”Double Up Blackjack allows the player to double their bet and stand. Basic strategy: Double down on a two-card soft 17, hit a soft 17 of three or more cards, stand on hard 17. Jack, Queen & King count as 10. The smiling dealer deals the cards to three players. It can be best to stand, hit, or double down - depending on the dealer's upcard and the house rules. Player #1 is dealt an Ace-2 against the dealer’s 10 upcard. For the purposes of this rule, "behind" means you'd lose if you assume a Ten in the hole. Blackjack Chart Hit Soft 17. 18%: Dealer hits on soft 17-0. in exchange for being allowed to offer the game. Joined: Aug 12, 2013. Stand on hard 12 against a dealer 4-6; otherwise, hit. This means if you can’t double down because your either not allowed or, more likely, you’ve got a 3 or 4 card soft 18, then you should stand. Below you can read the detailed rules for soft hands (with an Ace, counted as 11). Enjoy the best free blackjack games available online. 9, 10 or Ace, yet so many frown or voice displeasure when the player makes the right play. Your chose to hit and get a 10 – this takes your hand from a soft 16 to a hard 16 (1+5+10+16) You hit again -because the chart tells you to hit on a hard 16 if the dealer’s card is a 10. If the dealer has a soft 18, soft 19 or a soft 20, then the dealer must stay. Only players can split, never the dealer. Monte Casino 2, Hitting Soft 18 Blackjack, Clams Casino I'm God Backwards, Mindil Beach Casino Resort Darwin Northern Territory. So, there are more chances for the dealer to be able to hit and achieve a better ranking hand. Hit soft 17 (A6) or less. In that same vein, you’ll make 38 stiffs (12 thru 16), which you will continue to hit! With the continued hitting, you’ll improve your hand, to 19 or better, 10 more times out of the 38. Better upgrade your engine if you want to keep up with these lissome ladies. The concept of hard hands and soft hands is also important when it comes to standing in blackjack. These mobile gambling options work on Android, iPhone and other smartphones, as well as iPads and tablets. 395% with 20 takes up majority of 34%) By Hitting on a Soft 18, you are converting yourself to a Hard 8 unless you draw. In all likelihood, and considering the number of 10s in play, the dealer will have to hit and probably get 15 or 16. An average of 8. a soft 17 (Ace-6) total is an advantageous position for you, even more so if doubling down is an option. As we know, we can only see one card the dealer has, while the other one is facing downwards. soft A soft hand is a hand that includes an ace valued as 11, as opposed to 1. In a single-deck game, you. HITTING AND STANDING: THE BREAD & BUTTER OF BLACKJACK STRATEGYDouble up on Soft 19 against 6; Double up on Soft 18 against 2 – 6; Double up on Soft 17 against 3 – 6; Double up on Soft 16 against 4 – 6;. For More Information: more about Blackjack Strategy: a free online blackjack game with no download or registration needed. To avoid setting off red flags, the simulation increased the bet after a win only. Blackjack - a card game where you must beat the dealer's hand without scoring over 21. A 'hard hand' in blackjack either has no Aces, or the Ace has a card value of 1 and cannot change. dealer 2). 1-3-2-6 Betting System: Repeatedly betting on 1,3,2, and 6 units in each round with winnings. Single Deck Blackjack; Multi-Deck Blackjack; Atlantic City. How to Remember Soft Doubling Rules against the Dealer’s 3 and 4. The dealer stands on a soft 17 which is very good for the player. Soft 18: double against 3 to 6 Soft 19 to 21: never double. You are unlikely to get a stronger hand than this. Essentially, a “soft” hand includes an Ace that counts as 11 points, combined with one or more other cards. 810 Yonkers Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704-2099, USA. In Stanford Wongs book "Professional Blackjack" it doesnt show any indices for soft 18 vs 10 in a S17 game, only to hit although you would stand with a soft 18 vs A at a TC+1 or higher in the same game . In every blackjack game, the dealer either stands on Soft 17 or higher, or hits Soft 17, which means they can only stand on Hard 17, plus any 18 or more. by Henry Tamburin. 438% (winning against dealer's 17, soft 17 (11. 1. Always split. As with any blackjack game, soft aces change how you play many hands. This is a common one, and although 18 isn’t a bad total in Blackjack, when the Dealer has a 9 there is a high chance they will get a Ten or an Ace (38% of the time to be. The blackjack strategy chart effectively lowers the house advantage up to 0. Blackjack is a card game that pits player versus dealer. Most of the time, the most ideal gameplay will be hitting until you reach 18 points and standing from after that. AdThe optimal plays for soft 18 in double-deck and multiple-deck S17 blackjack largely coincide. With hard 17, of course, we stand. The family includes European games such as wingt-et-un and pontoon, as well. But on average, 18 is a loser when the dealer shows a 9 or higher. Simple. Basic Strategy: Having an understanding of basic strategy can lower the house edge to as little as . bjplayer123. With the soft 17 rule, it stands to be a handy companion for the dealer. Dec 2, 2010. For example if you have a 16 composed of a 10, 4, and 2 against a 10 look under the 3 card list. ). Soft 18 (A,7) doubles against dealer 2 through 6, and hits against 9 through Ace, otherwise stand. Email: Practice Makes. This means that the chances of achieving a soft 18 are very small, even if you play the game repeatedly. More than other free slots games you’ll find at casinos like blackjack. Double soft 18 vs. 19 or more: Always Stand. 1. 36%. Pit boss says at 3:43 he calls surveillance on anyone that hits a soft 18. A typical card counter who ranges bets appropriately in a game with six decks will have an advantage of approximately 1% over the casino. Stand on soft 18, except hit against a dealer 9, 10, or A. Soft/Soft Hand: A soft hand is a hand that includes an ace valued at 11 instead of 1. 5 (i. Reply replyBasic strategy for soft 18 against 2-6 says double else stand, which is what OP was describing, playing soft 18 v 6. What Is A Soft 18 In Blackjack – One of the hands blackjack players often abuse is soft 18. So for your question, In a H17 game, double against a 2 for basic strategy. Stand on 17 and up. For example, in a stay soft 17 game: dealers first two cards of A,6 would be 17, stay. 39%: Blackjacks pay 1 to 1-2. Blackjack may be played with one to eight decks of 52-card decks. The player hits and draws an Ace, hits again and draws a 4, and as the dealer intones “8 or 18,” decides to stand. You shouldn't always assume a Ten in the hole at all times, but it's okay for this. If you are playing at tables with blackjack rules that only allow doubling on 9, 10 & 11, you won’t be able to use rule #3. Soft totals: A soft total is any hand that has an Ace as one of the first two cards, the ace counts as 11 to start. Oftentimes, when new to the game of blackjack, many a player stands on soft 17. Hit on hard 12 if the dealer does not have 4-6. A three card 18 is of course not worse, it just carries risk in drawing that card. Soft 17 Rule for the Dealer. Soft 19 (A,8) doubles against dealer 6, otherwise stand. Always double a soft 18 vs. That is why I harp on it so much. The smiling dealer deals the cards to three players. In short, basic blackjack strategy changes based on whether you’re playing soft 17 blackjack or not. The dealer must stand on all 17 hands, including soft 17. 1% house edge. Cardcounter said: Here is the rule for soft 18 [ . Therefore, if you are an astute player, you will try to avoid a table whereby a dealer can hit on a soft 17. Otherwise, you stand;Double down on soft 18 (ace, 7) against dealer's 2 up card (instead of standing) Sometimes new casinos come under a lot of heat from blackjack players when they implement the soft 17 rule at their blackjack tables. The player can either keep both cards or discard one. Ez az osztás összesen 18 értékű lapból áll, ami 1 ászt tartalmaz (tehát 7-es és 11-es értékű ász). As you know, the dealer will give each player two cards. Most casinos used to require the dealer to Stand on soft 17, which was and still is favorable. Yes, there's a good chance you could end up eventually busting, but the math behind the play doesn't lie. For example, playing 10-8 is. There are 2 modes of play (easy and difficult), a bonus round, and a high score list. 18-as értékkel a kezedben több blackjack taktika közül is választhatsz a sikeres végkifejlet érdekében, ilyen a. Surrender. 18 in blackjack is a placeholder hand, an illusion of a winner. The odds of winning at blackjack can be as high as 42. Another example is playing a whole hand of 18, whereby the ACE counts as a 1 as in 5-9-A-3. Soft hands in blackjack have an important impact on dealer’s rules, and on basic strategy. Also, double down (after a free split) against a dealer 5 up-card with a soft 17 through 19. Soft 17 is a situation in which the blackjack hand contains a total of 17 with a single ace (6+A, 4+2+A, etc. Together, they combine into a powerful basic double deck blackjack strategy which will significantly lower the house edge and increase your winning chances. 58%: Non. Once all bets are made, all players and the dealer receive two cards. Blackjack Soft Hand 18; Blackjack Soft Hands 19 and 20; How to Play Blackjack Hand 8 or 9; How to Play Blackjack Hand 10 or 11;Dealer takes 17-17, 18-18 and 19-19 ties, doubling after split is allowed, 3 resplits, no-peek, player can double 7-11 totals (soft and hard), dealer stands on soft 17, six decks. Surrender 15, 8’s, and 17 vs. Based on these rules, the player's expected value is -0. I'm no blackjack expert so when I started playing the IGT full pay video blackjack (100. #6. Blackjack Chart Explanation: In the black jack strategy card, the top part, the blue line, represents the dealer’s hand. tl;dr 18 v 10 is -EV, but hitting and trying to improve your hand is less -EV. May 13, 2008 #1. Of course, having a soft 18 already puts you in a good position. Since every casino is different, there’ll be some blackjack tables where you’ll see the words “Dealer must draw to 16 and stand on all 17’s”. As I've said many times, the above strategy will be fine under any set of rules. 6K views 6 years ago. those cards, further making the point how weak an 18 really is. And yes, if the dealer must hit all hard and soft 17s, the player. Mike: Good question. Ace-nine or soft 20 = Stand. In most casinos, the dealer is required to stand on soft 17 (and any hand with an ace totalling 17 or more). 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. Here’s a look at how to play soft totals in Spanish 21: Soft 13 (A2) and 14 (A3). 10 – 6 = Hard 16. Could someone clarify a couple of points for me: 5 decks, Dealer hits Soft 17, Allowed Double after Splitting, Only Lose Original Bets on Dealer BJ 1) According to the charts for the above game, 16 v T is already surrender at 0, right? When would we surrender vs hit vs stand? 2) According to the charts for the above game, 11 vs. When I first started writing about gaming and really watching what other players were doing, this seemed to. ) Or you can get a “soft 18,” meaning a hand containing an ace that is counted as 11. The blackjack rules this table is based are liberal Vegas shoe, as follows: Six decks Dealer stands on soft 17 Surrender allowed Double after split allowed Player may resplit to four hands, including aces. While that seems like it's not that bad, I absolutely hate getting an 18 most times because you just feel yourself drawing dead. I've been backed off here twice myself. e. A dealer’s hand with a 5 or a 6 is statistically the worst hand a dealer can have. This is simply because it can make reaching 21 so much easier. In single-deck games, hit soft 18 against dealer’s Ace. For example,. Soft 18 Blackjack - Choosing an Online Casino. The reason casino blackjack tables have a maximum bet is exactly to counter the Martingale strategy. The player takes a $5 insurance bet. With a hand totalling 14, the chance you’ll bust if hitting is at 46%. In general, however, it is generally accepted that a blackjack dealer must hit a soft 18 in order to maintain the house edge. 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. If the player chooses to discard the second card, they then draw two new cards. So the probability of four in a row is (64/1326) 4 = 16777216/ 3091534492176 = 1 in 184270. 395% (Dealer's 19 to 21 makes up 56. Soft 18 vs 2. The strategy for soft 18, on the other hand, is a bit complicated because three probable actions can be taken. 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. The basic strategy when it comes to hitting a soft 17 is simple and straightforward. So you have a little over 50 % chance to improve your hand or keep it the same. As the other reply noted, he's talking about soft 18, not hard 18. lol "Live On Line" Blackjack. Las Vegas Slots App, Hitting Soft 18 Blackjack, House Slot Machine Game, Ul. a 6 (lose 38. Likewise, a pair consisting of an Ace and a seven is called the. 19%) and Dealer bust (21. You take a third card an Ace. Worse, it's a hand on which weak decisions may strongly erode expected returns. One of the main reasons for its popularity is that blackjack is that it’s so simple to play. Blackjack vs. 18-as értékkel a kezedben több blackjack taktika közül is választhatsz a sikeres végkifejlet érdekében, ilyen a. Playing online blackjack for free also helps you to develop your strategy without risking your own cash. 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. Get Deposit Bonus up to: $1000 + 200 Free Spins * New customers only. I’m told in blackjack they use six decks, stand on a soft 17, allow surrender and double after a split, but don’t allow re-splitting aces. This comes into play most often when the dealer’s face up card is an Ace and basic strategy players hit until they have 17 or better. According to some sources, the odds of achieving a soft 18 are about 1 in 500. The biggest swing though is standing on soft 17 vs. Meanwhile, hard hands will likely go bust if you hit with a hand of 14 or more. Basic strategy calls for players to hit soft 18 when the dealer shows a 9, 10 or Ace. If players have an ace and a 7, then they have a soft 18 hand. 48% chance of a push, and a 49. 29. Blackjack Strategy. To signal a split, you can point at your. IF DEALER. Pseudo Marrant Poker -. Most of these tables pay 6 to 5, but some even. 17 or less: Always Hit. 48% of blackjack games end in a push, leaving the probability of a loss at 49. 10% chance of losing. Stand, lose 52. The chart says hit. Hard hands: Hard 8 or less - Hard 9 - Hard 10 - Hard 11 - Hard 12 - Hard 13 - 16 - Hard 17 to 21. Get Deposit Bonus up to: $1000 + 200 Free Spins * New customers only. You must be disciplined and follow the basic strategy if you want to be a successful blackjack player. For example (Ace, 7) is a soft 18 or (Ace, King) is a soft 21 (Blackjack or Natural). Unlike many older casino games, Spanish 21 is a trademarked game from a specific company—Masque Publishing Inc. You should also double down if you have a soft 19 and the dealer has a 6. Step 2: receive. If one of your initial cards is an ace, it means that you have two courses of attack. 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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright. Zappit — This one includes the ability to “zap” or swap an initial hand if it is for a total of 15 to 18. 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. Hit when the dealer is showing a 9,10, or 11 (Ace). To recap and digest all this, 18 is no great hand in blackjack. It does not matter how many cards there are in the hand, as long as there is an Ace. Hi all, I'm interested in anyone's opinion on playing soft 18 vs. And yes, if the dealer must hit all hard and soft 17s, the player. Software : Free Online Casino 2022. In general, however, it is generally accepted that a blackjack dealer must hit a soft 18 in order to maintain the house edge. This hand gives you different play options and can be used to. Double-deck blackjack with re-split acesWhy Learn From Blackjack Apprenticeship? Our drills are designed by pros that have taken casinos for millions. Search the “illustrious 18 blackjack Deviations” that’s over 90% of the total advantage of learning all deviations. Atlantic City Blackjack. 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. PRO TIP:When playing blackjack, soft 18 (an ace and a 7) is a hand that should be hit when the dealer’s upcard is 9, 10, or Ace. 500% Up To 00 + 150 Free Spins Welcome Bonus. Indeed, the soft 17 in blackjack, as mentioned, will tilt the house advantage to the casino by as much as 0. 18+. Double down if you have 11 and the dealer holds an Ace. Seven Card Charlie available at BetMGM has a house edge 0. Hit it, try to make a better hand out of it. It's enough to make the hitting EV for soft eighteen -14. Pairs. This is a station casino in Vegas that gets bombarded by counters. Provided that your game of choice requires the dealer to hit soft 17 (H17), you should also double on your soft 18 against a deuce. In this case, using a double down bet could make your position even better. Standing on Soft 18 when Dealer shows 9. This family also includes European games suchSoft 17 is a situation in which the blackjack hand contains a total of 17 with a single ace (6+A, 4+2+A, etc. Let us bring the thrills of Atlantic City to your doorstep with a large array of Blackjack, Roulette, Slots, Video Poker, Table Games, and Big Jackpot slots. 16 - Soft 17 - Soft 18 - Soft 19 to 21 Splitting pairs: Aces - 2's - 3's - 4's - 5's - 6's - 7's - 8's - 9's - 10's. When the dealer hits on a soft 17 in Blackjack a lot of things will change. For example, a $10 minimum Table typically has a $500 maximum. 3-Deck Hard Totals Blackjack Chart. However, for you perfectionists out there, here are the modifications to make if the dealer. It is worth mentioning that the same goes for the situations when players have a hard 13. However the actual probability is much less, because as the player gets each blackjack the ratio of aces to cards left in the deck decreases. When any hand contains an ace, it’s called a soft hand since aces in blackjack can count as both 1 and 11. When to Hit: Always hit when your hand is a hard 11 or less. Blackjack is a negative expectancy game, meaning you will lose money over time as the casino has an edge over you. by Henry Tamburin. Don't shoot the messenger: "Playing Better Blackjack. Indeed, the soft 17 in blackjack, as mentioned, will tilt the house advantage to the casino by as much as 0. More and more tables are showing up that pay less than the full 3 to 2 on a blackjack. Note: “Soft” is a hand with an Ace, meaning it can’t bust. 05%. It’s a tricky situation that requires careful consideration. Double soft 19 vs. then this is another good chance to use the double down Blackjack bet. Blackjack Strategy Additional Rules. All this points to the fact that you can improve your hand with the final card. Basic Strategy for 4 to 8-Deck Blackjack: Dealer Hits on Soft 17. You receive a 3 for 18. One complication: Most casinos now deal games with an extra rule about soft 17. The Dealer must continue to Hit until their card total is 17 or higher, at which point they must stand. You can be more aggressive with soft hands because there’s no risk of busting. It will be best to have a look at all of these cases at once where players have a hand totalling 14, 15, and 16 as the strategy that needs to be used is the same. When on a soft 18 vs. Finally, always double down on a soft 18 if the dealer has a 2. 18+. With an 18, you have a 42. Never take insurance or "even money. In general, this rule actually decreases the advantage to the house, according to this article. Read now what the chart says to do with soft 18 vs a ten. The basic strategy suggests standing on a soft 18 against a dealer’s 2 or 7 but hitting against a 9, 10, or Ace. It’s one of the only hands where you must decide whether to take a card or not. For example, an 8 and a 10 is a hard 18. What is a hard 18 in blackjack. In a single deck game, always hit if the dealer has an upcard between 7 through to the dealer ACE, In a double and multiple deck games, hit when the dealer’s upcard is 3 or 6 through to the dealer ACE. ] hit if the dealer is showing an ace and hits soft 17. Soft 18 is classified that way because it differs from other blackjack strategies of playing. The house edge of this game is 2. dealer’s Ace. 22% chance of winning on each hand, along with an 8. Assuming you’re playing a standard blackjack game in a casino and you’re following basic strategy, you have a 42. However, if you get a free split and then have a soft 16 through soft 20, double-down (not free) against a dealer 6-up. The Optimal Plays for Soft 19 under the H17 and the S17 Rules. Rank. The smiling dealer deals the cards to three players. 16 - Soft 17 - Soft 18 - Soft 19 to 21 Splitting pairs: Aces - 2's - 3's - 4's - 5's - 6's - 7's - 8's - 9's - 10's. ♠️ Soft 19-20: Soft 19 and soft 20 hands consist of an Ace and 8, and an Ace and 9, respectively. Soft 18 in blackjack (A-7) is a commonly misplayed hand. According to the Wizard. Most pro players recommend playing a blackjack variant with a dealer up-card because you can make an informed decision. You should double on soft 18 when playing against an H17 dealer with small upcards 2 through 6 . 5% over time and gets more consistent wins. You can click the menu button on the top right corner to read the rules. Except, a "blackjack" is the highest hand. doubling it (win 25. Joined: Jul 26, 2010. 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). If the total of the cards exceeds 21 at any point, the player is bust and loses the hand. 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). Min deposit €10. Splitting pairs: Aces - 2's - 3's - 4's - 5's - 6's - 7's - 8's - 9's - 10's. Factor in the following changes: Double 11 vs. 17%) Chance of losing is 56. If the total exceeds 21, the ace will be valued at one to prevent the hand from busting. Soft hand . If your total is soft 17 or less, you should always hit in compliance with the blackjack strategy chart. What Casino Offers Rock On Slot Game - What Casino Offers Rock On Slot Game, Slots Capital No Deposit Codes, Real Roulette Spins, Leg Poker, Soft 18 Blackjack, Free Spin Casino 10 35 No Deposit Bonus, 20 60 Free Spins Bonus At Europa CasinoMany people may opt to stand with a soft total of 17 or 18 which is fine, but doubling is often advised. This means that "Soft 18" stands for any hand totaling "18", with an Ace counting as "11". That's 7 out of 13 cards. dealer's 5 or 6. A soft hand contains an ace that’s counted as an 11. You get a 6. In other words, it's a defensive play. Any modifications to either. 810 Yonkers Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704-2099, USA. This is one of the fundamental rules in blackjack and it is usually displayed on the table itself. I remember reading Burning the tables in Las Vegas and one of the cover mechanism he used that doesn’t cost too much EV is always standing on soft 18. You should double down when you have a total of 9, 10, or 11, and the dealer has a low card (2 to 6). If you want to lower that edge, then your best bet are the different blackjack charts. This comes into play most often when the dealer’s face up card is an Ace and basic strategy players hit until they have 17 or better. Dealer Hits Soft 17 Generally, the dealer in blackjack must hit if he has a total of 16 or less, and stand if he has 17 or more. In other words, it's a defensive play. Another reason why it may be difficult to determine whether or not there is a soft 18 in blackjack is that some casinos may not let players know if they have. Playing a Total of Soft 17. dealer’s 6. Blackjack Max CardsDetailed probability odds charts for blackjack and how the odds change in different situations of the game. This gives the player more flexibility to hit or stand depending on the value of their other cards. Playing a Total of Soft 15 or 16. Threads: 1;. The player hits and draws an Ace, hits again and draws a 4, and as the dealer intones “8 or 18,” decides to stand. Surrender 15, 8’s, and 17 vs. 8 – 7 = Hard 15. Getting Ahead with Soft 18 (Ace-7) Soft 18 is considered a strong hand in blackjack, presenting favorable odds for winning. View details Get driving directions to Mgm Family. There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on the specific rules and regulations of a particular casino. Stand: When the dealer has a 2, 7 or 8. A soft 17 is a hand that’s made up of an ace (counting as 11) and a 6. How to play free blackjack games online. . You hit your two-card soft 18 against a dealer who reveals more powerful cards like a 9, a 10, or an Ace. 03%) I had to go to a blackjack expert to get the strategy. The ace can either count as 1 or 11 so your hand has some flexibility (being dealt A4 can either be. If they do no bust, then the players' hands that are higher than the dealer wins and the ones who are lower loses. Ace-nine or soft 20 = Stand. 2 cents). Dealer will hit until his/her cards total 17 or higher. such as a soft 17, 18, or 19. Single Deck Blackjack; Multi-Deck Blackjack; Atlantic City. Don't double on any other soft hands. For example with a "soft 17" an ace and a 6the total is 7 or While a count of 17 is a good hand, the player may wish to draw for a higher total. Quote: gpop. In fact, below are five common mistakes made by players; but first, I want to be sure you understand what is meant by a “soft 17” hand. Mastering the art of soft hands in blackjack is a crucial key to success in the game. ). They should stand on the three-card soft 18. As my blackjack appendix 9 shows, a 2-card soft 18 vs A has an expected value of hitting of -0. The correct playing strategy for all these hands differs. For example, the player has 18 with a $10 bet down. The strategy changes a tiny notch in games where the house rules require the dealer to hit. While hitting isn't +EV either, it's greater than -17. It is the most popular table game in the United States, and is easily found in casinos throughout the world. Changing from soft to hard 18 is not in the equation. When you’re dealt a pair, you may be allowed to split the 2 cards. If you want to lower that edge, then your best bet are the different blackjack charts.