Hi Michael, I have a blackjack question about a play. When drawing soft seventeen, Ace with a six, what are the correct plays for doubling, hitting, and standing? Also, is there a modified play depending on the number of decks?

Thanks, Bob

Hi Bob,

Here is the quick answer to your question.

Holding Ace/6, the plays for soft seventeen are: Facing a dealer’s up card of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, the play is to double down. Holding Ace/6, facing a dealer’s up card of 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace, the play is to hit. Never stand.

Hard seventeen is the worst hand to draw. The dealer’s average hand is greater than 18 about 18.22 from memory. As we have to stand on hard seventeen, we find ourselves stranded when holding this hand. The hope is for the dealer to bust or at the least a push, hoping that the dealer ends up on seventeen. Statically, drawing to a hard seventeen loses more times than standing. So, we stand.

However, when holding Ace/6, and the dealer is showing 2 through 6, we have the opportunity of a double hand.  With the soft seventeen, we can draw without risk of busting to improve the hand. If the double leaves us with less than a pat hand, we still have a shot at winning because we made the double, betting the dealer is stiff, and more likely to bust. By hitting Ace/6, drawing an ace, 2, 3, or 4 improves the hand. That provides sixteen cards to draw to that will improve our hand. 16/52 or 4/13. Your will improve the hand approximately 31% of the time when you hit. Keep in mind the 25% probability of the dealer still busting and we can push at 17.

The play is the same for single deck, double deck, or six deck.

Tracking the count, drawing the smaller card by doubling or hitting will be greater with a minus count. However, with a plus count, you will often end up drawing a ten count card and remain stranded on 17. Just the same, the “mix” of cards can provide us with a card that improves the hand.

Soft seventeen provides us the opportunity of a double down with the appropriate dealer’s up card. We are playing for the bust when we double with this hand. With the other up cards possible, we are not in great shape with soft seventeen but better than holding hard seventeen. So, with soft 17, the advantage play is getting the opportunity of the double down or at least hitting to improve the hand.

Understanding this, explains why many casinos have changed the rule allowing dealers to hit soft 17 where it used to be sand on all 17’s. The play gives the dealer an opportunity by drawing, to beat the player with a hand better than 17. With the dealer allowed to draw to soft 17 it is a take away from the player .19%. I explain the rule changes and take-a-ways in my Blackjack for Winners playbook.

Thanks for your question Bob and hope I have answered your questions.