What is the difference between hard and soft hands?
QUICK ANSWER
A soft hand contains an Ace counted as 11 without busting (e.g., A-6 = 17 soft). A hard hand has no Ace, or an Ace forced to count as 1. Soft hands are safer to hit because you can't bust in one card. Basic strategy plays soft hands more aggressively.
Soft hand
Contains an Ace that''s still worth 11. Examples: A-2 (soft 13), A-7 (soft 18). You can hit without risk of busting on one card.
Hard hand
No Ace, or an Ace forced to 1 to avoid busting. Examples: 10-6 (hard 16), A-7-8 (hard 16, the Ace had to become 1).
Why it matters
- Soft 17: hit or double — never stand
- Hard 17: always stand The same total plays very differently. See Basic strategy.
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