Having a good grasp of what constitutes a soft or hard hand will help you place smarter bets
In online blackjack, understanding the concept of soft and hard totals is crucial for making informed decisions and maximizing your chances of winning. Soft and hard totals refer to the value of your hand and whether it contains an Ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11. Here’s a breakdown of the difference between soft and hard totals in online blackjack.
A hard total is a hand that doesn’t contain an Ace or contains an Ace that can only be counted as 1. For example, if you have a hand with a 3 and a 7, the total value of the hand is 10, which is a hard total. In this case, the value of the hand doesn’t change regardless of the Ace’s value.
On the other hand, a soft total is a hand that contains an Ace that can be counted as 11 without busting the hand. For instance, if you have a hand with an Ace and a 6, the total value of the hand can be either 7 or 17. In this case, the Ace can be counted as 11, giving you a more favorable hand value.
Understanding the difference between soft and hard totals allows you to adjust your playing strategy accordingly. When you have a hard total, it is generally safer to hit rather than stand if the dealer has a strong upcard. This is because there is no risk of busting your hand by taking an additional card.
On the other hand, when you have a soft total, you have more flexibility in your decision-making. If the dealer has a weak upcard, you can consider doubling down to increase your potential winnings. This involves doubling your initial bet and receiving one additional card. With a soft total, you have a higher probability of improving your hand value without risking a bust.
Being able to distinguish between soft and hard totals in online blackjack provides you with a strategic advantage. It allows you to make the best decisions based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard. Remember to always study the basic strategy for online blackjack, which provides guidelines for optimal play based on the different combinations of hands and upcards.
