Once we’ve mastered the rules of playing Blackjack and understood the concept of card counting in a game of 21, it’s time to delve into blackjack advanced strategy.
Among the various skills and tactics in the game of 21, one area that often confuses players in advanced strategies is the distinction between “soft hands” and “hard hands,” which is our topic today.
What are hard hands, and what are soft hands? Perhaps those who frequently engage in online Blackjack at casinos are familiar with these terms.
However, knowing the meaning of hard and soft hands in the game of 21 doesn’t necessarily translate to a deep understanding of advanced blackjack advanced strategy.
In this article, we will explore blackjack advanced strategy with a detailed explanation of soft and hard hands.
By the end of this read, you’ll likely have a better grasp of 21-point hands!
Blackjack Advanced Strategy: Explanation of Soft Hands and Hard Hands
Before diving into blackjack advanced strategy for playing 21, it’s crucial to understand what soft hands and hard hands are. Both soft and hard hands include an “Ace,” and players need to calculate and assess these hands accordingly.
We are aware that in the game of 21, an Ace can be counted as either “1 point” or “11 points.” How do we decide when to consider the Ace as one or the other? The key lies in ensuring that the total points do not exceed 21.
If adding 11 points to the Ace, along with the other cards, doesn’t surpass 21, the Ace is counted as 11 points. If the total exceeds 21, the Ace is considered as only 1 point.
Let’s illustrate this with an example. Suppose my initial two cards are “Ace, 7.” If we treat the Ace as 11 points, the total is 18 points (11 + 7), which is below 21.
In this case, the Ace is counted as 11 points. However, if I choose to draw another card and get an “8,” making the total 25, the Ace can only be counted as 1 point to avoid exceeding 21. The total becomes “Ace (1 point) + 8 + 7 = 16 points.”
Now, the term “soft hand” refers to a hand where the Ace can be counted as both 1 point and 11 points simultaneously. Conversely, a “hard hand” is one where the Ace can only be counted as 1 point.
Using the example above, “Ace, 7” is a soft hand, but if we draw an additional “8,” it becomes a hard hand since counting the Ace as 11 points would exceed 21.
After this detailed explanation, we can address a common question related to soft hands: “How should one decide whether to draw another card when facing a soft hand?”
The following will outline the blackjack advanced strategy for handling soft hands in Blackjack. As you read through, reflect on your past gaming experiences to see if you truly understand the strategic concepts of blackjack advanced strategy.
Blackjack Advanced Strategy: Application of Soft Hands Strategy
Why focus only on explaining soft hands without introducing corresponding strategies for hard hands? If you’re asking this question while reading, it means you haven’t fully grasped the principles of soft and hard hands.
Simply put, hard hands, where the Ace is counted as 1 point, typically have point totals close to 21, making drawing an additional card less likely due to the high risk of exceeding 22 and “busting.”
Therefore, once you have a clear understanding of the rules for soft and hard hands, you can extend your thoughts to soft hands—the core concept of advanced blackjack advanced strategy.
Examining all possible hand combinations, we find that there are eight soft hand combinations: “A2 to A9.” In these eight combinations, which ones should you draw another card for, and which ones should you refrain from drawing?
This decision depends on the “upcard” presented by the dealer. In the game of 21, there is no standard process to follow. Different hand combinations will require different actions based on the dealer’s upcard. Below is a table derived from calculations considering the probability of open cards and expected values. I recommend referring to this table for simulating scenarios and improving your chances of winning in Blackjack.
Soft Hands/
Banker2345678910AA2HHDDDHHHHHA3HHDDDHHHHHA4HHDDDHHHHHA5HHDDDHHHHHA6DDDDDHHHHHA7SDDDDSSHHHA8SSSSDSSSSSA9SSSSSSSSSS
Blackjack Advanced Strategy: Application of Soft Hands Strategy
“Note: H→Hit (Draw another card), S→Stand (Stop drawing cards), D→Double (Double the bet).”
Based on this blackjack advanced strategy table for Blackjack, we can observe that the recommended actions differ depending on the dealer’s upcard when dealing with soft hands containing an Ace.
You might be curious about the accuracy of this table and how it affects winning percentages in actual gameplay.
In essence, this table is widely accepted by players not only because it is based on precise calculations but also because each recommended action enhances the probability of winning.
For instance, when facing a soft hand with a smaller point total after drawing a card, the advice is not to draw another, and when the dealer’s upcard puts you in a disadvantageous situation, the advice may be not to act hastily.
There are even situations where there’s a high probability of winning, prompting a player to increase their bet. This advanced strategy table aligns perfectly with the conceptual understanding of the game of 21.
Feel free to refer to and apply this table in your future gameplay to experience the charm of blackjack advanced strategy!
Conclusion
In the game of 21, understanding the variations and applications of soft and hard hands is a crucial aspect of mastering blackjack advanced strategy. Many players find themselves making wrong decisions in challenging situations, turning potentially winning hands into busted or lower-point situations.
Therefore, a deeper understanding of soft and hard hands in the context of blackjack advanced strategy allows for a more profound understanding of the game of 21. If you want your bankroll to consistently grow, learning should never be neglected. This detailed explanation of blackjack advanced strategy comes to a close here. I hope you enjoyed the content of this article, and I appreciate your attention!
