 + 150 Free Spins. Double soft 18 vs. Soft 18. The easy way to memorize them is by learning them as actions or use a blackjack strategy chart. 12. Double, lose 54. koda: hitting on a soft 18And a soft 18 is one of those misplayed blackjack hands. The object of the game of Blackjack is simply to get more points than the dealer without going over 21. Soft 18 and the dealer has an 8, 9, or 10. Last Name. 7 – 7 = Hard 14. You should double on soft 18 when playing against an H17 dealer with small upcards 2 through 6. ) Or you can get a “soft 18,” meaning a hand containing an ace that is counted as 11. As I've said many times, the above strategy will be fine under any set of rules. Soft 17 and soft 18 are two hands that separate blackjack players in the know from the pretenders. Doubling down now would only increase your risk of going bust. Always stand on soft 20. Getting Ahead with Soft 18 (Ace-7) Soft 18 is considered a strong hand in blackjack, presenting favorable odds for winning. Almost all basic strategy assumptions begin with the premise that you'll be dealt a ten when you take a hit. ) These days you almost have to play in games where the dealer hits soft 17, as most casinos have adopted this policy. By hitting, you have a chance of making your hand better and possibly even getting 21. dealer 2). .